Sembler - Cozy Classrooms

School:: Blanton Elementary School
Subject:: Other
Teacher:: Shannen Paetzold
Students Impacted:: 514
Grade:: Pre K - 5
Date:: November 12, 2021

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Sembler - $2,500.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 514

Teacher Name: Shannen Paetzold

Grade: Pre K -5 School: Blanton ES

Subject: Other

Project Title: Sembler – Cozy Classrooms

Dear Sponsor,

On behalf of Blanton Elementary, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for acting as a sponsor for our project, Cozy Classrooms. With your financial support we were able to provide much of the needed flexible seating and classroom gathering rugs for our students. We purchased new classroom gathering rugs, fidget bands and many other items to assist our student in the classroom.

The idea of this project is to provide students with different options for sitting in the classroom. Using non-traditional seating in the classroom allows students who are not normally engaged to be more engaged in their learning. With increased engagement comes more individual academic success. As a school community we hope to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of every child, and we believe that flexible seating will help. Our school is a Title One school and has students from various economic backgrounds. While students are at school, we hope to create a comfortable learning environment that students want to come to everyday.

With the use of flexible seating and gathering rugs, students should increase engagement. They will be able to sit on the floor while reading or on the computer. Students should feel comfortable enough to relax and create positive learning choices. Thus, learning can be very different and based on the individual needs of a student. This will also allow them to take ownership and make a choice that fits their individual needs

We are truly grateful for your support. It is because of the support from sponsors like you that we can provide the extra care for our students’ academic needs in the classroom!

Thank you,

Shannen Paetzold

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal is to provide students with a classroom environment where students feel safe, secure, and ready to learn. Using non-traditional seating areas throughout the classroom will allow a student to have a choice, and feel more comfortable, in their classroom. It will increase their engagement in independent learning which will in turn increase their overall academic success.

What will be done with my students

The funds from this grant would be utilized to allow students the use of flexible seating and flexible seating areas to have better access to areas in the classroom. Allowing students to have a variety of choices in their seating will help them feel more comfortable in their learning environment. Having options other than the traditional chairs will help them become, and stay, engaged in their learning. We know there are different types of learners and many students learn in different ways. If you take two students of the same age, gender, and race they both can approach their learning differently. There are people within the ergonomics community that have research that shows that sitting can be as complicated as our learning style. While we are told to sit still, our bodies are still moving. Flexible seating will give students options throughout the day. For instance, they might want to sit on the floor on a wobble cushion when they are reading to stay focused. Perhaps while completing their math work, they might need to stand to get movement. This can help them think straight, while remaining engaged with the learning task.

Benefits to my students

With this funding I hope that we will be able to develop a learning environment that works best for the individual needs of students. Giving students the ability to make a choice that works best for their learning will give students potential to create positive learning situations. Learning will be very different and based on the individual needs of a student. Allowing them to take ownership, and make a choice that fits their individual needs, that will benefit their ability to stay focused, and engaged, in their learning. Students should take pride in their learning, and giving them a choice, even as small as a chair, or a cozy carpet will help aid ownership of their work. Flexible seating areas will also allow for those students with sensory needs an individual outlet while working.

Describe the Students

Blanton Elementary is a Title One school and provide 100% free breakfast and lunch to all students.
Blanton is a Title One school and has students from various economic backgrounds. We have a total of 516 students at Blanton in Prek-5. K 5 is a total of 466 students. Our population includes 46 Asian/Pacific Islander students, 96 Black students, 116 Hispanic students, 16 Multiracial students, 1 Native American, and 191 White students.
The students at Blanton have home lives that do not give them many choices. Some days they come to school hungry and just want to get a warm meal before they go home. In any classroom you will find a wide range of academic abilities. Many students benefit from one-on-one, or small group interventions, with scaffolding support. All students can learn. However, they do not all come to school with the same toolbox of resources.

Budget Narrative

Once the grant is funded I will reach out to classroom teacher for a needs assessment . The money is going to be used to shop from approved school vendors. The items we will purchase will be provided to classrooms.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Classroom Gathering Rugs/Flexible Seating Options	$2,500.00
	Total:	$2,500.00

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