My students need kinesthetic, brain-based activities when transitioning between mathematics and literacy.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Petuskey's classroom raised $667
This project is fully funded
My Students
"Good things come to those individuals who hustle while they wait." I didn't create this quote, but I sure wish I had! Every day, my students transition from a timed chunk of literacy instruction to a timed chunk of mathematics. To ease these transitions, my students need brain-based activities.
For my Learning Support students, a chunk of literacy or mathematics instruction may only be 15 minutes long.
To keep their minds receptive and flexible, they require kinesthetic brain-based activities that teach independent performance, personal choice, academic competition, data collection, and working memory skills. Here, these activities require each of my students to "move to learn", in order to compete daily with themselves. Taking a time-out break while passively sitting at a desk, staring into space just won't do!
My Project
Our school was built in the early 20th century, so we enjoy a classroom with oodles of space and height. Each of the items in this project are carefully chosen to maximize this space, but also to be stored-away easily when needed. Each week, one or two of these activities will be available for transitional, cognitive exercise, based on a student's preference. Most of my students suffer weak hand/eye coordination, such as that typically needed for tracking writing or reading progress. "Games" like ping-pong, basketball, or chess encourage students to track their hand/eye movements, allowing them to score their successes each day. The goal is simple: achieve just a smidge more today than yesterday. These achievements can be graphed and rewarded, too. Even swinging peacefully in a hammock is rewarding when it involves reading a poem or cartoon!
This project is guaranteed to make a subtle and insightful difference for all of my students!
Why? By balancing student performance and stress reduction in a calm, brain-friendly environment that offers variety and free choice for everyone.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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 Mr. Petuskey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
