Do you remember using a sink to wash your hands at school? Wasn't it nice to have a low sink, just your size, to wash your hands at, get a drink from, all those times?? What if you also had to get up on a slippery stool, with the help of an adult, EVERY TIME, in order to accomplish the task?
My students are between the ages of three to five.
They are all Developmentally Delayed. These students come from disadvantaged families, both economically as well as socially. We teach them to develop their self-help skills. This is a public school that services families from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Our school has well maintained grounds, but the supplies within the classrooms are limited. Teachers at this school are expected to fund raise, or get donors to supply the bare, essential materials necessary to provide our students with an education. So, we are starting out by making sure our students have a safe environment to learn within. Since our students often come to school sick and hungry, we are undertaking the task of teaching basic hygiene habits and also feeding them a daily meal. Over 97% of our student population qualifies for free and reduced breakfast and lunch. Therefore, we do a lot of hand washing, both before and after meals, and bathroom.
My Project
With a safe step stool our students will be able to stand at a sink in the classroom to wash their hands, with adult supervision, and learn how to do these tasks well and independently. They will be acquiring health and hygiene habits that will last a lifetime! For very young children with handicapping conditions, this is an essential life skill. Currently, we assist these children to develop these skills using an adult sized sink and counter that was designed for older children, 10 years old and up. It is not safe to let them get on or off the step stool, or use the sink without close supervision. Having a safe step stool will allow them to be supervised at the same sink, but give them the opportunity to get up to the sink much more safely. It will teach them independence.
Also, the water/sand table will allow these Special Needs children to safely explore their environment by using a purpose made table for different sensory experiences, like water, sand and other materials.
A donation to fund this project will help nurture and foster a sense of well being and independence for our very young learners.
Once a child realizes that they can help take care of themselves, they naturally develop feelings of self worth and importance. Their self esteem and self concept begins to grow and strengthen, allowing them to learn academically, as a result of knowing that they can take care of their basic needs as a human being.
Safety and cleanliness come first, then learning!
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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. D. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.