My students need these items for alternate seating and to create an environment of flexible seating. The futon will be especially effective for helping more than one student at a time achieve this goal.
My students vary greatly in readiness levels and backgrounds. One thing they all have in common is a drive inside them and yearning for success. Some have not yet realized that yearning, but I can see it in them. Some of my students have not yet discovered that pathway to academic success or life contentment and need to be allowed to explore the way.
All students will succeed at times, all will fail at times, but all should be given the opportunity to function in an environment that will afford them the maximum amount of growth.
Outcomes, good or bad, are only markers of learning moments.
Almost all of my students look at succeeding one way -- getting good grades. They don't realize there is much to learn from mistakes. It's our job as guides to facilitate a learning environment that doesn't detract from the students' growth and fosters a classroom climate that celebrates the journey, as well as the results.
My Project
Our district, grounded in science-based research, is emphasizing the the education of the "whole student". This means that students should feel free to express themselves in every subject and find both creativity and grit in their learning. Classrooms that enable a creative and stress-free setting will benefit students in reaching their academic and personal potential.
Stress from the traditional class setting can be reduced, thus facilitating an environment in which students can be free to learn and grow.
Perseverance in tasks can be achieved through an inviting learning setting. Lamps that give off a softer light than the fluorescents, pillows that students can sit on for alternate seating, a fountain for a calming sound in the room, and a rug space sectioned with hanging beads to provide a place where students can sit and discuss mathematics are all items that help to create a classroom that is more attune to the students' needs. Every student, from the lowest readiness level to the highest can benefit from a focus on social emotional learning.
This doesn't mean there is a de-emphasis on curriculum content or focus on academic standards. Creating a more inviting classroom simply enhances the opportunities for students to fully explore each concept in a way that allows for greater understanding through a more authentic examination.
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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 Mr. Edwards and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.