My students need alternative seating options in our classroom, so they can "work out" their wiggles and engage their minds in learning!
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Keith's classroom raised $573
This project is fully funded
My Students
At five, I honestly feel that all kindergarten teachers face a diverse group of learners. This year I seem to have restless group of kids, that struggle to find stillness within their bodies and minds. The majority of my learners are young five year olds, that struggle with attending to instruction or tasks, collaborating and communicating with peers, and keeping their bodies still and to themselves.
My goal is to encourage and develop life long learners that are motivated, engaged, and confident in the learning process, and their own independent abilities!
I have tried a number of alternative methods within my classroom to provide consistency with routines and procedures, and to allow personal space and movement for each child. Alternative, flexible seating is a concept that I have been considering and researching for a few years. This group of students has helped me to realize the true potential of offering choice, comfort, and movement in seating options throughout the classroom, to provide a means for individual student's sensory needs to allow for a calm, productive learning environment.
My Project
Kindergarten is a world of exploration and learning! National and state standards are increasingly more rigorous! Five and six year old students are in school for longer days, and expected to sit for extended periods of times during instruction and engagement. For some students this is simply overwhelming! They need to move! I incorporate music and movement, brain breaks, and games into all aspects of curriculum throughout the day, but it is simply not enough!
In addition to longer, more developed instruction, there are many developmental forces of nature that can impede a child's ability to focus, attend, and be on task in a classroom setting!
Kindergarten students have a reserve of excess energy and sensory needs, and alternative seating is a great way to address these issues by allowing for movement during instruction and independent tasks! The materials that I am requesting for my project would be alternate seats that students could choose to use during center rotations, seat work, and potentially whole group instruction. I am requesting wobble chairs, stability balls with legs, and soft seats. These seating options all allow for different ranges of motion that engage core, back, and leg strength while still providing stability for students to be engaged in their learning tasks. Learning to stabilize themselves using alternative seating options, discreetly provides a release of energy and allows students to better focus and attend, reduce restlessness, and increase student participation.
Engaged students have increased awareness, they work more collaboratively and communicate with their peers, they demonstrate increased creativity, and they develop stronger critical thinking skills!
I am excited to embark upon this journey, bringing more core strength and stability movement into my class to center my students and help focus and engage their bodies and minds!
Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball, Blue
• Amazon Business
$19.24
6
$115.44
Kore Patented WOBBLE Chair, Made in the USA, Active Sitting for Toddler, Pre-School, Kids, and Teens; Kids don't have to sit still anymore - "The BEST seat in any Classroom"! - Blue - Kids (14in)
• Amazon Business
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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. Keith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
