My students are Special Needs Students in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade with a wide range of disabilities. They are creative, playful, energetic, and love to use their hands and body to learn.
Many of my students use my classroom as their safe place.
This is their place to regulate, laugh, cry, and express themselves.
Our school is in central Wisconsin, and many of my students come from homes where parents work hard to make ends meet and meet their children's basic needs.
Each child in my classroom is unique and require personal relationships and strategies to be successful in school.
My Project
Each of my students are unique, and crave different stimulation to help them learn and regulate their emotions.
My students view our classroom as their safe place.
Before my students can learn, they need a chance to get their bodies and brains ready to learn. My students seek physical and tactile experiences to help regulate themselves. Often times, my students will do unexpected (or at times inappropriate) behaviors because they are unable to get the input or have their sensory needs met. Since my students range in age from 5-8 years old, many do not have the verbal or social skills to make these requests. If my students can see the options they have, they are better able to select an appropriate tool to regulate them.
When learning is mixed with moving, touching, and doing, my students are more engaged and learn at a quicker pace than by sitting and listening to instruction.
My students also crave independent unstructured activities. Having a variety of options allows to me meet all of my students desires and makes them more successful at school.
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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. Guist and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
