My students are in grades 6-12 and they are receiving specialized mental health, behavioral and academic support in an alternative setting. While they may not be interacting with peers in the general population in their home districts, they are striving to build strong relationships in a smaller setting. This alternative educational setting allows students to improve their social, emotional and behavioral skills in order to eventually transition back to their home school or reach success in the least restrictive environment in order to become part of their community using their unique talents.
All of my students are on an individualized education plan and thrive in learning environments in which they can access the Ohio Learning Standards and Common Core Standards using lots of visuals and technology.
Currently for many of my students, our school is a place where they feel empowered to access their interests and receive support in an intensive therapeutic setting to rise above previous experiences and thoughts about school. Through determination and repeated exposure to 21st century technology and rigorous academic content, my students will be equipped to meet their social, emotional, and academic goals.
My Project
I will be using resources designed by Big Life Journal to guide students in developing a growth mindset through small group conferencing, restorative circles and responding to writing prompts. My middle school and high school students will receive individualized and small group instruction with recognizing their innate self-talk, learning the defining differences of growth and fixed mindsets and how to overcome negative self-talk.
Students will use the Big Life Journal as a means to improve their decision making skills.
Students will also participate in weekly individual conferencing in which they must reflect upon their responses to journal prompts and inspirational quotes as and make connections to the behavioral and social goals they are working towards mastering for their annual individualized educational goals. I will lead students in small group discussions when using the Three Seas Conversational Cards which will spark fun and important discussions about growth mindsets, kindness, resilience, gratitude and success stories of overcoming failures.
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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. Walters and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
