A Calm First Grade Classroom to Learn & Thrive Daily!

Funded Sep 15, 2024

Our school is older. Being built like a bomb shelter there is very little natural light. The school suppliments the lack of natural light with harsh floresent lighting. My room specifically is located abutting the school gym. There are no free periods in our gymnasium, it is ALWAYS loud. My neighboring teacher's smart board active panel is on the other side of my room. The sound for her panel is located against the wall, a wall my room shares. She tries to be mindful but her class needs to hear and she does a lot of "brain breaks" even at a lower volume it blares through my first grade room.

The generous gift you sponsored of hearing protection and light covers have not only made our days more calm, they have helped to cut down on behaviors that make teaching difficult. Additionally the gifts have provided an inviting learning space for little learners, the lighting and sound dampering helps my students focus by meeting their basic needs. Other classroom teachers even take their breaks in my room when it's empty because this is a prevailing problem at SES and the conditions get to us even as educators.

We also cannot thank you enough for the gift of flexible seating at our intervention table. Intervention is applied when a student is signifigantly below benchmark. The wobble stools you bought allow these students the freedom of movement they need and the comfort their bodies crave. I have seen a more sustained focus from students in intervention than before they had the stools. Comfort spurs attention and attention is key to learning. Thank you for the donation you gave which provided these sensory items.

We use them daily, infact just today a loud noise scared one of my more sensitive students and he rushed to wear his hearing protection. Your donation is appreciated and has been very effective. With care the impact will last years and years.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Glancy