Over the past 2 weeks I have been brainstorming my "wish list" for the fall and where I plan to get it from. I've started to enlist the help of some friends and family to make it happen and am so fortunate to have people in my life that are super supportive of my career and risk-taking! Here is what I've come up with so far:
I wanted to share with which of these items I am definitely getting and which are "wish" items.
2 boxes blue tape- You know those stretchy bands you get a physical therapy? That is what I am talking about here! Last year I purchased 2 boxes off of Amazon (see below) and cut 3 foot strips. Then, you tie them to students' chairs (I only had a few of those!) or table legs! This gives students some extra sensory input as they work. They can tug on it, pull it, touch it, and it is really not at all distracting to others around them. 2 boxes gave me a piece for each child. ($18.29/box)
For this coming year I found- PLUM! (Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE purple!)
Stools- On my end of year flexible classroom survey, many students responded by saying they wish I had more stools for standing spaces. I only had 1, and it was very popular. I thought standing spaces were for standing, but I guess, naturally, they want the option to sit occasionally as well. I plan to get 3 more stools- easy fix!
Standing Boards- I got the idea for this when I stumbled upon FluidStance.com, which sells these boards you stand on to balance. They were originally designed to keep adults who stand at a work desk moving throughout their day. They are starting to break into the education world, but had no reviews from teachers, which I thought was unfortunate. They are VERY expensive, so I reached out to see if they would let me pilot a set. When that came back a "no", I started digging and found similar products that already existed. I plan to purchase 4 of these wooden standing boards from Amazon- $26/each.
2 boxes blue tape- You know those stretchy bands you get a physical therapy? That is what I am talking about here! Last year I purchased 2 boxes off of Amazon (see below) and cut 3 foot strips. Then, you tie them to students' chairs (I only had a few of those!) or table legs! This gives students some extra sensory input as they work. They can tug on it, pull it, touch it, and it is really not at all distracting to others around them. 2 boxes gave me a piece for each child. ($18.29/box)
For this coming year I found- PLUM! (Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE purple!)
Stools- On my end of year flexible classroom survey, many students responded by saying they wish I had more stools for standing spaces. I only had 1, and it was very popular. I thought standing spaces were for standing, but I guess, naturally, they want the option to sit occasionally as well. I plan to get 3 more stools- easy fix!
Standing Boards- I got the idea for this when I stumbled upon FluidStance.com, which sells these boards you stand on to balance. They were originally designed to keep adults who stand at a work desk moving throughout their day. They are starting to break into the education world, but had no reviews from teachers, which I thought was unfortunate. They are VERY expensive, so I reached out to see if they would let me pilot a set. When that came back a "no", I started digging and found similar products that already existed. I plan to purchase 4 of these wooden standing boards from Amazon- $26/each.
That's it for this week! I'll update with progress as I make it! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Share any other suggestions you have to keep kids moving (appropriately) in the classroom!