Stand Up Kids

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Hello Support Team!

Thank you so much for contributing to this project. It was been a few months since you got involved and it is well past time to let you know how things are going. Our project was fully funded last spring, but with summer coming on the order was placed this fall. I am a pleased to say that a lot of other people must be interested in stand-up desks because our item was on back order and it took a little while to get our delivery.

Once it arrived, it was an immediate hit in the classroom. The first week or so, everyone had to take a turn just because it was new and interesting. We had some great group discussions on taking turns, as well as how to use the desk safely. The desk comes with a "kick-bar" and we had a few conversations about how to use it safely - resting only one foot on it rather than using it like a swing for both feet. Once the initial excitement wore off, students started to use the desk in a more thoughtful manner. A few students have become regulars at the desk, students that no longer tip their chairs or sprawl across shared table space because they are able to channel their energy in a more controlled fashion

An unexpected use of the desk has come up during our free-choice time. The desk has a low shelf for books and a group of students used this feature to convert the whole desk into a multi-level community with blocks and dolls. This was a great extension of our recent Social Studies unit on community, and it was wonderful to see students explore, and expand, the generally expected use of the desk.

The stand-up desk continues to be a great resource in the classroom. It has provided students who need an outlet for physical movement and energy a resource that supports their learning at the same time that it respects their individual needs for movement. The unexpected use of the desk during dramatic play is a further reminder that young children are capable of interesting leaps of both imaginative and functional creativity when given the opportunity to explore their surroundings.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Trowbridge

Thank you so much for your donation to our Stand-up Desks! The students have really enjoyed them and they have realized the benefits of having the option to stand throughout the day. These stand-up desks have allowed me to create the classroom I have yearned to create. I have tried to create an environment that allows the students many different options for working throughout the day and these have helped greatly.

My students truly enjoy using these desks throughout the day and they especially like the 'wiggle bar' each desk has. When the students are standing at these desks, the bar is rarely still. This allows for so much wiggling, which so many students need. I also like the opportunity to stand and teach at these desks when working with small groups.

Thanks so much for all your support,

Sincerely,

Ellen Smith”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Smith

When the stand up desks arrived, my students were very excited to be able to use them. The stand up desks are giving my students the opportunity to stand while learning. My students' favorite aspect of the desks are the fidget bars. They love being able to move their feet while they are working on assignments.

Right now, we are beginning our study of American contributors. We will begin with our study of Martin Luther King Jr. Hopefully our stand up desks will inspire us to be contributors ourselves.

My honest belief, as an educator, is that these students need to be able to exert this energy in order to do their best learning and these desks are a huge step toward doing that!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Moreland

I wanted to personally thank you for donating to my Donors Choose project. My students were excited when the desks arrived and even helped me put them together. The desks are being used during every class period. Most students choose to go to the stand up desks on their own and have reported that it helps them with focus. Other students like to go to the stand up desks during assessments because they say it helps them concentrate and that using the kick stand helps to ease their stress. There are a couple of students who I send to the stand up desks because I can see they are tired or having a difficult time staying focused. During my planning period, I even use the stand up desks, I feel I am more productive and less tired when I am standing up.

The stand up desks have provided me and my students with an alternative to the typical classroom set up. Other teachers in my school have admired the desks and are now making steps to get a few added to their classrooms.

I appreciate your donation to my project, it is making a big difference in my classroom!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Cummings

What an incredible gift you have given us. Here, at Vallecito Elementary School, our students are thriving in ever way imaginable because of your generous donations towards our cause. By having our students work at standing desks as opposed to working seated and sedentary during class, we have noticed an increase in student engagement, energy, and collaboration amongst students. Teacher surveys at our school indicate that many positive changes have occured in both their teaching and their students' learning. Some feedback we have received is:

-More student attentiveness

-The ability for students to move freely around the classsrom with addition of wheels, easily form new gorups.

-No more tripping over chairs

-Absorbs the wiggles

-Whole body is alert and engaged

-More alert in lessons

-Focused--the students are much quieter during their independent work while their foot/leg is active on their fidget bar.

-Challenges teachers to mix up my lesson more.

-Students are more physically and mentally engaged.

When the classrooms were furnished with standing desks at the beginning of the year, we could not believe how quickly and how well the students adjusted to them. With a very committed team of parents that came around to adjust the height of the desks to fit each of the students, the kids immediately became more engaged and alert during class. Because of the large, positive impact these desks have made on our school community, the media has taken interest in our schoo andl we have appeared in the news several times. Here are some links to check out and see Vallecito students and teachers in action with the standing desks:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vallecito-elementary-school-in-northern-california-brings-standing-desks-into-the-classroom/

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/california-school-children-step-standing-desks-n449496

http://www.bustle.com/articles/118161-california-school-introduces-standing-desks-in-classrooms-in-hopes-of-creating-a-healthier-learning-environment-for

https://www.facebook.com/NowThisNews/videos/927824177307707/

The profound change in student and teacher experience is all in thanks to you and your committment to our school and its health. We could not have predicted the incredible generosity you have shown or the incredible impact it has had on our students, staff and community.

Thank you for making our school a safe and healthy place for kids,

Amanda Gre”

With gratitude,

Ms. Grey

Thank you so much for your very generous contributions to our classroom. My students are enjoying the Stand-up desk and Balance Balls. Both items are helping the students focus and learn with great success. The students rotate turns with the three balance Balls and the Stand-Up desk. We have a morning and afternoon schedule just to accommodate as many students in a week as we possibly can. I am sure you will see their appreciation in their Thank-You letters. We will definitely put both items to great use all school year long, and beyond. Thank you again!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Gassel

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting this project. Stand-up desks have been an amazing addition to our classroom. My students absolutely love them! They truly enjoy having the option to stand and work. It is such a great release of extra energy for my students to be able to stand and to not be confined to sitting at a table. Of all of the work space options in our classroom, the stand-up desks are by far the students' favorite place to work.

I feel good about the fact that my students will experience health benefits from having the option to stand and work. Obviously, that is important to all of you too and I appreciate your support of education and of the health of our future.

My students were over the moon excited when our stand-up desks arrived and that excitement has not gone away. It is their go-to work space option, so much so that I am looking to add even more to our classroom.

Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, generosity, and support of education and my students. Please know that you have made a world of difference in their lives.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Fizel

My students absolutely love to stand up. They are constantly asking me when we can get more stand up desks. Each week we try to make sure every student gets a chance to use the desks. They really allow my students to burn off energy and work at their best potential. It is amazing that these desks would help with classroom behavior so much. Thank you for allowing us to get these desks and bring our classroom to the forefronts of education. I know that more classrooms will be requesting these in the future because they truly allow for the best education. I am so thankful that my students can now choose to stand up or sit down. I can't wait to get more! Thank you for blessing our classroom. You have made an impact on my students this year and many more students to come.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Melissa Smith

Thank you so much for your part in helping me to get 6 stand up desks for my classroom. The students really like them. I have lots of teachers and other adults stopping by to check them out and saying they wish they had one!

My students especially like the bar at the bottom they can swing their feet on. The desks are adjustable. I have one student sitting at one because he likes the foot swing. I had all the students try it for a day. Then I had them write on a sticky note whether they preferred to sit at a table or stand at a desk. Only 2 of the 25 students I have said they prefer to sit! So I assigned them a "home base" for when I'm instructing but when it is independent work time, they can move somewhere else. Having the freedom to move has been huge for some of the students. I also have a low table with pillows on the floor that some of them prefer. But really, having the option to sit in a chair, stand at a desk or sit on a pillow allows the movement that some of them truly need in able to be able to focus. I have had very few behavior problems this year and I believe some of that is due to the movement that is allowed with these desks. We are about to change who has the stand up desks as home base. I told them we'd do it monthly so they'll each get at least 2 months where that is their home base.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Heins

My students and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind and generous donation. Our classroom project Stand up! and Learn! has arrived and is being put to good use in our classroom. In the beginning I thought that I would leave it in the room for anyone to use but I quickly identified a student that would benefit greatly from this standing desk. He was having a hard time sitting but was still trying to pay attention. Now with this desk available to him, he is allowed to swing his foot on the foot bar, stand and still pay attention to the teacher. The desk is a great asset to our classroom and without your support we would not have been able to have such a valuable resource! Once again my students and I thank you for your kindness!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Leonard