My students need seating and other materials to make them feel at home in our classroom! I'd love the kids to have choices about where they can study and learn-couch, floor cushions, or bungee chairs!
Out of my 200 students 142 of them are considered "At Risk". My students come from a multitude of different backgrounds. I have students that are just now learning English and are new to our country. I have students with processing or cognitive issues that take some extra time to grasp concepts. And I have students that feel safer in my classroom than they do at home. When they walk into my classroom they all may feel the weight of the world on their shoulders.
I want them to have a place they can take a deep breath, feel safe, supported and know that they can relax and just be a part of our learning community.
Our classroom is a safe space for all students and I foster that through my expectations and my own behaviors from the very beginning of the year. My kids know I will listen and care about what they have to say, and that others will be supportive of them in our room. The relationships we have in each class is like a family-and that relationships allow the students to learn and grow together. We are constantly finding new ways to learn together!
My Project
Flexible seating allows students to take charge of their learning and make the choices that work best for them. During independent work times they choose a location in the classroom that works for them. Currently my students are choosing to work in a variety of locations in our room such as: at different tables, sitting under tables with clip boards, or sitting or laying on the floor with a clip board. Making sure students are comfortable is an essential component in motivating them. I have noticed amazing differences in my students when they are given a choice in their seating. They almost always make good choices about where they sit, are more engaged, and get more work completed than when they are just sitting at their desk.
Our classroom is like family.
For many of them this IS their home away from home. This project they will enable my students to figure out how they learn best, and then be able to work in that setting.The couch, bungee chairs and floor cushions will give them some more options for them to choose to work. It will also help further foster our sense of family and allow them to explore how they learn best!
This project will also help continue to build their self-confidence and work towards their future success. Our eyes are always on high school graduation-and if I can give my students a place where they can relax, be themselves and learn in an environment that is conducive to THEM specifically then I think I can more easily keep them on the track towards graduation.
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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. Osborne and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
