Past projects 2
Seated Exercise and Focus...Oh My!
Funded Mar 9, 2022I cannot thank you enough for the wobble seats! I have a self-contained special education classroom. These classes are small but full of students with lots of excitement and extra energy. I requested the wobble seats as a way to allow students to get some of their "wiggles" out without disturbing the entire class. In addition for some students focusing on the core stability to stay on the seat allows for better attention to their assignments.
When the students first saw the wobble seats I am not sure that they recognized them. I suggested one of my main wigglers use one while he was having a one-on-one reading conference with me. Once I modeled how to use it, he sat down carefully and got the hang of the wobble after a few minutes. I could see some of the other students peering over the tops of their independent reading books. They know better than to interrupt me when I am conferencing with someone, but I knew the minute we were done hands would be waving to request a wobble seat.
The wobble seats were an instant hit! Sometimes I assign students to sit on them when I notice they could use a little "exercise". Other times they request to sit on them when they are feeling antsy. They have been used as a reward for the best-behaved group during class activities and they are the most requested item during any class party, game time, or frankly any time! Who knew a little wobble would bring so much joy?!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stewart
Leveling Up to Learn: Bringing Tech into the Classroom!
Funded Oct 30, 2021When I found out our project had been funded, I did not believe it at first! I knew it was on the expensive side, but my students needed the access and I believed it would make such a big difference for all of us. When it finally sunk in, I could not stop crying. My family thought I received some bad news, but I was glad to say they were tears of joy. I did not tell the children because I wanted them to be surprised when I handed them out. My cousin, who made a large donation to the project, told me she imagined me handing out laptops like Oprah on the Favorite Things Episode. "You get a laptop! You get a laptop! Everybody gets a laptop!"
I unboxed the materials, preloaded the children's email addresses, numbered the laptops, and charged them up! The next day during math I called one group for teaching and I told the others that they would be working on Happy Numbers, an online math program that is tailored to students' specific needs. They looked confused, then one student raised his hand to ask if they were all going to take turns using my laptop. I pulled the laptop case out of the closet along with the headphones I purchased and called students up to receive them. Their eyes widened like it was Christmas. I explained that some kind, generous people made donations to make this possible and that it is important that we take good care of the laptops. That was the first time this school year that I was able to teach each group a lesson with no interruptions, while the other groups were completely engaged in a developmentally appropriate activity. It was amazing!
Every day they are excited when they see the laptop case on the table. They volunteer to hand them out and pack and charge them at the end of the day. The students have been able to log on to Get Epic, an online reading resource that features an abundance of books, graphic novels, videos, audiobooks, and articles. We are currently working on essays about an inventor/invention that they find interesting. The laptops give them access to child-friendly article sites such as Ducksters and Kiddle. I have a range of reading and writing levels in my classroom and I have also been using an app called Mote which allows me to record instructions and audio tips for students to give them access to grade-level text and materials. I have had my lowest readers say, "I don't need help! I know what to do!" It confirms my feeling that requesting laptops was one of the best things I have done for my kids this year. These laptops have been a blessing to us in so many ways and we are so grateful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stewart