I am so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to stop and read this post. I hope that you will consider partnering with me to make a difference in the lives of my students.

As some of you know, I currently have two fundraising projects open for my kindergarten class. One is through Donor's Choose to purchase a class library for my classroom and the other is through GoFundMe to purchase supplies for alternative seating and Daily 5. Let me give you a little background into my classroom and the research that I have done.

Kindergarten is the foundation for students' academic career. A lot of students come to us at the beginning of the year with no idea how to hold a pencil, use scissors, sit in a desk or play well with others. For some, this is their first social experience.With common core and the push for more rigor in Kindergarten, play is no longer a large part of our students' day. I try hard to implement play as much as I can, but the demand is so high that it proves to be very difficult.

Last year was my first year in kindergarten, and I learned a lot about those little minds and bodies. A handful of my students had already been diagnosed with ADHD and were on medication. Their little minds and bodies must be actively engaged all of the time, and this becomes trying when there is work that must be done that is less than exciting. I also saw that some of my students were not independent in many areas and were not willing to venture to try things on their own.

Alternative Seating

I try to instill in my students a sense of confidence and exploration. I strive to make them independent learners (yes, in Kindergarten) and to have them experience things for themselves. With alternative seating, my students will have a choice of where they sit to work each time they are sent from the carpet. I am hoping to have seating options such as yoga balls and cushions, crate seats and yoga mats, as well as lap desks and clipboards. Students will be able to stand or lie down. However best they learn and work is what I will teach them to choose. Students who are constantly squirming won't be required to sit rigidly in a seat and students who like to curl up with their books will have the opportunity to do so. There has been research that says alternative seating can help to keep students focused for longer as well as combat restlessness.

Daily 5