My students need stress relief items in the cool down kit such as Stress Balls and Squeeze Toys Assortment, Hoberman: Mini Sphere Rings and a Kimochis Mixed Feelings Boxed Set.
Every morning we start off the day with chant "Today I choose to be a Scholar." Then students select a value to practice for that day. "I will show respect by listening." As hard as my students try to keep a scholarly attitude their emotions inflicted by trauma often distracts their learning.
My school located in the Bay View, which is "one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of San Francisco," and is well known for gang and drug activity, violence, homelessness, and more recently the shooting of Mario Woods.
My students are unable to find peace within their own homes and have a heightened survival mindset because of what they have experienced first hand in their own neighborhood. My students are not able to play outside, be out past sun down or even enjoy the curious nature of being a kid through exploration.
But my students continue to rise and are highly motivated, tenacious, and loving regardless of their circumstance. My students are courageous and continue to come to school each and everyday with a willingness to learn. Their spirit cannot be defeated by the traumatic life experiences that exist within their very own community.
My Project
My students will be able to participate in social emotional reading curriculum to build healthy coping strategies to combat the every day stressors of living in a trauma induced neighborhood. My students will also be able to practice their learned healthy coping strategies by using the stress relief items in the cool down kit such as Stress Balls and Squeeze Toys Assortment, Hoberman: Mini Sphere Rings and a Kimochis Mixed Feelings Boxed Set.
This Social Emotional campaign will provide students with a safe space to talk about their feelings and find healthy alternatives with dealing with the stressors within their community.
By giving my students a time and space to develop their coping strategies, we hope to spend less time with self-regulating and achieve more time for learning.
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. Remigio and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.