This year I taught an energetic bunch of creative, hilarious, and kind first graders who had faced more adversity in their 7 years than many of us teachers have in our entire lives. Despite their challenges, my students came to school each day with a smile on their face and positive energy that fueled our learning and growth throughout the entire year. When I interviewed to become a teacher I was asked, "Do you agree with the statement: 'A child's job is to learn and a teacher's job is to teach'? After what seemed like one of the most challenging years of my life, I ended this school year with a wealth of knowledge that I can only thank my students for.
They taught me how to smile through the hard days, how to keep trying even when things get hard, and that no matter what the most important thing is that we are kind to each other.
These students deserve not only an amazing education, but an education that is designed for their various needs, strengths, and unique personalities.
My Project
Flexible seating allows students to take ownership of their learning and make positive choices that will promote learning and independence. During independent and group work times, my students were able to choose a location in the classroom that worked best for them. They could choose to work in a variety of locations in our room such as: at different tables, on the floor with lap desks or even rocking in our rocking chair with a clipboard. Making sure students are comfortable is a critical component in keeping them engaged. I have noticed significant differences in my students when they are given a choice in their seating. They almost always made good choices about where they sit, were more engaged, and got more work completed than when they were just sitting at their desk.
The products that I have selected will benefit my students by giving them a variety of seating options that will promote engagement, motivation, and movement.
The wobble stools are adjustable and will allow students to sit at desk/higher tables but will still allow some movement. These will be extremely beneficial for some students that just need to get the wiggles out. The comfy floor seats and the listening center will provide them with a cozy place to relax and dive into their books.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Arnold and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
