Help me give my students special friends to hold and hug to help them transition into the school setting and manage difficult emotions that emerge during the day.
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
I teach elementary and middle school students in an urban school. My students are full of energy, creativity, and talent.
My students love music!
I teach in an area with a lot of economic hardship which limits my students’ access to instruments, private lessons, and technology, but it in no way limits their love of music and potential to compose and perform. They truly enjoy playing all the instruments in the classroom, learning to sing and play their favorite songs and write their own music.
My Project
Starting the school year can be hard and scary for our youngest students. For some children pre-school or kindergarten is their first time separating from their parents, for many it is a long time go without a reassuring hug from their mom or dad. Even well into the school year preschool and kindergarten students sometimes really need a hug when they are tired, upset, or just really want their parents. Transitions to music class can also be very difficult for some of my special needs students. For many of them transitioning from their regular classroom to music means they are switching from a small classroom setting into a much larger group with students who less familiar to them. A little friend to hug can help them manage this transition.
A cute little animal to cuddle can work magic and give students just what they need to help through them get through the school day and manage difficult transitions.
I do have a few special cuddle animals in the classroom, but if you know 4 and 5 year olds at all you know that as soon as they see one student with a special animal everyone needs a special animal! It is very difficult to help these little ones understand that someone else needs it more, and maybe someone else doesn't need it more, maybe everyone needs a hug!
Help me fill my classroom with enough special animals so that every student who is having a difficult day can have a hug and I am not forced to try and determine which student needs a hug more. I want to make my music room a place where everyone can have a hug!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Purviance and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
