My students need access to calming tools to help them self-regulate their emotions and be able to stay in the classroom to benefit from their education.
I get the privilege to work with some of the best students I have worked with in my career as a school psychologist. I get to work with kids as young as 3 all the way up to 12. My school consists of over 95% free and reduced lunch. A large number of my students have gone through trauma or chronic stress but they show up to school because for many my building is the place they feel safest.
Unfortunately, because the majority of them have experienced trauma in their lives, many of their brains are in crisis mode prior to stepping foot in the school.
It is imperative that they have access to tools to help them calm down and self-regulate their emotions in order to persevere the daily academic and social demands and benefit fully from their education. By using specific tools, they can begin to practice positive coping strategies when faced with stressful situations. The benefits of learning and practicing these strategies at a young age will instill life long healthy habits for future leaders in the community.
My Project
As a school-wide initiative, I would like to create classroom calm down kits. The kits will include bubble timers, theraputty and a variety of fidgets. They will also include coloring pages, stress balls and calm down jars which I have already made. All of these materials will fit into a caddy and be placed in a cozy spot in each classroom for the students to use when they are feeling sad, crabby, anxious or aggressive. I am hoping that by taking a minute to help calm them down, identify their feelings and self-regulate, this will help students refocus so they are ready to come back to their seats and engage in their learning.
These materials will make a difference in my students' learning by allowing them the opportunity to take a few minutes to themselves to self-regulate and bring them back to the "green" zone, a zone where they are focused, on-task and ready to learn.
Students will be taught the zones, the feelings that are attached to each zone and how to use the tools which are not toys. When they have lost control or are having trouble focusing, they can quickly go to their classroom cool down corner, pick a "tool" from the toolbox, use it to help them calm down and self-regulate and then get back to work. These materials will also teacher them positive coping strategies that they can take with them throughout their lives.
Therapy Putty by Vive (3-oz each) - For Finger, Hand & Grip Strength Exercises - Extra Soft, Soft, Medium & Firm Resistance Kit - Theraputty for Occupational & Physical Therapy, Thinking & Stress
• Amazon Business
$14.99
6
$89.94
BESTOMZ 4 Pack Liquid Motion Timer Bubbler for Sensory Play, Fidgeting, Captivating Distraction
• Amazon Business
$17.99
4
$71.96
Hibery 5 Pack Monkey Stringy Balls, Soft Active Fun Toy, Sensory Fidgets Toys Rainbow Pom Colorful Bouncy Stress Toy
• Amazon Business
$11.99
5
$59.95
Squishy Stress Relief Sensory Toys Fidget Spiky Ball 5 - Pcs Set –Squeezy & Bouncy Antistress Toy Balls For Men, Women, Adults, Teens & Children –Ideal For People With OCD, ADHD, ADD & Autism
• Amazon Business
$11.20
5
$56.00
Homder 12 Pack Colorful Sensory Fidget Stretch Toys Helps Reduce Fidgeting Due to Stress and Anxiety for ADD, ADHD, Autism(6 Colors)
• Amazon Business
$11.99
4
$47.96
Materials cost
$325.81
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$22.97
3rd party payment processing fee
$4.89
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$383.67
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$67.71
Total project goal
$451.38
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$451.38
6 Donors
-$401.38
Donations toward project cost
-$341.17
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$60.21
match offer
-$50.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$42.50
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Winters and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
