We are a group of fourth grade students in an urban Iowa school district. Our PK-5 school is 74% free and reduced-priced lunch with students from all different racial backgrounds. We serve English language learner students, provide preschool and offer an autism inclusion program. Our school works together with teachers, parents and local community partners to best meet the needs of our students.
We have an in-school bank where children learn to save money and are taught financial literacy lessons by the local bank.
Parents help to maintain our community garden as children learn lessons on healthy eating.
The mission of our school district is to guarantee that every student graduates with the knowledge, skills, and character to become a responsible citizen and to succeed in a changing world by creating a leading-edge, inclusive educational system which provides challenging expectations, diverse experiences, engaging curriculum and innovative teaching within a collaborative and caring community.
My Project
Our classroom has a wide variety of areas where students can work. They can spend time standing at tables, sitting at chairs with stability discs, lying on the floor with pillows, sitting on wobble seats or stability balls, or sitting on couches with lap desks. Some students have trouble focusing when they sit in a chair. A recent study, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, found students with ADHD, when sitting on stability balls, showed improved behavior and more legible word productivity. In other words, students using stability balls were able to sit still, focus and write more words clearly. The stability balls allow for the movement and for their brain to be engaged.
Some kids need more movement than others, and, by providing wobble seats in our classroom, those students who need this type of flexible seating can use it to help them focus.
By providing the wobble seats, students will have one more area to choose that works the best for their learning. For those students who need constant movement, the wobble seat allows their brain to be engaged. They have to focus, and constant movement is needed in order to stay on the seat. It also helps with their posture instead of sitting in a regular seat. We currently have two in our classroom and they are in great demand. Many students would like to use them but they are already in use. Having two additional choices would be very helpful for students.
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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. Plummer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
