Straight flexin' (verb) - to show off or boast

The scholars at Aurora Collegiate Academy are straight flexin' every day - whether it's with their brains, their character, or their passion to learn. Next year, my 2nd grade reading class is taking our flexin' to another level as we begin to use a desk-less classroom with flexible seating.

What is flexible seating?

Flexible seating is a classroom model that is student-centered, rather than desk-centered. In lieu of the traditional school desk that many of us know, flexible rooms offer a variety of seating (and standing) options for scholars to choose from.

What impact does flexible seating have?

The opportunity of choice is a powerful tool in a classroom – it promotes collaboration, ownership of learning, and greatly empowers children. Take a moment to think about where you are able to do your very best work or learning. This is an environment that is comfortable, productive, and unique to you. Children need to have the same opportunity in the classroom to feel comfortable and productive and discover where they (uniquely) learn best. As a scholar works to find the seat that they do their 2^nd grade best in, they are taking ownership of their own learning environment and their own education. This choice creates investment in learning – investment creates empowered students – empowerment helps create successful scholars.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of flexible seating please check out the following links:

http://tinyurl.com/q9fpor3 

http://tinyurl.com/p5rms9o

http://tinyurl.com/z3yk69q 

http://tinyurl.com/hpxapsa

What will donations be used for?

• Various seating options – bean bags, saucer chairs, milk crate seats, yoga balls, reading benches, standing desks, a low activity table (to be used while sitting on the floor)
• Rugs and pillows – large circle rugs, small carpet squares for seating, pillows to hold books in laps, pillows for when working while laying on stomach
• Cubby storage & cubby bins – All scholars (roughly 50 total) will have their own cubby which holds their reading folders, independent reading books, and pencil boxes. These cubby storage units will also be used as additional seating.
• Mail boxes – My homeroom class (Texas A&M – whoop!) needs mail boxes to house their homework folders, newsletters, graded papers, etc., since they will no longer have a desk to store these items in.
• Community classroom supplies – Flexible seating creates a strong classroom community because supplies are shared rather than kept in individual desks. This requires crates/buckets of different sizes and the supplies themselves (crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, scissors, glue, etc.). 

Most importantly, your generous donation will create a classroom where my scholars can dream big, learn passionately, and go home every day straight flexin’ about their success. 

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