How can I provide a well diverse reading curriculum that is challenging as well as engaging for all my students? As a teacher in a variation of medium/low-income/high poverty community, my students and I are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences. This will include a multi-cultural curriculum that all my students could enjoy. The curriculum needs to be engaging, challenging and very creative. The students I teach are enthusiastic and ready to learn. They have a desire to excel and do their very best. The school community is 70% low income with 80% free or reduced-price lunch. The academic achievement is very diverse ranging from students with disabilities to ESL to gifted and talented.
My Project
Flexible seating allows students to find comfortable positions throughout the classroom. Comfortable students are calm, focused, and productive. Students learn better when they have a chance to work together. Children need to move. Flexible seating allows them to wobble, rock, bounce, lean or stand, which increases oxygen flow to the brain, blood flow and core strength. In turn, this burns more calories and increases metabolism. It also helps keep young minds more alert and focused. An uncomfortable student, is a distracted and unproductive student. For example, picture a student who skipped or didn’t have access to breakfast. As the countdown to lunch approaches, the sound of his or her growling stomach will make it impossibly hard to hear the teacher’s voice. A uncomfortable chair can have the same affect. Flexible seating encourages students to find their best spot to stay calm, focused and productive. Traditional desks can make students territorial or possessive over their space and supplies. Flexible seating encourages students to share both. And, it encourages them to take turns in different locations and with different seating options. Many flexible seating options stimulate students’ sense of touch. This type of stimulation can help children focus and process information. Sensory input is especially helpful for students with ADHD, ADD, and ASD. Flexible seating helps make learning fun.
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