So towards the end of last year after asking my principal if I could move from regular desks and chairs to tables, my principal put it into my head to try out some flexible seating.
I read many articles and even followed many posts on FB and IG of teachers that were using flexible seating. Unfortunately, we did not have the money to move my classroom to a flexible seating one. Many items are not cheap! Well, you don't know this about me but, I once I have something set in my mind, I am determined to make it work.
We scavenged tables from school buildings that were closing, so that was pretty much covered! Next, how was I going to get what I wanted for seating.
That is when I finally decided to look into DonorsChoose.org! An organization that connects donors with classrooms in need. Of course I jumped in full steam ahead! Even though they suggested that projects be under a certain amount, I made a project more than double that! DonorsChoose was not easy exactly. I spent many hours and dollars entering contests for DonorsChoose gift cards. And all during my family summer RV vacation out West. Yes they were not thrilled with me some days with the amount of time I spent on my phone or computer in the evenings.
With some luck I was able to get that project fulfilled and a few more with many donations from some interesting people, major corporations, foundations, friends, and family.
Now..... my room is decked out! I have bean bag chairs, wobbles stools (two different styles), ball chairs on wheels, desk chairs on wheels, Zenergy chairs, a bench at a low table, cube seats, and I am sure I am forgetting something! How do my students like the seating? They love it! Has it changed how they work and their focus on learning? I am not fully sure since we began the year this way and I do not have anything to compare it to with this class. For evidence like that I should have started out the year with regular desks and chairs and then switched to the new items to see the difference. What I do know is that our class is a community, students are eager to get to the classroom in the morning to choose their seat, we respect one another, choose our seats wisely, and for the most part my students are engaged! I'd say thats a good thing!
 |
| TPTFLOCK2017!! |
Welcome! I feel compelled for this to be my first blog post. I recently attended a Teachers Pay Teachers meet up in Rochester, New York. I can not even begin to express how
lucky I felt to be among such wonderful, amazing teachers from across the country!
Not only did I make many new friends, but I also learned so much about teaching and creating curriculum that is more engaging for my students!
I will be honest here. A year ago I was at a point in my teaching and personal health where I was not sure if I was really going to be able to continue teaching. The stress was causing many heath issues and I was really struggling with if I would be able to go back to the classroom. It was at that time that I decided to join the Teachers Pay Teachers community.
This was my second large meet up with the Teachers Pay Teachers community and I am so thankful to be associated with this company and the teacher authors that make it what it is. I not only have found a renewed passion for the classroom, but the friendships I have developed in the year that I have been apart of this has been so encouraging. I am now friends with teachers from around the world! The things that I have learned from them, even after my 20 years of teaching, has been so invaluable to me.
I have grown in so many ways. I have learned coding, graphic styling, I have discovered fonts, clip art (even dabbled a little in making my own clip art, something I never thought I'd do!), I have learned to work with online tools and apps, marketing, and even setting up my own graphics on my blog! The best thing of all???....... My students are more engaged in their learning because I am more engaged in my own learning and teaching! Thank you TPT for changing my life and in turn changing my students' lives.
So back to my blog here..... It is my hope to share my learning, the ups and downs, and just my thoughts on things all educational... well mostly educational!
💜 Kerry
