Helping Students Focus Their Attention on What Matters Most
My students need flexible seating options and devices such as stools and Bouncy Bands that help them discharge excess energy to help them focus and pay attention in class.
My school houses an ethnically and racially diverse student population. The majority of my students live in poverty and many have a history of family and social trauma involving drug abuse, neglect, domestic violence, gang violence, and immigration. Many students are second language learners and we have a higher than normal percentage of students with learning, behavioral, and emotional disabilities. Exercise is a key component for healthy development and academic success, yet many of my students are home after school playing video games for hours. Parents are either working or unable to afford the athletic after school programs available.
My students are in desperate need of more movement and stress reducing resources at school to help them focus and stay calm in class.
I have a high number of students who have difficulty sitting still or who need regular stress breaks, but there is no playground or gym at my school. Blacktop recess is 20 minutes from start to finish, including transition time. I cannot be in every classroom, but if I can get some creative resources into the classrooms I know my students will be more successful. Please consider helping us.
My Project
These materials will be used to help students who have particular difficulty calming their bodies down. This will be achieved using the various seating and movement options being requested. All items will be available to any student in the school who needs them.
Students will be encouraged to build self-awareness and assertiveness skills by choosing a movement option that best suites their needs.
Students who need more movement than a typical classroom provides may choose the exerciser to burn off excess energy. Students who need something to help them focus may choose something like the wobbly chair. Students who tend to be nervous may decide they like the tangles or chair/desk bands to help keep them calm.
Providing creative movement options for students will help them stay focused and calm in class. The more focused and calm the student, the more learning that will take place.
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. Mackenzie and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
