My students need some new floor cushions, bouncy chair bands, and some wobble stools, to complete the flexible seating choices available for my classroom.
Our class consists of two dozen uniquely energetic, creative, motivated seven and eight year old students, heading full STEAM ahead into second grade. Ours is a neighborhood school, serving the families of our city since 1953. Our class and the school has an amazing group of children from a fabulously diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Unfortunately, high poverty is part of the experience for most of these young learners.
These wonderfully wiggly young learners deserve every advantage as we work together to improve achievement in reading, math, and science by focusing on the whole child - building confidence while fostering their creativity and curiosity.
Lifelong learners are created by lighting the spark of imagination that drives a passion to learn.
I teach my students through rich, integrated units that make connections between literature, science, math, social studies, and the arts. Every unit begins with all of us together at the carpet, with a rich piece of children's literature.
Thank you for taking the time to read about how we can work together to provide for tools for imaginative creation, collaboration, and authentic learning experiences in our classroom.
My Project
Seven and eight year olds can be tremendously energetic! This is not always conducive to getting seat-work done effectively in the primary classroom, especially if we as teachers are struggling to get the students to "sit still" in hard plastic chairs. Some students work just fine at their tables, but for others it can be an uphill battle.
Some students are best able to focus their minds when their bodies are free to wiggle, wobble, sway, or stand.
Flexible seating offers students this freedom. I have been using flexible seating successfully in the classroom, in increasing amounts over the past three years- incorporating balance ball chairs, wobble cushions, standing stations, and a low, coffee-table-height table.
The low table is one of the favorite spots. But the floor cushions I have for that table right now are flimsy and in need of replacement. These new cushions would be a comfortable (and washable) seating option for that table and the classroom "library" table seating. The bouncy chair bands stretch across the front of the typical hard plastic chairs, allowing some resistance and freedom of movement for even those students who usually just prefer a regular plastic chair. The wobble stools, which I've had my eye on for a long time, will be a great solution for my super-wiggly kids who need the freedom of movement that they would find with our balance ball chairs, yet still do not possess the self-management to keep from bouncing and playing on the ball chairs. The fact that these stools are adjustable are a great advantage over other similar wobble stools. Thanks for reading about ideas for supporting our classroom!
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