My fourth grade students are a high-energy group who require a lot of movement breaks, flexibility and encouragement. They come from a variety of backgrounds; fifty percent of my students live in high poverty areas and many of them are English Language Learners. Many of the students at my school have also experienced trauma, show signs of depression and suffer from intense anxiety. These are common experiences for children today and school can be a stressful and sometimes rigid place. One way I'd like to reduce anxiety in my classroom is by creating a safe and comfortable environment that includes flexible seating options to help students release some energy while listening to lessons and participating in class.
Help me provide my students with flexible seating options!
My Project
Flexible seating options help students become more invested in their learning and encourage them to make choices that work best for them. During independent, pair and group work times, students always have the opportunity to choose where to work in the classroom and there is a notable difference in their engagement when they can make their own decisions. In addition, my students also require a lot of movement breaks, so I think it will be extremely beneficial to provide flexible seating options that also allow students to move.
Making sure students are comfortable is an essential component in motivating them.
I believe that the balance balls and the wobble chairs I have selected will help my students by giving them additional seating options. Students can either bounce to release some energy before returning to their seats to complete their work or they can use the balance ball as an alternative chair if needed. The wobble chairs will also be used as alternative chairs and both options are easy to transport so students can bring them from their desk, to the rug, and wherever else they move around the classroom.
My students are noticeably more engaged in their work and less disruptive to their peers when they are given a choice of where to work, especially if their choice allows them to wiggle and release some energy. Providing these additional flexible seating options will definitely help our learning environment.
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