This group of students is FULL of boys (38 of the 60!!) and as you can imagine they can be very restless. They are constantly standing, bouncing, shifting in their seats, flipping their chairs over to find "new" ways to sit in them, and making chairs out of step-stools, boxes, crates, etc. Even the girls enjoy completing group work while standing or moving to a quiet corner on the floor to work independently. Bottom line, they are limited to 28 student desks and chairs and obviously are not comfortable.
Think about the place you can get your best work done; chances are it isn't in a traditional desk. These students are a bright, hard-working group but they desperately need options other than the traditional desk. The fifth grade curriculum is FULL of academic challenges like multiplying fractions, dividing decimals, and simplifying equations. It is very hard for the students to focus and stay engaged in the learning process when they are struggling to sit still or get comfortable.
By having the option to stand at a countertop height table, I can provide a way for students to work without a chair at all. Standing to work has been a 504 accommodation for students in my classroom for the past 4 years because research shows ADHD students are much more productive when they aren't focused on sitting still. Additionally, wobble cushions and lap desks would be easy to move and students could quickly find a spot to collaborate comfortably on the floor. Wobble stools would also be easy to move around and can help students move in a way that isn't distracting to themselves or their peers.
Providing my classroom with several seating options for working both independently and in groups will improve their engagement and involvement!
About my class
This group of students is FULL of boys (38 of the 60!!) and as you can imagine they can be very restless. They are constantly standing, bouncing, shifting in their seats, flipping their chairs over to find "new" ways to sit in them, and making chairs out of step-stools, boxes, crates, etc. Even the girls enjoy completing group work while standing or moving to a quiet corner on the floor to work independently. Bottom line, they are limited to 28 student desks and chairs and obviously are not comfortable.
Think about the place you can get your best work done; chances are it isn't in a traditional desk. These students are a bright, hard-working group but they desperately need options other than the traditional desk. The fifth grade curriculum is FULL of academic challenges like multiplying fractions, dividing decimals, and simplifying equations. It is very hard for the students to focus and stay engaged in the learning process when they are struggling to sit still or get comfortable.
By having the option to stand at a countertop height table, I can provide a way for students to work without a chair at all. Standing to work has been a 504 accommodation for students in my classroom for the past 4 years because research shows ADHD students are much more productive when they aren't focused on sitting still. Additionally, wobble cushions and lap desks would be easy to move and students could quickly find a spot to collaborate comfortably on the floor. Wobble stools would also be easy to move around and can help students move in a way that isn't distracting to themselves or their peers.
Providing my classroom with several seating options for working both independently and in groups will improve their engagement and involvement!
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