Calming and Focusing for Students with Disabilities
My students need iPods to be able to shut out sensory input from around them. Many of them use music to calm and focus themselves so they can be successful in the classroom.
$365 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My students all have to work extra hard to succeed in school. They are willing to do the work, but sometimes they need some help along the way. My job is to teach them how to navigate the social world and how to understand what they need and advocate for it.
My students all have Autism.
They are bright, caring and hilarious! We love to joke and have a great time in my social skills groups, but sometimes it takes some serious effort to get through the school day. Most students at my school do not lead lives of privilege. We have over 75% of students on free/reduced lunch, and a majority of the student population are English language learners. Even so, they are a hard-working and optimistic bunch, and I know they have great things ahead of them!
My Project
The iPods I am requesting will be loaded with a variety of styles of music. Students will use them to help shut out some of the unpredictable noise around them when they are working independently. They will also be available for use when students need to calm down when they become overwhelmed during the day. Some may use the music to help them get through difficult bus rides or noisy lunch periods. Being able to put in headphones and listen to calming music for a few minutes when needed will help them spend more time in environments which they may find stressful, but which are necessary parts of life as a student, and later as a working adult. The better they are able to cope with these environments, the better their chances of being successful as adults in the working world.
The ambient noise of a classroom, cafeteria or bus can be extremely stressful for students with Autism.
Music, on the other hand, can be calming and offer predictability and comfort in a fast-paced, socially and academically demanding middle school environment. Having portable, discreet access to music will help students stay with their peers for longer periods of time, and feel calmer while they are there.
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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 Mrs. May and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.