I am a current second grade teacher in a school district with students that have goals in academics, however have limited resources in grasping them. Families in our community typically struggle to make ends meet. More than seventy percent of our students receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch daily, which is calculated based on income.
In the past years, I have worked with many students coming from environments of lower socio-economic status and limited to prior knowledge and accessibility to resources.
These students struggle with learning the way other students in the classroom may learn. Visual and hands-on materials as well as a flexible classroom space can assist in academic improvement and in forming connections. The use of videos can also encourage the building of vocabulary and about topics they have limited knowledge about due to not having opportunities to experience them.
Along with students of a lower socio-economic environments, I also work regularly with students of increased academic needs. These students can be on specialized plans that are set to meet their academic needs (IEPs). These students usually require special needs and with that, many times the information taught in the classroom needs to be introduced differently.
My Project
In classrooms today, teachers and students alike encourage acceptance in each other for their differences and unique qualities. Many times this includes students that may have attention struggles. Some students cannot sit for longer periods of time in one space. Many classrooms today are focusing on a "flexible" arrangement which allows students to move throughout the daytime without being in trouble or even showing others they are different.
In my classroom, differences are accepted and appreciated in students.
Some students can really benefit from the movement created with seats such as wobble chairs. The wobble chairs allow students to move without having to stand at their own seats. Usually in my room now, students like these particular ones, have desks in the back of the room to allow them to stand at their seats without being a distraction or in the way for instruction when using the projector. These chairs will greatly benefit these students who need to just get out those wiggles while learning!
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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. Thomas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
