My students need flexible seating to create the best possible environment for personalized learning and success. The stools and beanbag chairs will help students that need to stand, wiggle and stretch. Each item is chosen with students' needs mind.
Where do I begin? It's the end of my twentieth year of teaching and I'm going to miss my students greatly. They come from all different economic backgrounds, but a majority are from low income families. They are eager to learn and enthusiastic about English Language Arts.
I have tried to implement flexible seating, but it is a challenge.
Until this past month, I had only desks with chairs attached. This past month, I was fortunate to receive eight trapezoid tables that add to the flexible seating I hope to have in my classroom. My students are unique and have different needs. Many of my students have the needs to wiggle, wobble and stand.
I believe in personalized learning and creating an environment that is best for my students.
My Project
In my past twenty years of teaching English at the secondary level, I have tried a number of seating arrangements by using traditional desks. Due to financial limits within my district, any additional furniture came out of my own pocket. Unfortunately, I had to prioritize with purchasing supplies and independent novels instead of furniture.
This past year I have been part of a personalized learning cohort.
During that time, I have researched flexible seating and have gone on a number of learning walks to observe other teachers in various districts. It is clear that flexible seating is beneficial to students for a number of reasons; mentally, physically and psychologically.
Students at the middle school level are going through a number of changes and often have difficulty sitting in a traditional desk with an attached chair. I am hoping to get bean bag chairs, stools, clipboards and other furniture to benefit my students' success. It is my hope that through Donor's Choose furniture can be bought for my classroom to help my students not only be a success, but more importantly enjoy learning.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Manns and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
