Equipping the Classroom for Success

The new school year has begun, but there is still time to think about the equipment that can take your classroom to the next level. There are many things to consider when shopping for your room, including budget and the age of the students you will be working with.

Organization comes First

Prior to purchasing items for the students to enjoy, it may be wise to purchase an organizational system or two to store the objects in. For instance, a small bookshelf can be a useful place to store not only the books for the children to read, but also small toys or art supplies for them to have easy access to.

Consider the Unique Needs of the Students

Keeping the needs of your current and future students in mind is important while you shop. For instance, when looking for games and activities to bring into the classroom, consider not only the age of students, but their ability levels. If you are going to be teaching students with special needs, focus on finding objects that are tactile and easy for them to grasp and understand. Making lessons like learning how to tell time into a game may make them easier for your students to understand.

What Kind of Space Do you Have to Work with?

Along with needs, keep the size of the classroom in mind, as well as the number of students on your roster. While, ideally, every student would have their own individual items, there are some things you may want to purchase for group use. Communal items that can be put to use in a variety of ways are colorful mats and comfortable seating. These objects can be used to both stimulate your students and help them relax as you read a book to them.

Tables and Chairs

As you work on equipping your classroom, some of the most important pieces you may want to consider buying are tables for your students to work at. If you are working with younger children, you may want to consider purchasing preschool tables. The furniture can be configured in any format that you need whether it is for group or individual projects. Preschool tables are a good investment for younger students, as kids of that size will often have trouble reaching normal tables.

Equipping a classroom for success can take time. As you look for items, contact other teaching friends to see if they have any ideas that may help you. Good luck and have a great school year!

3 Ways School May Be Damaging Your Child's Back

Unfortunately heavy backpacks, outdated school furniture, and insufficient activity in school can all be causes of a stiff or sore back, even in the youngest children. While these things may cause minimal discomfort now, they can negatively impact your child's health in the long run. Check out the top three ways that school may be damaging your child's back, along with the solutions.

Backpacks
Heavy backpacks are all too common in schools today and while they can certainly help in the transportation of books, they can also do more harm than good in your child's well-being. According to a recent study, most students said they've experienced pain from their backpacks; a whopping 64% reported having back pain at some time. Researchers say that pain can be associated with wearing a backpack weighing more than 20% of the student's body weight.

Solutions include using rolling backpacks, wearing backpacks on both shoulders, keeping the shoulder straps snug, placing heavier books closest to the back, and carrying only what is necessary each day.

School Furniture
Did you know over 83% of elementary school students sit at chair-desk combinations that are not correct for their height? Traditional school chair designs often have rigid seats that incline backwards, which tenses the child's shoulders while restricting blood flow. Too often, school furniture is out-of-date and does not conform to minimum orthopedic-physiological requirements, which results in back pain in even the youngest students.

Ergonomic solutions include a rocking mechanism in chairs as well as the ability to swivel in order to change seat inclination, which Virco chairs offer.

Insufficient Physical Activity
Many schools are reducing or eliminating their physical education classes. The USDH recommends that children and adolescents should take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. A recent survey found that a mere 18 percent of all high school students actually obey to this recommendation, while a mere 33 percent attended physical education class each day. Sitting for all these hours in a day can cause stiffness, resulting in back pain along with other health issues.

It's important to ensure that your child takes part in some type of physical activity a few days a week, whether it's a sport, bike riding around the neighborhood, or playing with friends in order to keep them healthy and happy.