Our students arrive at school looking for guidance, support, and respect. They are smart, sensitive, determined, caring, and an inspiration to the whole mental health team. Many of these students come to us with a background of trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss. These adverse experiences weigh heavy on their minds as they walk onto campus.
Providing them with a sanctuary to express, regulate, and connect with an adult, creates a bond to the school and creates a more resilient youth.
My Project
With your help, these students will be given a sanctuary of calm during times of distress. They will be able to regulate deep pressure through kneading Play-doh, lightly bouncing on the Lakeshore sensory ball or playing calming music of their choice through the boom box/CD player. Playing on the xylophone in an environment that provides low-lighting with the Adeso swivel floor lamps, can encourage emotional control. Until children are regulated, they are unlikely to be able to connect with others. After the student has calmed, giving them floor time on the soft shag rug and an outlet such as painting on the Lakeshore painting easel, can give them an opportunity to express complex emotions. Until children relate, they are unlikely to have the mental capacity to engage in learning and reach higher level cognitive processes.
Continuing the conversation under the soft lights and a wall decal spring blossom tree, the relationship built in this safe room can provide the much needed positive support to help the student reflect and plan for the future.
*Regulate, relate, reason is an approach coined by trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Adams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.