Children need to move: a lot of children have sensory challenges, which can make learning difficult. As a special education teacher, I have learned over the years that kids need to move. They, like adults, have a hard time sitting for long periods of time.
My students are more successful when they have the ability to move and learn at the same time.
Sensory challenges are also increasing in our school. My students benefit from removing or lessening these challenges. This also helps them to understand the needs of their bodies and to meet them in an appropriate way.
I love my students and their individuality. They are all so different, yet they are the same. They want to be learners who are successful in school. They want to be like everyone else. They want to be smart. They also want to have some choices or control over their lives. A lot of my students don't have that in their lives. Flexible seating does that for them, giving them choices and control. With different needs come different solutions.
My Project
With flexible seating, students have a choice about what they want to sit on. Flexible seating gives students the chance to move away from the table and work independently using a clipboard, iPad, or just read a book.
Seating choices will give a student the ability to independently learn how to recognize and meet their physical and sensory needs, giving them the ability to focus on their work while strengthening their bodies.
Teaching students how to recognize their own needs and appropriately advocate for those needs is very important to me. Once a child can recognize what they need, they can then make choices that support that need independently and then can focus on the academics.
Sensory challenges are also addressed with these types of seating. Students can work on their core strength, have a softer seat, or the ability to sit in a way that makes learning more productive for themselves.
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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 Ms. Kris and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.