Help me give my students a practical, flexible seating option that will help students with diverse needs to focus and engage with complex thinking and challenging tasks.
I am a high school English teacher hoping to add some flexible seating choices to a classroom full of big, busy kids.
My students are a wonderful mix of mischief, reluctance, ambition, and energy!
9th graders, especially, require patience and time to earn their trust, but the adventures and the relationships we build never disappoint.
One thing I've learned to be flexible about is requiring them to sit still in a cold, hard desk for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. It's unpleasant for me, and I've done it for years! So, I let them move around organically, sit on the floor, or turn their desks to face each other, and, surprisingly, their reading and writing quality increases without fail.
When I quit demanding to be the center of my students' attention and engage them in a way that puts students/production at the heart of our short time together, they rise to challenges and even surprise themselves.
I want to add some flexible seating options to my room, but since I live on a teacher's budget with kiddos of my own to support, I'm asking for assistance in purchasing a few pieces of small furniture. Thank you!
My Project
I have a mix of all different learning styles and needs in my class, but one thing they have in common is a short attention span and a need for some control and choice over what and how they learn.
While students may not know that there is direct correlation between physical movement and complex thinking, I know that movement helps the brain process and cement information.
Also, when we prepare for intimidating tasks like end-of-course STAAR tests, the advantage of movement that these wobble chairs offer will be a practical tool for my kiddos who struggle with test anxiety and retention.
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