Have you ever been in an environment where remaining seated was expected for a period of time? However, during that time you just needed to move, wiggle, or reposition yourself to find better focus and re-engage yourself to the task at hand?
Welcome to our class - full of knowledge, laughter, fun, and compassion!
Pushing each other to be our best, yet realizing mistakes are made and learning from them is most important. We pride ourselves on connecting with one another while being responsible 'family' members in our class and school. Our school is an extended family to everyone that walks in the door. Student safety is first and foremost in classrooms, hallways, and on the playground.
Although, we (as a class) have come up with creative options and ways to 'move' during the day, for many students these options are not enough. With 27 spunky students who are full of life and love to smile, dancing, clapping, yoga, brain breaks, and other forms of movement are not making the grade. (Even for those that choose to stand/squat/kneel during a lesson.)
With that being said, "sit down" is not in our vocabulary. Students needing to move, need to move safely (not rocking, kneeling, or leaning on chairs).
My Project
Every student will have the opportunity to use a stability ball to help build his/her core strength and, more importantly, improve focus and learning.
Research shows that students who are working to stay balanced on stability balls, are forcing muscle engagement and increasing blood flow. This increased blood flow leads to students being more alert and ready to learn. What more can a teacher ask for?
Physical activity is directly linked with better learning. The stability balls are a quiet way have that physical activity in the classroom to help students focus and calm the movements necessary for them to better attend to the task set before them.
Through the use of stability balls, students will have the ability to move freely without disrupting those around them. The safety concerns of students leaning or rocking on chairs will no longer be an issue. After learning to use the balls properly, students will need to be responsible to maintain the privilege of safely using their ball.
Donations to this project will improve our classroom community in so many ways.
To begin with, students will be able to regulate/ control their movements in a safe manner. Second, student's ability to focus and attend will improve due to the fact movements are not constricted. Finally, stability balls will help build students core strength and improve learning.
All in all, the overall feel and growth through learning in our classroom will improve through the use of the stability balls.
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 Ms. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
