Teen Learning Zone: Flexibility and Focus

Funded Feb 7, 2018

We have had about 2 months with our new materials and furniture! We were ecstatic when the boxes began coming and the kids wanted to put everything together immediately. At first, there was a lot of exploration and questions about the materials. After a few weeks, the kids started settling in and learning which tools were most helpful to them. Interestingly, their exploration with these materials has led to the students better understanding their own learning styles.

The students have been using our new materials regularly. In particular, the materials were crucial to student success during MCAS testing! Students were able to use the wiggle stools to stay focused and be able to move around during testing. The balance boards and elliptical machine were great for short, in classroom breaks (no need for students to wander the halls!). Each student had a fidget cube or tangle toy to fidget with, and both sets of headphones were used to block out noise. The yoga mats were out for stretching breaks on the rug. One student of mine was able to have a perfect set up for his needs. I set him up at a long table with a table top desk on one side (for standing), and a wiggle stool on the other side. He had a pair of headphones to block out noise, multiple fidget "toys," and study carrel boards around the table. He alternated between using the yoga mat and the elliptical machine for breaks. He tested for 4+ hours each MCAS day and these materials were the only reason he was able to stay so focused through the test! Another student of mine used to be too embarrassed to use our old "ear muffs" for noise cancellation, but he says he feels like a DJ with the new headphones and wears them every day!

Now that we have had a chance to test out these materials, we are working to get more to put in our general education classrooms as well. Our school is working hard to integrate more special education students into the general education classrooms, and these types of tools make a big difference making students feel comfortable in different classrooms. We are still getting daily compliments on our classroom (teachers are saying it feels like a living room!) and our room is filled with students who voluntarily stay after school to complete homework or get extra help. Our classroom has been transformed and has given students the opportunity to work and learn more comfortably and in a way that meets their needs. In addition, our new classroom has opened doors for talking about how students learn differently and the types of simple tools that can make a big difference for them. We are hoping to inspire other teachers to make similar changes in their classrooms and for students to advocate for themselves and their learning needs. We are all so grateful for your donations every day of the week!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Cabralis