My upcoming third grade students are as new to me as I am to them! This summer, I moving from Boston to California because I have found a group of students who have made relocating impossible to turn down.
These students are unique, diverse, inquisitive, empowered, and creative.
Our school takes a project-based learning approach to education, and these 24 students are all-in! These eight and nine-year-olds are fearless in their belief that they can and should positively impact the world around them. They research and identify problems in their community and in the world at large. These students then work together to create a plan and make this change come to life. Their work is enough to inspire any adult, and has included presenting at city council meetings, creating artwork that encourages keeping local beaches clean, and curating libraries that are as diverse as their class. In many ways, these students act more as empowered adults than third-graders. Their creativity, passion, and pursuit of change is well beyond their years.
My Project
My students are curious, creative, and resilient. They are also young kids! They feel big, hard feelings, and need help learning how to identify and manage them. I am seeking materials for our class "Calm Down" space: a space where students can go to calm down when they feel mad, sad, overwhelmed, anxious, or scared.
These Calm Down materials will help students learn to identify negative emotions and implement coping strategies that work best for them.
Some students will prefer noise-canceling headphones, which give students a calm and quiet space to reset. Others will prefer sensory input from putty. All will need a comfortable bean bag to settle into. These strategies have the ability to help students not just in the classroom, but in the real world for the rest of their lives.
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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. Hassey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
