Each morning, we work on staying calm and getting ready for another exciting day of school! Sometimes, we need extra supports to stay calm in addition to our "coping strategies," but it is often difficult to acquire funding for extras. Being calm is the key to a successful school day!
My students are between the ages of 6 and 8, and all are very smart, curious young men!
I work with students who have autism, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, cognitive delays, developmental delays, speech impairments, visual impairments, and hearing impairments. With so many students with varying needs, it can be difficult to afford the many different types of "calmers" we need for our classroom. My school is a Title I school, and our budget is very limited. I have had to spend money getting the basics (books, pencils, crayons), leaving me without enough money to purchase many things I would describe as basic needs for a child with autism (and anxiety).
Without having these "basic needs," I am often left to try and create something at home to take the place of a weighted vest, lap belt, or stretch band. These items are CRUCIAL to help my students succeed and be included in the school community. Without additional funding, I cannot provide my students with items to meet their needs. My students need stretchy rope, tactile discs, weighted lap belts and other sensory mechanisms to help them stay calm while learning in the classroom.
My Project
My students will use these "calming tools" to help them maintain their success in the classroom. For a child with autism, having a lap belt or a weighted vest provides sensory input, which is calming in what might be an overstimulating environment. Students with autism often have great success when receiving sensory input in the form of deep, consistent pressure, such as what will be attained with the use of the "pea pod" I have asked for. The "pea pod" is basically an adapted bean bag a child can sit inside to receive calming sensory input. With more tools to use for staying calm, my students will be able to have access to more academic and social learning time in my self-contained classroom. Students will also have greater success working with regular education peers if they are able to stay calm rather than becoming over-stimulated. These adapted tools will be accessed by my students when they are anxious, worried, upset, or angry. Helping my students cope with strong feelings is crucial.
This project will make a huge difference in my classroom because I currently have NO weighted materials or large, pressure providing "calmers." These tools are too expensive for me to provide from my small budget, and it is difficult to create something my students can use in the classroom to provide a consistent level of sensory input.
By being able to use these calming tools and maintain homeostasis, my students will participate in more academic and social 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. Silvia and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.