Help Me Teach My Little Flowers to Smell the Roses
I need funding to attend Little Flower Kids Yoga Teacher Training offered via Yoga International, where I will learn to teach my students yoga that is culturally relevant and from a trauma-sensitive perspective.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Torres's classroom raised $687
This project is fully funded
My Students
This is my 17th year as an educator. I started my career as a special education classroom teacher and have been working as a school social worker for the past 11. I have the honor of supporting the needs of students, families and staff at two schools on Staten Island. My school's are high poverty school's in New York City. All of our students receive free lunch. Ninety-seven percent of our student population is Black or Latino; many are first-generation Americans. Many of my students are transitioning from homelessness and or living in temporary housing. Our students are faced with many challenges inside and outside the classroom. They struggle personally and academically. Thirty percent of our students receive Special Education services. Despite the challenges they face daily, my students are happy and motivated to learn. COVID-19 has increased the mental and physical health challenges of our students, however they all appear optimistic and log on to remote learning and do their best.
My Project
A few years ago, I began a personal mindfulness and yoga practice which allowed me a glimpse of the joyful and free person I could be. This joy was a result of my increased ability to be present and respond to my environment, which included my students, parents and co-workers. My sessions became more calm and productive as I learned to really be present for my students. Since then, I’ve had the ability to facilitate weekly mindfulness practices for my students, but I would love the opportunity to be trained in how to do this more effectively. with children. I am seeking funding to enroll in level 1 kids yoga teacher training through Little Flower Yoga.
As a result of this specialized training I hope to be able to support students struggling with such concerns as an ability to focus and concentrate in the classroom, being able to deal with anger or stress, feeling confident with others and with their academic performance, having trouble sleeping, making choices, among many other concerns.
Little Flower Yoga Teacher Training is a certification program in yoga and mindfulness practices for children and youth ages 3 to 18. The training focuses on the complete physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of students.The foundation of the training is rooted in deepening my own self-awareness and personal practice and equipping me with a wide range of activities that I can immediately implement with the students that I work with. Little Flower Yoga is research-based, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and centered on healing and resilience building. Trauma-informed teaching practices are integrated into the program which will be instrumental in meeting the needs of the students during remote learning.
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 Ms. Torres and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
