First grade is a crucial year! Students begin to define themselves with respect to what kind of learners they are. I try to make my classroom a place that is positive, encouraging, and conveys the message “You can do it”. I teach children from many backgrounds, with different learning strengths and needs. They all have one thing in common, they are children. They like to move! My teaching must be flexible and individualized. I work to create the best learning experiences I can for them.
My students are precious first graders who are eager to learn and grow!
Our school is a small, rural school with approximately 450 students in pre-k through eighth grade. They live in area of high poverty. Approximately seventy-five percent of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Forty-eight percent of these students speak English as a second language.
My students all have an overwhelming desire to learn. They are caring, kind, and curious. They are hungry to learn.
Each fall as the new school year begins, we work diligently to build a sense of “school family” in our class. I facilitate activities which allow the children to get to know each other and learn more about each other. In a small community such as ours, many know each other from previous years. Sometimes, my job is to help my students see each other in a new light.
Each member of our little “family” brings a precious gift to the group.
It is important that we all see and celebrate each other’s gifts. It is equally important that we see the differences that make us special and unique.
Flexible seating will allow my students to make choices for themselves based upon their own learning and physical needs. Each child is allowed to chose his/her “smart” seat where he/she feels they will learn and work best. They take responsibility and ownership of their learning. Flexible seating allows my students to use the knowledge they have gained about themselves, their classmates, and tolerance and empathy to make choices. Wobble seats are especially good for children who need a little movement as they work. This project would help me build a classroom where children will feel safe, comfortable, and accepted.