Imagine wanting to come to school seven days a week, instead of only Monday through Friday, because school is the place where you feel safe, respected, and valued. This is the experience for many of my students. My students are a lively, energetic group who are wildly creative problem solvers.
Our school serves a racially and culturally diverse, high-needs population.
Around 90% of our students are enrolled in the free and/or reduced lunch program. Despite these challenges, my students love learning about the world around them!
They love learning about math, reading, science, social studies, art, and how all of those subjects fit together in the world. They are resilient, and hard working!
My Project
I am stepping into a new role this year, working as Dean of Students, and would like these sensory tools to create a welcoming, quiet, space where students can regulate their bodies and calm their minds. My responsibilities include working with students who are not mentally or physically ready for the rigors of whole group classroom learning at the present moment, and teaching social and emotional skills to promote success when they return to that classroom environment.
These sensory tools will help dysregulated students focus on tactile, olfactory, and visual stimuli, which will soothe and calm students and prepare them for success socially, emotionally, and academically.
I have specifically chosen each of these supplies with purpose to stimulate multiple senses and to differentiate for the needs of individuals. Many of our students come from trauma. I will be working with students on problem-solving skills, and managing emotions and stress. These tools will help a whole school, because when one dysregulated student learns and practices skills a whole community of learners can function more effectively.
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