My first graders are inquisitive, bright, and resilient! Many of the students in my class live in poverty and we are a full Title 1 School. Over half of the students in my school receive free/reduced breakfast and lunch.
Our school celebrates diversity and hard work.
When students walk in the doors, they know they are valued and safe.
I try to create a learning environment where every student has fun and an equal chance for a fresh start to succeed. Year after year, my kids amaze me with their desire to learn, their strength, and their compassion for one another.
My Project
Traditionally, when students come in the door to their classroom, there is a piece of paper waiting on their desk for them to work on. I, too, had paper waiting on my first graders' desks for many years as "morning work." It seemed unnatural for 6 and 7 year olds to bound in the door full of energy and immediately have to sit and be quiet. So, a couple years ago, I decided to try something new.
I want students to be excited to walk in our classroom door each day and build STEM skills as well as social skills.
Every child of varying academic abilities can start the day successfully with "Morning Tubs". It also helps students decompress to come in and talk and "play" if they've had a bad night or a rough morning at home.
I have slowly collected items to put in "Morning Tubs" so that students can come in, engage in conversation, and dive right into hands-on activities to promote fine motor skills. I have bought LEGO sets, wooden blocks, puzzles, Lincoln Logs, etc. and it has made such a positive impact on my classroom to start our days with these activities rather than sitting still at our desk. I love the collaboration that goes on in the mornings as students use these materials and share ideas. The social learning is just as important as the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills they are gaining by exploring these high quality toys and materials!
I have tried to add to our collection as I can, but we need more "Morning Tub" materials such as blocks, Magna-Tiles, and a KEVA set so that students will continue to be excited about learning. Thank you for helping us start each day with a smile!
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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. Johnston and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.