Fidget-Friendly Classroom

Funded Sep 23, 2021

As the school year began, my students were so excited about our new furniture that would allow them alternatives to the desk and chair that they were used to. They took turns with the wobble stool and bouncy seats, and rushed to the floor desks for silent reading time and independent writing. When they felt comfortable, their reading stamina and focus began to improve. I saw a huge change in those students that wanted to do anything but read at the start of the year - now they were reading whole chapter books in just a few days.

When they were first given introduced to the new seating options, they were first seen as toys rather than to help them learn. However, as we learned about the purpose of the new furniture and students began to see their growth and the comfort they felt to sit how and where they wanted to, they took it much more seriously. Having the freedom to move around and to enjoy their time in the classroom that much more helped to strengthen our classroom community. Students began to take turns and offered the wobble stool when they felt that someone else needed it more. It was more than just a seating option, but a tool.

I am so grateful to have received this gift for my classroom and I know that it will continue to help students with their focus and comfort. As a kid, this is something I never imagined having, and I know that my students are thankful to have had access to this type of furniture that they would not have had without your support. I am looking forward to seeing the type of impact that it will have on my next group of kids!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Armstrong