I have a true classroom of characters this year. I have decided my room might as well be tagged like the TV channel USA: Characters Welcome! They are a unique, joyful, and delightful bunch of kids and I cannot wait to see what this year holds in store for us!
I am blessed to have this bright group and I want to provide as many diverse learning experiences for them as I can!
I work at a Title I school in Tennessee, which means our population is made up of children from low-income families. Many of my students face chaos at home and have been through a great deal of trauma. I think that creating a safe, calm, and welcoming learning environment can make a huge difference in their behavior, development, and achievement. I want to create a trauma-sensitive classroom where all children feel welcomed, loved, and accepted. That is why I have chosen to use DonorsChoose.org to help fund my project.
My Project
My first grade students are thoughtful, creative, imaginative, and above all energetic! We take many small movement breaks throughout the day as well as having recess each afternoon and P.E. once a week to exert some of that energy, but I also try and practice peaceful and mindful exercises as well.
I have often tried to teach my students yoga and meditative practices over the years, but this year it is one of my main focuses!
I recently bought a book called "I Am Yoga" by Susan Verde (illustrated by Peter Reynolds - a personal favorite of mine) and read it to my class. They absolutely loved it! The colors and the character's inner dialogue about how she finds peace amidst the chaos by quieting her mind, telling her body to "be still!", and slowing down her breathing really caught their (and my) attention. She goes on to demonstrate different simple yoga poses as she talks about how the meditative practices make her feel. At the end of the book, there is an index with each pose broken down so I can properly teach my students! It is wonderful!
Many of my students wake up, go home, and live among the chaos. I want to offer them an outlet and teach them calming practices that they can apply throughout their days and hopefully their future lives.
We will be using these mats during Yoga/Meditation twice a day to lower our heart rates, calm down, and get ready to learn! These ultra-grip and no-slip mats are perfect for my young students, and I have ordered enough so that each child gets to have their own mat and therefore their own space and experience. "Quiet the mind and the soul will speak," Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati.
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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. Moody and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
