My elementary school serves 1st-3rd graders. A huge passion of mine has always been around classroom climate.
I train and expect my students to be independent, hard-working, and cooperative learners focused on setting and reaching their own individual goals.
I offer a variety of seating options including: ergonomic stools, exercise balls, traditional chairs and cushioned benches to sit on every day.
I opt to not use overhead fluorescent lighting. Instead I have provided over 30 lamps throughout the classroom to foster a more relaxing environment for learning.
We listen to instrumental music during our independent work times in the background.
My students know they are safe, loved, and valued. We are family.
My Project
One of my favorite quotes by Mason Cooley is "Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are."
Books can open the world for a child.
Books provide students an outlet into places and experiences that they otherwise could never have imagined. I love teaching 3rd graders...and my favorite subject to teach is reading.
Small group reading instruction time allows me the opportunity to work with students at their individual reading levels. Offering students genre choices in areas such as biography, fantasy, realistic fiction or nonfiction allows for more engaged, dynamic and informed readers.
Being able to compliment subject areas that I am already teaching with intentionally selected books for small group instruction creates student engagement, interest and passion for learning. I want to take my students one step further than what is expected, to focus on their interests while still meeting their needs and grade level expectations.
To quote the great Dr. Seuss, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Heather Stewart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
