Ever wonder why baseball games introduced the 7th inning stretch? Perhaps Abner Doubleday was a frustrated 3rd grader! I am a third grade teacher in a Title I school in Oklahoma. In my school 51% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches. For years, I worked in the private school sector as both a teacher and an administrator. Several years ago, I left private school administration and returned to the public school system and the classroom--primarily because I missed the close contact I once had with the students that I found so fulfilling.
Ever try sitting in the same space all day long? It's not easy for an adult, much less a typical eight year old. Recent brain research tells us that children need movement to help them learn. I allow my students freedom of movement in our classroom; however, my students still face limitations. Some of my students stand beside their desks and work "hunched over" their desks. Some stand at the counter at the side of the room and work; however, this counter is crowded with supplies, "cubbies", and air conditioning/heating vents.
I already incorporate movement into my daily classroom activities as much as possible, but it is still not enough. What our classroom needs is a couple of free standing workstations that would permit students to work while standing, stretching, shifting their weight, wiggling--anything EXCEPT sitting still at a traditional desk and chair. These workstations would increase attentiveness and decrease behavioral problems for everyone, but especially for boys.
Your help will have an immediate impact on the lives of my students. You will make it possible for my students to increase their concentration levels, to sharpen their focus on the task at hand, and to complete work in a timely matter. Research shows that grades and test scores IMPROVE and behavior problems DECREASE when physical activity is incorporated into a student's educational day. A stand-up workstation will allow such freedom of movement, and your help will make that possible.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Fiaccone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
