In the two years I have taught my class, we have used bean bags every day. Whether it is to help my students practice their cool down strategies (deep breathing, counting to 10, etc.), or during independent reading, our bean bags have been through a lot with us. Unfortunately, last year a bed bug outbreak in the classroom forced us to throw out our classroom bean bags. I am taking this opportunity to order some brand new, blue and green bean bags to help create a new, ocean-themed classroom library. My students will have access to these comfortable seating options throughout the day to read, complete independent work, and take a "cool down break." For example, if a student is getting frustrated during instruction, he or she has the opportunity to remove him/herself from the situation, get a bean bag, and go to the cool down area with minimal classroom interruptions. Practicing this skill helps my students take control of their emotions, something they need to be taught explicitly due to their emotional disturbances and disabilities.
The donations for this project will improve my classroom by giving my students the motivation to read/complete work independently, as well as using their learned coping skills to have a successful day with minimal behavioral outbursts. Due to the nature of my students' disabilities, it is difficult to motivate them to read and work independently. They crave attention and one-on-one interactions that I am not always able to give them as their teacher. In order to facilitate independent work, I am constantly looking for ways to motivate them. I have found that the opportunity to get out of their chairs and complete their work in a more warm, inviting environment makes a huge difference in their motivation!
About my class
In the two years I have taught my class, we have used bean bags every day. Whether it is to help my students practice their cool down strategies (deep breathing, counting to 10, etc.), or during independent reading, our bean bags have been through a lot with us. Unfortunately, last year a bed bug outbreak in the classroom forced us to throw out our classroom bean bags. I am taking this opportunity to order some brand new, blue and green bean bags to help create a new, ocean-themed classroom library. My students will have access to these comfortable seating options throughout the day to read, complete independent work, and take a "cool down break." For example, if a student is getting frustrated during instruction, he or she has the opportunity to remove him/herself from the situation, get a bean bag, and go to the cool down area with minimal classroom interruptions. Practicing this skill helps my students take control of their emotions, something they need to be taught explicitly due to their emotional disturbances and disabilities.
The donations for this project will improve my classroom by giving my students the motivation to read/complete work independently, as well as using their learned coping skills to have a successful day with minimal behavioral outbursts. Due to the nature of my students' disabilities, it is difficult to motivate them to read and work independently. They crave attention and one-on-one interactions that I am not always able to give them as their teacher. In order to facilitate independent work, I am constantly looking for ways to motivate them. I have found that the opportunity to get out of their chairs and complete their work in a more warm, inviting environment makes a huge difference in their motivation!
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