This year I am co-teaching in an inclusive third grade classroom environment (with an awesome co-teacher!!). In an inclusion classroom a general education and special education (me!) teacher work together to meet the needs of students. This means that there are two teachers, and twenty-three third graders with a variety of needs in one classroom together for a majority of the school day.
The students in this classroom and at Chittick Elementary School truly value the term "inclusion".
As a teacher, I am looking to further honor my school's beliefs by creating an environment that some of my students need in order to be successful through their school day, and that all students in the classroom will benefit from as well.
My Project
In thinking of my classroom environment this article really stuck with me: https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/how-sitting-on-a-ball-helps-kids-focus-and-do-better-in-school. This article stuck with me because I noticed this in myself as well. I remember squirming in my hard, cold, metal chair when I was in elementary school and looking for any excuse to get up and feel active. I also noticed this in my classroom last year and addressed it by purchasing some flexible seating options myself and also receiving a small PTA grant for a flexible writing center that included some flexible seating items.
However, I am now teaching in an all-day inclusion classroom and instead of teaching small groups of students all day, there are 23 students!
This project is to help grow the collection of flexible seating items I have in order to meet a large diverse group of learners. As stated in the article above: Ball chairs can not only improve my students' posture and muscle tone, but they can also provide sensory input, burn energy and increase blood flow - all of which will help them sustain attention and become more engaged in learning!
These chairs will be used at centers with both teachers in the classroom, giving all students the opportunity to utilize them at some point. It is important for me to have these accessible for both teachers in the classroom so that we can further promote our love for inclusion and work with all students by meeting their needs at all times. One of those needs being the need to move!
Please consider helping my awesome and active group of diverse learners!
Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chair - Classic Children's Stability Ball Chair, Alternative School Classroom Flexible Desk Seating for Active Students with Satisfaction Guarantee, Blue/Green
• Amazon Business
$68.05
5
$340.25
Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Children's Balance Ball - Flexible School Chair, Active Classroom Desk Seating with Stay-Put Stability Legs, Includes Air Pump, Blue, 45cm
• Amazon Business
$19.43
5
$97.15
Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chair Ball - Extra Balance Ball for Kids Balance Ball Chair, Green, 38cm
• Amazon Business
$14.98
1
$14.98
Materials cost
$452.38
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.79
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$489.17
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$86.32
Total project goal
$575.49
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$575.49
6 Donors
-$531.38
Donations toward project cost
-$489.17
Donations 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 Ms. Dombrowski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
