Students should be inspired when they come to school - not just by their teachers and peers, but by the space that they spend so much of their young lives. My 26 students are a diverse, passionate, curious group of learners. We range in interests and learning abilities. We may not look the same and learn the same, but we are proud to be a "school family" who support and encourage each other in everything we do. What my students need to learn best is more than the traditional desks that we currently have in our room - we need flexible seating options that are just as diverse as we are!
When my students first learned about "flexible seating," they immediately decided this wasn't just a "want," but a "need" and launched into a game plan of how we could make this happen.
This, of course, didn't surprise me at all. They are a curious group who are always looking for ways to make positive change in the world around them! My students will love being able to choose a comfortable option to work at their best.
My Project
As I said, we are an inclusive classroom, home to a wide range of academic and social-emotional needs. Flexible seating will benefit my diverse learners in many ways. Research shows that benefits of providing flexible seating include increased motivation and engagement, creating a better oxygen flow to the brain, using up excess energy, burning more calories, improving metabolism, and improving core strength and overall posture.
These flexible seating options will make our classroom a place where students can choose a seat that works for them in that moment, get comfortable, and laser focus in on our very important learning.
While I get my students up and moving as much as we can during and between instruction, the only options I can currently provide for them is sitting on the carpet, against a wall with a chair pad, or sitting in a regular chair at their desks. While these chairs are perfectly comfortable for some students, they are not comfortable for others, and every student matters.
Our new futon, standing desk, lap desks, and chair will give my students extra options to explore when their desk just isn't the best place for them to get their learning done. Seeing this project come together will not only make our classroom a better place to learn, but will teach my students a lesson in the value of making your needs heard and working together as a team on a project! Thank you for considering donating to our school family!
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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. Gibson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
