Help me give my students materials, such as mason jars, glitter of all colors, acrylic gemstones and glycerin to help them appreciate the importance of calming our minds.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
"I get myself up in the morning and wake the kids up. I make sure everyone is bathed, dressed and eats breakfast. I take everyone to school. The youngest one is in daycare. Then, I go to class. Sometimes I'm late, but most of the time, if I hurry, I just make it on time. I am 10 years old. The younger kids are my brothers and sisters. I do all of this because my mom works two jobs." Sometimes, this is a morning in the life of a child.
Our students have a lot of pressure in their lives, in school, at home, and in the community.
I teach in a Title I school in Manhattan. My students are bright, enthusiastic, and want to learn but sometimes, life's stressors are overwhelming for them. They are willing to try new things, and are very smart. Although they come from a variety of households-multilingual, single-family, and different economic backgrounds with over 95% of them receiving free lunch; they all have a common goal: to succeed and thrive! They are fearless! I am always looking for more to give them so their journey can be a successful one.
My Project
This project is all about empowering students to self-love, to self-care and to get the skills they need. It's all about focusing on the physical, mental, and emotional health of our students.
Learning is what we are all about!
My students will learn The Cycle of Anger: 1) triggering events, 2) negative thoughts, 3) emotional responses, 4) physical symptoms, and 5) behavioral responses. They will also learn various coping skills - use of diversions, i.e. read a book or listen to music; use time-out effectively, i.e. an opportunity to cool down-not to avoid problems; become aware of warning signs, i.e. clenched fists, raised voice; practice deep breathing, and keep an "anger log," to name a few. They will learn about the importance of mindfulness or thinking and doing things with a purpose and attention, which will allow them to notice their thoughts and surroundings so they can act on them with care. Being mindful will help my students stop and think before making choices. This will help them become better decision makers and thoughtful individuals. A "calming jar" is just one of the tools that my students can create to help them take a few minutes to relax. After they shake the jar, they will focus on the glitter and other materials that gently settle to the bottom as they inhale and exhale, releasing their anger and frustration. Another tool is keeping an "anger log." This practice will help my students identify patterns, warning signs, and triggers, while also helping them organize their thoughts and work through problems. Taking a few minutes to relax in a stressful or frustrating situation will also help them make better choices.
My goal is to give our students as many tools as possible to help calm the chaos of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
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. Lockhart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","schoolCity":"New York","showProjectRecommendations":true,"teachersOnPage":[306000],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NY","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"proposalId":4238719,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":1,"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/just-breathe-and-let-go/4238719/","verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":40,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Lockhart","isEquityFocus":true,"authorIds":{"306000":{"owner":"Ms. Lockhart","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[4238719],"proposalHash":"569150133","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp306000_orig.jpg?crop=464,464,x23,y79&width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1607549411748","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":167228,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":{"completingDonationAmount":609,"proposalURL":"project/supporting-english-language-learners-wit/8303867/","proposalTitle":"Supporting English Language Learners with Voice Translators!","proposalId":8303867},"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NjQwNDA1Mw==","MzA2MDAw","Njg5NzMwNg=="],"teacherId":306000,"schoolCounty":"New York (Manhattan)","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NY","name":"New York"}}
