My students need tools such as mindfulness games, conversation starters and activities to help them reflect and build resilience in order to improve their mental health and mitigate the impacts of childhood trauma.
The students of this diverse, suburban, trauma-sensitive, at-risk high school are some of the smartest, most accepting and loving people you will ever meet. For many, though, mental health, addiction, and trauma have limited their ability to be successful in a mainstream high school. They find success in this program because they create caring relationships with the staff and each other, they learn to take risks and best of all, they learn their value.
Students come to understand and accept that their gifts and challenges combine to create a superpower that they can harness to change their lives!
Students who were previously on a trajectory that leads to dropping out are now gaining confidence, excited about learning, willing to take risks and as a result, are graduating.
My Project
My project is anchored in research that says that 2/3 of our population will experience at least one adverse childhood trauma in their lifetime. Trauma is defined as abuse, neglect, divorce and tumultuous family dynamics including drug abuse, domestic violence, and criminal behavior. Childhood trauma decreases the students' ability to be successful in the classroom. In one study, as the number of childhood traumas increased, so too did the number of school problems including academic failure, attendance problems, and school behavior problems. It isn't that these children are willfully acting out; research has proven that their brains rewire in order to protect themselves from the trauma. There is good news though, the same plasticity (ability to change) that the brain demonstrated to protect the child from the trauma can be utilized to equip students with new coping skills. To be clear, not every student in our community has experienced this kind of trauma, but others are impacted by mental health and chemical health issues. The goal is the same, however: to equip students with new skills that empower them. In order to accomplish this goal, I am creating a class for my students that focuses on building resilience skills such as effective communication, goal setting, and emotional regulation. You can help empower these students by purchasing the supplies that will help us build community and improve their resilience skills. I am requesting resources including the games Mindfulness Matters and Totem. Conversation starters centered around teambuilding, diversity, letting go of anger, and stress management will get them talking.
Teaching Transformative Life Skills to Students: A Comprehensive Dynamic Mindfulness Curriculum
• Amazon Business
$33.23
1
$33.23
Diversity Thumball Conversation Starter - 6" Purple Icebreaker Game
• Amazon Business
$28.95
1
$28.95
Stress Management Thumball Conversation Starter - 6" Red Team Building Game
• Amazon Business
$28.95
1
$28.95
Common Ground Thumball Teambuilding Game - 6" Blue Conversation Starter
• Amazon Business
$25.95
1
$25.95
Totem the feel good game - Ease communications at the Heart Level - an Opportunity to Build Stronger bonds [Perfect for Team building at work, counseling, family, friends, adults and child]
• Amazon Business
$24.95
1
$24.95
Mindfulness Matters: The game that uses mindfulness skills to improve coping in everyday life
• Amazon Business
$17.99
1
$17.99
The MindUP Curriculum: Grades 68: Brain-Focused Strategies for Learningand Living
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Letting Go of Anger Card Deck: 54 Cards to Help Teens Tame Frustration
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teens
• Amazon Business
$15.26
1
$15.26
Be Mindful Card Deck for Teens
• Amazon Business
$13.64
1
$13.64
Empowering Questions Cards - 52 cards for meditation, writing, or any other empowering process you like | Examine your deeper self, discover your inner strength and bring more energy into your life.
• Amazon Business
$12.99
1
$12.99
Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills for Helping You Manage Mood Swings, Control Angry Outbursts, and ... with Others (Instant Help Book for Teens)
• Amazon Business
$11.43
1
$11.43
Materials cost
$247.32
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$3.71
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$281.03
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$49.59
Total project goal
$330.62
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$330.62
2 Donors
-$288.53
Donations toward project cost
-$281.03
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Edgeton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
