Help me give my students 6 balance ball seats, a pump for the seats, and a tactile pillows set to use in our classroom. These materials will allow my students to meet their sensory and academic needs.
I have two goals for my students. One is to help them have fun and normal school experiences. The other is to help them learn as much as they can despite their many daily challenges.
These goals are important to me and to my students' parents because every student in my class has at least one significant cognitive disability or another congenital or chromosonal malformation that impact the rate and way each learns.
Many of my students also have significant health and/or motor skill issues. All of my students are functioning at two or more grade levels below their chronological age in all areas of development including cognitive, academic, emotional, and physical.
My students are bused in from different parts of the district, and several of their families qualify for free or reduced lunch. The nature of my students' disabilities also puts a huge financial strain on their families as they work to meet their specialized needs.
My Project
My class is comprised of adorable kindergarten through 2nd grade special needs students who are driven to learn. My students' diverse learning needs require the sensory input that flexible seating provides in order to stay focused on learning. Flexible seating also allows my students to take responsibility for their learning by giving them choices in the where and how they complete whole group, small, group. and independent work.
My students are definitely more motivated and engaged in the learning process when they have sensory-based flexible seating options to choose from because these options meet sensory needs that often lead to disruptions or meltdowns when they are not addressed.
The materials I have chosen will meet my students' sensory needs, provide choice in seating, and help create a classroom where my students are motivated to learn. The stability balls are lightweight and can be easily moved from place to place in my classroom. The stability balls provide just enough sensory movement to help my students stay calm so they can focus on learning. The sensory pillows can be used on the floor, on chairs, or other places in the classroom as students choose as the textures provide self-calming sensory input. which also leads to increased engagement in learning.
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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. Gudgell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
