My students need flexibility and comfortable seating to enable their creative STEM juices to flow and be the most productive thinkers possible.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Zelwin's classroom raised $460
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students are very motivated to learn and love learning new information. They are very energetic and enthusiastic. They enjoy moving around the classroom and completing projects while sitting in less traditional seats. I currently have a Bosu ball that is a chair. Many of the students ask to sit on it when they work, as it allows them to move around and "fidget" in an acceptable way.
My students also love to work while sitting on the floor, in "cozy corners" and in what appears lounging, when, in fact, they are more productive when they sit like this.
When given the choice to sit at the table with a Bosu chair or a desk with a traditional chair, nearly every student would chose the Bosu option.
My Project
My students often complain about sitting at traditional desks in traditional seats. They say things like, "The chairs are so uncomfortable!" or "I need to stand up for a bit." I have a chair made from a rubber ball that allows students to sit and rock back and forth, unlike a traditional chair. Many students enjoy sitting in this chair and will often argue over who gets to sit in the "bouncy chair". When given the chance to sit on the floor with a carpet square or borrow non-traditional chairs from other classrooms, the students tell me that they are more productive in completing their work. From their narratives and my observations, traditional seating in the classroom is not as effective as it once was.
I teach in a STEM School where creative and collaborative work is the norm.
Generating a Keynote presentation for a math problem, collaborating on a script for an iMovie about the best phone plan using systems of equations, and working with a partner to decide on the best option for how to code a robot are all examples of how my students integrate collaboration, communication and critical thinking in the STEM math classroom within which I teach. However, they often tell me that they wish they had other seating options, as that would maximize their ability to work together.
Choosing to sit in a bungee chair or a bean bag chair rather than a traditional one would motivate many students as well as get their creativity flowing in my classroom. While some students enjoy sitting in traditional seats, and some tasks within the classroom require this kind of seating, the more collaborative and creative tasks may be best completed in more flexible seating options like the bungee or bean bag chairs.
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 Ms. Zelwin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
