When in Doubt, Chill-Out: Therapeutic Relaxation Station
Help me give my students a calming sensory oasis to unwind at times when they cannot cope with their surroundings.
$577 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I teach in a school-based partial hospitalization program. Students suffer from mental illnesses and are recovering from hospital stays and/or trying to re-integrate into the public school setting. All of the students have special needs and mental health diagnoses, ranging from depression to anxiety to autism. I work with two counselors who provide on site counseling services and group therapy.
Our students do their best to learn material but sometimes aren't up to the challenge due to their mental health needs.
Every day stressors, such as schedule changes, deadlines, or dealing with relationships with peers can become overwhelming to them. Our students lack basic coping strategies to deal with the little curve balls that life throws at them. Sometimes the students need to take breaks during the school day. We provide counseling as well as teaching to students. We have a self-contained environment with flexible scheduling.
Our school is located in center city Allentown, PA. Many of our students come from low-income homes. Eighty-five percent of our population qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
My Project
We have an office space in the back of the classroom that is ready to outfitted with items to convert it into a soothing and relaxing environment. This is a solution for our students who may need to de-escalate and relax at key times during the day, when the stress of the school day can become too much for them to bear. We already use this space for this purpose, however, right now it only has an office desk and chair in it. We envision a space with plants, noise cancelling headphones, comfy seating, and lighting solutions, where students can truly relax and unwind. Stress balls will be provided for the students in case they need a tactile component.
How the students will use this space: We often have students who need a break from the rest of the classroom, due to a lack of coping skills.
Coping skills are methods a person uses to deal with stressful situations, such as meditation and relaxation techniques, deep breathing, reading, or listening to music. Because our students lack coping skills, they may have verbal outbursts. Obtaining and maintaining good coping skills does take practice. However utilizing these skills becomes easier over time. Most importantly, good coping skills make for good mental health wellness.
Sometimes students would like to be left alone for a bit while they de-stress and/or get a handle on their emotions or behavior. The relaxation room would be used for this purpose. Students would be able to request to sit in the relaxation room or staff may suggest that they utilize the space. The students will be able to sit in the room quietly, read, listen to music, or do therapeutic coloring until they are ready to return to the classroom. They may also receive counseling services.
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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. Carey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
