Flexible Seating, Modern Learning
Donation protected
Hello and thank you for supporting this cause,
My name is Gavin Alexander and I am concluding my first year of teaching. I have a third grade class of 27 students at Spring Mill Elementary School in MSD Washington Township. I received my Bachelor's Degree in elementary education from Hanover College in May of 2017.
As I wrap up my first year teaching, I am already looking for ways to improve the quality of my instruction for next year and beyond. A highly effective teacher in my opinion is someone who develops engaging lessons and activities to meet the needs of all learners, provides/builds a positive classroom that is welcoming to students of all backgrounds, encourages collaboration, manages time, space, and students, all while challenging students to exceed their expectations. My goal as a teacher is to be highly effective in all areas to provide the foundational educational skills needed for children to be successful in the future.
These are all goals that I will continue to push myself to achieve, but there is one area that I need your help. The funds raised will all go towards flexible seating. My school was built in 1959 and modified in 1984, meaning all of the desks and chairs are from that same time period. Teaching strategies and practices continue to advance, but the classrooms we are provided are outdated. Flexible seating allows students to choose the work setting that allows them to learn best. It is known that there are different types of learners (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), so why are all of the desks the same?
(Current Class)
My plans will result in a more positive classroom environment, encourage students to want to come to school, increase attention span, and differentiate the seating to meet all student needs.
(Flexible Seating Example, I do not own the rights to this picture.)
My vision is to get rid of desks completely and replace them with three rectangular activity tables ($100-140 ea.), seating six students each, and two circular tables with dry erase tops ($300 ea.), each seating four to five students. As for seating, one rectangular table will be at ground level with pillows/cushions for students to sit on the floor, one rectangular table with wobble stools ($100 ea.),a high rectangular table with bar stools and the option to stand while working, one circular table with exercise balls as seats and one with regular seating. Storage and organization for each table is something I will provide on my own but these are all things that I cannot.
I plan on teaching for at least the next twenty years before pursuing a career in administration. With a minimum of twenty-five students each year, your donation will benefit at least five hundred students over this time span. Think about which class you would have liked to learn in, which class you would want to send your kids to and which class is more appealing to eight and nine year old children.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Even if you are unable to donate, sharing this cause will help me to reach a larger audience and increase the likelihood of reaching this goal.
Any leftover/excess funds will go toward school supplies and growing my class library. Thank you in advance.
Learn more about flexible seating and the benefits it provides at:
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/flexible-seating-student-centered-classroom-kayla-delzer
My name is Gavin Alexander and I am concluding my first year of teaching. I have a third grade class of 27 students at Spring Mill Elementary School in MSD Washington Township. I received my Bachelor's Degree in elementary education from Hanover College in May of 2017.
As I wrap up my first year teaching, I am already looking for ways to improve the quality of my instruction for next year and beyond. A highly effective teacher in my opinion is someone who develops engaging lessons and activities to meet the needs of all learners, provides/builds a positive classroom that is welcoming to students of all backgrounds, encourages collaboration, manages time, space, and students, all while challenging students to exceed their expectations. My goal as a teacher is to be highly effective in all areas to provide the foundational educational skills needed for children to be successful in the future.
These are all goals that I will continue to push myself to achieve, but there is one area that I need your help. The funds raised will all go towards flexible seating. My school was built in 1959 and modified in 1984, meaning all of the desks and chairs are from that same time period. Teaching strategies and practices continue to advance, but the classrooms we are provided are outdated. Flexible seating allows students to choose the work setting that allows them to learn best. It is known that there are different types of learners (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), so why are all of the desks the same?
(Current Class)My plans will result in a more positive classroom environment, encourage students to want to come to school, increase attention span, and differentiate the seating to meet all student needs.
(Flexible Seating Example, I do not own the rights to this picture.)My vision is to get rid of desks completely and replace them with three rectangular activity tables ($100-140 ea.), seating six students each, and two circular tables with dry erase tops ($300 ea.), each seating four to five students. As for seating, one rectangular table will be at ground level with pillows/cushions for students to sit on the floor, one rectangular table with wobble stools ($100 ea.),a high rectangular table with bar stools and the option to stand while working, one circular table with exercise balls as seats and one with regular seating. Storage and organization for each table is something I will provide on my own but these are all things that I cannot.
I plan on teaching for at least the next twenty years before pursuing a career in administration. With a minimum of twenty-five students each year, your donation will benefit at least five hundred students over this time span. Think about which class you would have liked to learn in, which class you would want to send your kids to and which class is more appealing to eight and nine year old children.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Even if you are unable to donate, sharing this cause will help me to reach a larger audience and increase the likelihood of reaching this goal.
Any leftover/excess funds will go toward school supplies and growing my class library. Thank you in advance.
Learn more about flexible seating and the benefits it provides at:
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/flexible-seating-student-centered-classroom-kayla-delzer
Organizer
Gavin Alexander
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN