Each student in my classroom has been labeled as "emotionally disturbed". Although a lot of negative connotations are associated with this term, we refuse to let our classroom be anything less then a positive learning environment. Students a part of this class focus on social skills while continually aiming on academic improvement. We want to improve ourselves, both in and out of the classroom. The students' academic levels cover a wide range of grades. Every day they do their best to work towards closing the gap between them and their grade level standards.
We are a Title I school and the only fully self contained middle school classroom in the district.
The students in our classroom have very tough home lives, which affects their ability to put their all into their school work. However, they are good students and good people. They are incredibly brave, strong, and caring. They put their best foot forward whenever possible and I know that they will succeed.
My Project
My students often react poorly when they are upset, hurt, sad, etc. They may physically and/or verbally hurt themselves. They may physically and/or verbally hurt others. There are many options available in our classroom. Some examples include using a stress ball, laying on the floor under a weighted blanket, and sitting in our "dark space" (it is a table with a black blanket over it that if a student would like to use it is available to them).
I want to provide my students with a safe, respectful, and responsible way to release whatever they may be feeling inside.
I have seen many ideas with punchings bags or padded rooms for their students to use. However, I want to ensure that my students do not learn that hitting or punching is the correct response. Later down the line there could be a person on the other end of their rage and they need to have other coping strategies in their back pocket.
By providing students with a healthy and effective outlet, using weighted ropes, we are able to provide them with another option of how they want to release the feelings that they are experiencing.
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