My 1st grade students are innovative, creative, energetic, excited, and enthusiastic. They are unique, deep thinkers, curiosity chasers and have already exhibited such resilience in the face of the pandemic and amid all of the changes they’ve had to face. They truly love to learn and make our classroom such a fun place to be. They are hands on learners and think outside the box. They are playful and love to move around. Center time is their favorite time of day and a huge part of our classroom. My goal as their teacher is to provide them with the best possible educational experience I can and that's the reason I've decided to start this Donor's Choose project.
My Project
My first graders have never known a learning environment outside a pandemic. Covid has challenged both myself and my students to become creative in ways we have never had to before. Going from a virtual learning environment, or a distanced classroom learning environment has been hard on a lot of students. A lot of hands-on, motor type skills for my young students haven’t had the chance to develop appropriately in light of Covid due to most learning being done virtually. That’s why getting back into center based activities and hands-on learning opportunities has been so important for us this year. Being able to provide my students with hands-on STEM materials and manipulatives would enhance their learning in so many ways. It gives them the opportunity to apply their creativity in hands-on ways that also simultaneously aligns with curriculum and is based in play.
Getting back into a structured learning environment has been difficult for my young students since the pandemic.
As most of my students are between the ages of 6 and 7, they are extremely active and energetic. I believe flexible seating can help make that transition easier and allows them to move around, and release energy in healthy ways that isn’t a distraction to themselves or others. Flexible seating is something that is extremely beneficial to all students but especially students who are hyperactive and may particularly benefit from flexible seating.
Being able to provide every student in my class with flexible seating would be a dream come true! I hope that you will consider funding my project to help make our 1st grade classroom a place where hands-on learning, creative play, and engaging activities is at the center of their educational experience despite being in a pandemic.
More than half of 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 Mrs. Gilmore and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
