First grade is where all the magic happens! At the beginning of the year, many students are still learning letter sounds. By the end of the year, they are not only reading chapter books, but writing them too! My students are a vivacious group of inquisitive and eager learners! They amaze me on a daily basis with their enthusiasm and the hard work they put into learning to “crack the code” most of us adults now take for granted.
My twenty-two students include English Language Learners, students on free or reduced price lunch and students with special needs.
To accommodate their diverse learning styles, I use a multi-modal approach to teaching including technology, movement, song, games and hands-on activities. Through Reader's and Writer's Workshop, I am able to help each child learn at their own pace, while keeping them engaged. They love “shopping” for new books and are so proud when we have “publishing parties” where they can share their own writing with others.
It is truly inspirational to see how hard these children work and the progress they make throughout the school year. They are amazing people and bring me more joy than I ever could have imagined!
My Project
My first graders just wrote persuasive letters telling why they need wobble stools for the classroom. The reasons they gave were: they would help them concentrate better, get exercise, work off their excess energy, and develop good posture. As a matter of fact, it was the number one requested item in their letters!
By having seating options that support active students, my first graders will be able to make positive choices in order to take control of their own learning.
I have already seen the impact that these seats can have. One of my students was often getting off task, unable to diffuse his own excess energy in a positive way, distracting both himself and the students around him. I managed to get him one of these stools, and since then he has been so much more focused! Another student has low core strength and is often slumped over her desk. When she borrowed a wobble stool she was able to sit up and get some writing done.
If I can have a set of these stools, I can make sure the students who need them regularly can always have them available, and there will be extras for the students that would benefit from having them as an option they can choose.
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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. Rausch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
