Resilient, the best word I could use to describe my students. Having come from broken homes, homelessness, and poverty, and without knowing where their next meal will come from, my students continue to push through the toughest of life's trials.
If I can make one of my students feel valuable today, it's been a successful day.
I'd say the number one thing my students lack is the feeling of value. Being low-income and at a school deemed "less than worthy," and where all the "bad kids go," it's the "norm" for them to be looked down on.
I, on the other hand, see how valuable each and every one of the students that pass through my classroom door is, and it is my goal to show these students how valuable and worthy they truly are.
My Project
In an inner-city alternative High School my students not only have the many stresses of academics, they have the added stress of their home lives.
No student should have to worry about anything other than their academics.
However, many of my students don't have supportive home lives. Heck, some don't even have homes at all but find themselves couch surfing from one friend's home to another. Where they find their next meal outside of school is often unknown, which is why they find comfort in coming to school to be fed, kept warm & know they are safe.
Although I do not have the resources to help them outside of school as much as I would like to, what I do have is the precious time in my classroom with them. During which I not only teach them math, but have the opportunity to teach them valuable coping skills that will help them get through anything life throws at them outside the classroom.
Which is where my Yoga & Mindfulness for Learning project comes into play. I am requesting yoga mats for my students so I can have yoga & mindfulness sessions once a week to help my students build healthy self-care habits that'll not only contribute to increased academic achievement, but also help them navigate the stresses of their worlds outside of school.
Your donation to our project will help our students build lasting success habits that they'll be able to take out into the world & live better lives through.
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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. C. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.