My students need a "Break Center" with fidget toys and timers.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Herbig's classroom raised $156
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
My students come from one of the most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods in New York City, a neighborhood bursting with new businesses and hip residents. Despite this, my students walk out of their public housing units and are confronted with poverty, inequality, segregation, gangs, and violence. All of this happens just a few blocks away from hip cafes and brand new apartment buildings. These little ten-year-old children live the inequality we hear about all the time. We might not be able to solve this blatant disparity in their childhood, but through education, we can equip their fight to become leaders and change our world for the better.
Their fight isn't an easy one.
It requires leaving all the stress of their home lives at the door and walking in ready to take risks and persevere in their studies. It requires living in a world where they have to prove themselves more just because of the color of their skin. They do it anyway. I hold high expectations for my students, and they reach them time and again. These kids are wide-eyed, passionate learners, and, with your help, future leaders.
My Project
We all know and understand what excessive stress can do to our well-being. Not only can we barely focus or relax, but we can even become physically ill! Imagine being a 10-year-old kid and going through all of that! I teach 18 fifth graders, all of whom deal with different pressures and stressors at home AND in school. 5th grade is a tough year! This can often lead to aggression, frustration, and emotional breakdowns. We all need a break sometimes! That's why I want to create a "Break Center" where kids can go to release their aggressions and take a minute to relax, helping them return to their learning productively. This would also teach them how to manage their emotions by helping them recognize their own warning signs, and teaching them how to work through and release these emotions in a way that is not harmful to themselves or others.
If my students are struggling to work through negative emotions, they're not learning.
That's why I believe that the emotional well-being of my students is just as vital as, if not more than, their academic well-being. We need to teach our students to read, write, multiply, and divide, but we also need to teach them how to handle things like anger, frustration, and stress. If they can't manage these things, they'll struggle in middle school, high school, college, and in their careers.
The materials I'm requesting will all come together to form a "Break Center", where kids can get permission to go if they feel that they need it. This includes fidget toys, stress balls, a timer, and an iPad case, so my personal iPad can be protected as they use it for breathing exercise apps.
This will make a world of a difference in my classroom!
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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Herbig and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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