Help me give my students the opportunity to choose how they work best within the classroom, whether it's using "surf seats," laying on a yoga mat, or sitting in a bungee chair with a lap desk!
Mary Ellen Flannery, an author for the National Education Association, once said "Environment shapes experience, and that's no less true in the classroom."
As a 3rd grade teacher of 16 students who were greatly impacted by Hurricane Florence (4 of which have been completely displaced from their homes), I strive for my classroom to be an environment in which students feel safe, capable of anything, and comfortable while doing so.
Some of my students enjoy sitting at their desk, others prefer a quiet corner of the room, and another might choose an open spot on the floor. They work hard and have a desire to learn; however, they often need help with staying on task and engaged in their learning. There is a strong emphasis on reading and writing in third grade, which requires long stretches of focus and attention. I feel this can be made easier for my students by providing them with a comfortable learning environment.
My Project
It is impossible to define just one "perfect working spot," as it is different for everyone (even adults); however, creating a comfortable learning environment with a variety of spaces, will lead to hard work with better focus and student engagement, and therefore more student success. This is why I wish to provide my students with "surf seats," yoga mats, and bungee chairs, all of which would be used throughout our classroom.
Students are spending 7 hours a day at school, and they should be comfortable in this learning environment; flexible seating would help make that happen.
As their teacher, I could not be any more excited to help provide them with this opportunity, thus improving their ability to comfortably learn in my classroom.
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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. Canady and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
