This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I teach third grade at an urban elementary school. All of our students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. My students live in a book desert with little to no access to books. However, that does not prevent them from loving to read! Everyday when I read aloud, they always beg to read just one more chapter. They come to school every day full of stories and tales to tell.
My students are very active, playful and energetic.
They enjoy playing football, basketball, soccer, and dancing. Sometimes, it seems like they never stop moving! They love to share about themselves and work together in cooperative groups. My students make everyday a new adventure and full of energy.
My Project
My students have a lot of different needs including social, emotional, physical, and academic needs. Many of these needs are connected to each other and how well each student is able to learn. It is difficult for a teacher to meet all of a student's individual needs but we continue to try. My students have a lot of wiggles and their need to move sometimes makes it difficult for them to learn. I would like to change up the traditional classroom arrangement of individual desks and hard plastic chairs and offer the students more flexible seating options. Students will be able to choose from balance balls, wobble chairs, cushions, or wiggle seats to help them remain engaged and learn. Students will be able to decide which option best suits their needs for the day whether its bouncing on a balance ball, sitting on a cushion on the floor, or rocking on a wobble chair to help them maintain focus and engage in their work.
Flexible seating classrooms give students a choice in what kind of learning space works best for them.
It also helps them to work collaboratively, communicate, and engage in critical thinking. Flexible seating also helps students become more engaged in their work and helps them to focus on the curriculum. There is a lot of research being presented about the benefits of flexible seating. In addition to the social benefits, students also burn more calories, use up excess energy, and improve metabolism. It is also shown to create better oxygen flow to the brain and improve core strength and overall posture.
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 Ms. Birman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
