Celebrate Black Teachers and Students
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.
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Ms. Rachel from Indianapolis IN is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
Help me give my students books, art supplies to help express themselves, toys to communicate feelings and sensory tools to regulate emotions.
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 are resilient, determined and passionate individuals. Their dynamic personalities demonstrate how unique and special each one of them are. My students come from an impoverished and unsafe neighborhood with lack of access to many resources outside of the school environment. Despite their challenging environments, they continue to grow with the help and encouragement they receive from our school (free lunches, resources to provide food and clothing, academic structure and supportive environment).
"One out of every four children attending school has been exposed to a traumatic event that can affect learning and/or behavior".
—NCTSN Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators.
In order to cope with major life stressors including but not limited to exposure to violence, trauma, food insecurity and chaotic home environments, students need tools to cope with these obstacles which in turn can promote academic learning.
Using play has been critical to the process of engaging these students appropriately and developmentally towards social/emotional growth. Therefore, having additional resources such as therapeutic books, sensory items (sand, toy figures, weighted blankets) and art supplies can help these students learn to master coping skills they need to function day to day.
Play is a language which can be used to engage and help children understand the world around them. Play can take many different forms and has helped my students learn to find the words and skills they need to communicate and express their feelings in positive ways.
A sand tray has been most impactful when helping children to understand, communicate and regulate emotions.
We are requesting some sand tray figures which will be used for sand tray to help promote decision making, communication skills and emotional regulation. Sand tray figures will be on open shelves for easy access for students to pick what they need to help express themselves in the moment or during instructional skills training.
We are also requesting books which will be used to help educate and provide framework for different issues students struggle with from anxiety, grief, anger, sadness and other emotions. Play-Doh and tools will also be placed openly on shelves for when students need to calm down and regulate emotions when triggered or frustrated.
My students are very responsive to engage with anything tactile and symbolic as I've seen them use these items when "shut down". This helps them calm down and work through their emotions in order to move on with their day.
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