"Motivate students to take charge of their own learning." (unknown). This is something I strive to do each and every day. Empowering students and seeing what they are capable of is amazing. In my classroom I like to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge in different ways.
I work in a higher achieving district that is looking to provide students different opportunities by personalizing learning.
By personalizing learning students are learning to take responsibility for their learning. Through this process I have learned to provide flexible seating for students. Allowing students to seat where they feel comfortable has improved students engagement. Some schools that have implemented flexible classroom spaces have noticed: their students' grades have improved, their students seem happier and more engaged, and their students are participating more and having more invigorating conversations.
My Project
Flexible seating options will allow students to choose how they would like to be seated as they learn. As an adult, we often curl up on a couch or comfortable chair when we read, or sit at a table that we can spread our papers out as we work. When our students work in desks sitting in small, plastic chairs, their movement is limited and they can be easily distracted and uncomfortable. There are several different options that I am looking at for flexible seating. When walking into a flexible learning space in my room you might see:
*students sitting on the floor with a lapboard for a hard surface.
*students sitting at a table using a stool.
*students sitting on the floor using a big pillow or a backpack chair.
Providing flexible seating in my classroom will allow students a level of comfort necessary to engage them more in their learning.
When students are comfortable and feel safe in their classroom environment, they are less likely to demonstrate negative, aggressive, or disruptive behaviors that result in time out of the classroom and lost learning time. The idea is that learning is maximized and behavioral problems are minimized when students are given the opportunity to choose where they learn.
Large Folding Laptop Desk by Rapahan, Aluminum and Beech - Best for Portable Sturdy Stand Up Notebook Computer Laptop Table/Tray, Laptop Bed Table, Breakfast Bed Tray, Reading Desk (Beech)
• Amazon Business
$37.47
4
$149.88
Winsome Wood Xola 3pc Nesting Table
• Amazon Business
$121.90
1
$121.90
DD282RD - The Reading Pillow - Red
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$59.99
2
$119.98
BR302BU - Backpatter’s Seat - Blue
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$49.99
2
$99.98
BR302RD - Backpatter’s Seat - Red
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$49.99
2
$99.98
Norwood Commercial Furniture NOR-STOOLBS-SO-AZ Plastic Stack Stool, 17 3/4" Height, 11 3/4" Width, 11 3/4 " Length, Black with Silver Legs (Pack of 5)
• Amazon Business
$60.95
1
$60.95
DD282BU - The Reading Pillow - Blue
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$59.99
1
$59.99
Materials cost
$712.66
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$10.69
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$753.35
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$132.94
Total project goal
$886.29
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$886.29
11 Donors
-$766.88
Donations toward project cost
-$655.60
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$111.28
Matching donations from our partners
-$115.00
Match offers toward project cost
-$97.75
Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Heiman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.