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Ms. Shannon from New London, CT is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Shannon is requesting

Don't Sit Still!

My students need to move during instruction - sitting still stinks!

  • $561 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are the future scientists and mathematicians that will save our planet. I teach in an urban district that is Connecticut's first all magnet district. My school is the district's STEM magnet school and we serve approximately 650 students grades preK-5. I have taught in this district for 19 years, 15 of them at this school, and have taught grades 1 - 3.

This year I am moving to 5th grade!

I look forward to the challenge of learning a new curriculum while experiencing the developmental highs and lows of fifth graders. I will be teaching math and science to two groups of students, from nineteen different towns. I taught several of them when they were third graders two years ago and look forward to seeing them again.

In third grade, I worked hard to create a love of math and science in my students and I hope to build on that this year. Winthrop STEM students are intelligent, inquisitive, and active. They love to get their hands dirty and really dig in to new projects. Our school has two, fairly large, garden areas that students design, plant, and maintain. Winthrop borders Riverside Park, where students further explore nature.

My Project

My students have a very long school day. They arrive at 7:30 for breakfast, begin instruction at 8:00, and leave for home at 3:50. That is a long time to be expected to sit still and stay focused. In fact, I have found that sitting still often interferes with students' ability to focus. I allow my students to move during instruction. They can choose to stand, kneel, or sit in a comfortable way that doesn't interfere with the learning of others. That said, sitting in our traditional class chairs is still challenging for the majority of students. I would like to provide a variety of options for my students to improve their ability to focus and improve their learning.

"In 2003, a study was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluding that in students with ADHD, sitting on therapy balls improved behavior and legible word productivity.

In other words, students using ball chairs were able to sit still, focus, and write more words clearly. Mayo Clinic in Rochester seconded those findings in 2007 with a study on the benefits of a chairless classroom. In the Mayo study, which focused on improving learning and reducing obesity by making children more active, researchers found that the ability to move around more while sitting made the students more attentive. Mayo Clinic communications consultant Bob Nellis told the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune that he believes this is because kids are able to burn off excess energy by bouncing on a ball."

I am requesting several different types of movement-based seating including several ball chairs and some more subtle movement cushions. This will allow students to choose which chair best meets their individual needs. Students will be able to improve their focus and attention, improving their learning and the quality of their work.

Ms. Shannon
Grades 3-5

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chair, Purple • Amazon Business $52.49 5 $262.45
Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball, Lime • Amazon Business $19.98 5 $99.90
Air Stability Wobble Cushion, Blue, 35cm/14in Diameter, Balance Disc, Pump Included • Amazon Business $15.50 5 $77.50

Materials cost

$439.85

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.60

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$476.45

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$84.08

Total project goal

$560.53

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $560.53

11 Donors

-$554.52

Donations toward project cost

-$476.45

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$78.07

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$6.01

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Shannon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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