My students need flexible seating in order to meet their sensory needs and catch up with their peers. Students will have ownership of their learning environment when they have seating choices and improve their basic skills.
I run a resource program at a neighborhood school. All of my students are included in general education classes, and also have learning disabilities and/or other health impairments that make it difficult for them to access the general education curriculum without specialized support.
A student with a learning disability may look and act like a "typical" student, but has an identified deficit in cognitive processing that makes it hard to keep up with peers.
Learning disabled students are at a relative disadvantage to their same age peers in general education. Students who are not allowed the freedom of movement and choice may not be able to effectively communicate their needs, and will manifest disruptive behaviors.
Many of the students I work with have attention problems which look like movement around the space and fidgeting in place. While a traditional classroom attempts to extinguish these behaviors and encourage the child to "fit-in," a flexible seating environment allows the students to learn in the way that feels most comfortable and appropriate for their individual needs.
My Project
When most people think of traditional classroom environments, they picture neat rows of identical desks. Every student has a particular seat, maybe even with their name on the desk, and woe be to the child who leaves their space for any reason! Just because this is the way it's always been, doesn't mean it's the best way for modern learners.
Students with sensory needs and attention-deficit disorders need to study in a space that allows them movement while they work on completing their jobs.
Flexible sating arrangements allow for students to have and maintain ownership of their learning environment. When students are able to choose where and how they sit, and allowed to change their place throughout the day; this will in turn cause a reduction of disruptive behaviors due to sensory or attention issues.
Some students are more comfortable in a bean bag type chair, which might feel safe and comforting, like a big hug while they work on a difficult task. Other students prefer a wiggle seat, which may be a pad on a chair or a stool that wobbles on its own leg. The yoga balls provide a different kind of wiggle seat, or maybe the child needs to bounce while working. The bands attach to chair legs to give slight pressure to those who need to kick their legs while their brain is working. The addition of rugs allows students who prefer to sit on the floor to have a designated space. The lap trays may be used on the floor, in a chair, or even placed on a table to provide a standing desk space. The variety of different options allows students to move freely around the room, changing seating position or postures as needed throughout the study period.
KC CUBS Playtime Collection Space Safari Road Map Educational Learning & Game Area Rug Carpet for Kids and Children Bedrooms and Playroom (5' 0" x 6' 6")
• Amazon Business
$54.99
1
$54.99
KC CUBS Playtime Collection USA United States Map Educational Learning & Game Area Rug Carpet for Kids and Children Bedrooms and Playroom (5'0" x 6'6")
• Amazon Business
$54.99
1
$54.99
Active Kids Chair - Active Chairs for Toddlers, Pre-Schoolers & Children Who Can’t Sit Still - Great 14" Wobble Chair for Kids with ADD / ADHD - Corrects Posture | Black
• Amazon Business
$49.99
1
$49.99
Active Kids Chair - Active Chairs for Toddlers, Pre-Schoolers & Children Who Can’t Sit Still - Great 14" Wobble Chair for Kids with ADD / ADHD - Corrects Posture | Blue
• Amazon Business
$42.99
1
$42.99
Big Joe Dorm Chair, Pink Passion
• Amazon Business
$37.53
1
$37.53
Big Joe Dorm Bean Bag Chair, Sapphire
• Amazon Business
$29.88
1
$29.88
Kick Bands Bouncy Chair Fidget Bands (10-Pack) - Improves Focus For School Kids and Classroom Students - ADHD ADD SPD Autism Sensory Needs - Bounce & Stretch Foot Band For Chairs by Solace
• Amazon Business
$27.99
1
$27.99
Romanoff Lap Tray, Blue
• Amazon Business
$24.99
1
$24.99
Exercise Ball, LuxFit Premium EXTRA THICK Yoga Ball '2 Year Warranty' - Swiss Ball Includes Foot Pump. Anti-Burst - Slip Resistant! 45cm, 55cm, 65cm, 75cm, 85cm Size Fitness Balls (Orange, 65cm)
• Amazon Business
$17.95
1
$17.95
LuxFit Premium EXTRA THICK Yoga Fitness Exercise Ball '2 Year Warranty' (Red, 65cm)
• Amazon Business
$17.95
1
$17.95
Balance Wiggle Seat for Classroom, Seating Disc and Air Cushion for Better Posture & Stability, Wobble Chair Blue, Aerobic Step Bench for Exercise, Stability Balance Disc 13in for Kids & Adults
• Amazon Business
$16.35
1
$16.35
Inflated Air Stability Wobble Cushion w Air Pump Anti-Burst Wiggle Seat Toxin-Free Inflatable Exercise Fitness Core Balance Disc for Better Seating Therapy Sensory Cushion for Elementary School Chair
• Amazon Business
$11.99
1
$11.99
ProSource Diameter Core Balance Cushion Exercise Disc Trainer Board with Pump, Green, 14-Inch
• Amazon Business
$11.19
1
$11.19
Materials cost
$398.78
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$36.49
3rd party payment processing fee
$5.98
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$471.25
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$83.16
Total project goal
$554.41
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$554.41
6 Donors
-$554.41
Donations toward project cost
-$471.25
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Eden and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
