MILLSTONE – The Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence has awarded two grants for flexible seating classrooms.
Since 2002, the foundation has awarded more than $530,300 to schools in the Millstone Township K-8 School District, according to a press release. There are currently more than 60 foundation-funded grant programs running in the district.
The latest grant recipients are for the following:
• Flexible Seating Classroom, $3,732; Jennifer Sincox, fifth grade teacher; Jennifer Modula, special education teacher; Nancy Osterberg, learning disabilities teacher consultant.
The grant consists of standing desks, bean bag chairs, back patter chairs, as well as lap trays.
This flexible seating classroom environment is designed to empower
students to make their own seating choices, based on seating options that increase productivity and engagement, instead of traditional classroom furniture.
The classroom will be set up with a variety of work areas which will enable students to increase movement, work collaboratively and engage in critical thinking, according to the press release.
• Flexible Seating for Focused Learners, $2,855; Meghan Olah and Nicole Meyrick, third grade teachers.
The grant consists of flexible and alternative seating options during whole group and small group instruction, as well as independent work time.
The grant includes a large rectangular table and alternative seating options
such as stools, which will rock and tilt in all directions, and ball chairs, which
will allow movement and encourage better posture.
Both options will give students an opportunity for sensory output, while helping them to remain focused.
Options for low level seating include floor pillows, bean bag chairs and back patter chairs. They will be offered to students during independent time when students are expected to demonstrate stamina for reading and writing for 20 minutes or more.
These options will enable students to feel more comfortable and therefore more engaged and focused, according to the press release.
