Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 41

Dearest Lipman farms, 

We are most grateful for your generous donation and huge hearts! Thanks to you, four classes filled with ESE students of mine (students with learning disabilities) have been able to make noticeable changes in their work habits/choices; a) wobbling on their wobbly stools and seat cushions vs. getting out of their seats, b) displaying improvement in motivation and concentration, c) showing noticeable social/emotional changes (with the freedom, autonomy, and ability to retriet to a fuzzy and soft/squishy flexible seating saucer chair when they are having a rough day/week at home. This has left them feeling empowered, cared for, supported, loved, and feeling renewed. 

As you well know, our students come from very hardworking families and often feel the wear and tear (and/or absence) of a loved family member/parent who has the burden of working long hours, multiple jobs, and/or have to up and move frequently. Our students are strong, brave, they are so loving and hardworking. But, they also are tired and often need that extra touch of love and comfort. 

Your donation provided the ability for those students who are at times suffering or struggling emotionally on top of academically to have a place that they can curl up and find comfort while working. It provided them a tool they needed to help channel their impulsivity issues and wiggles. It helped them to function in a more positive and productive way while still interacting with peers and fitting in socially without the stigma and attention being brought to their difficulties with staying still. 

Alternatively, the flexible seating granted our students (who range from mild to severe learning disabilities/behavior issues- they co-exist frequently due to frustration)  the ability to feel a little bit more normal, in control, important/valued and trusted since we were able to give them the choice of alternative seating with the understanding that leadership behaviors are expected when utilizing them.

When given that special privilege and opportunity, the majority of the students are and have been on-task and as a result improving academically. Two boys in a picture attached very rarely are recognized for achieving high marks or attaining high points. 

These boys  have severe impulsivity issues combined with a learning disability (one of the kiddos) and requires a constant need for movement and need for a secondary source  to help them focus (music , fidget item, wobble stool/cushion, etc.). This impulsivity issue typically causes behavioral problems to escalate and ends up with consequences from the teachers due to their constant distruptions,  lack of work completion, inability to focus on school work, and ultimately disruptive their peers ability to concentrate and learn. However, these stools and wobble cushions alter those impulsivities and allow for a positive way to manage them. 

Your donations allowed us to purchased several wobble stools, cushions, saucer chairs, big pink stuffed chairs and we are beyond grateful for your generosity and support of our sweet Immokalee kiddos. 

There was even an improvement even in attendance! Thank you for providing them with an outlet for their wiggles, a tool for their impulsivity issues (and need to fidget and move without getting out of their seats), comfort for those struggling and suffering, motivation and incentive for them to work harder and earn other flexible seating privileges, the opportunity to build pride and honor for those students who chose to use them and prove that they would be leaders on them. The effects I could write about for quite some time. But in just these very few pictures alone I believe that you will get a glimpse of how they were able to concentrate and work with peers better thanks to your kindness. They are smiling and happy or peaceful and concentrating so beautifully in their pink or saucer chairs finding comfort while learning in safe and warm environment. You can see the excitement in some kiddos eyes because they look forward to coming to school every day and being able to utilize one of the items and try the various stools, cushions, chairs, lap desks. You wil see deep concentration from the students in the pictures, even though they are on a wobble chair doing their reading or computer lesson/task. This is  because the stools do their magic and allow just enough movement to help them adjust their focus and stay on-task while feeling as if they are free and the movement is a ride at a park. Most of all you, will see content and caring children who are excelling and trying harder / motivated just a little bit more by this change in their environment and by being given "choices" . Thanks so much for making their lives better, easier, making them feel important and worthy of nice items while providing items that help them succeed. We are most grateful.