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Ms. Halek's Classroom Edit display name

  • Echo Park Elementary School
  • Burnsville, MN
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Ideally, students would come to school with all of their basic needs met, allowing them to be ready to learn, take in new information, problem solve, be creative, and easily make friends. But if you spend time in most any classroom, it quickly becomes apparent that students come to school with needs that supersede their ability to engage in learning. The materials and supplies that I am requesting for my students are a start towards providing a space in the classroom for self-regulation. I seek to give my first graders the tools they need to focus and pay attention, handle difficult emotions, adjust to change, and manage frustrations that are inherent in learning something new and navigating friendships. Our open classroom school can be especially challenging for students that have difficultly focusing or have backgrounds with trauma. There is constant background noise and visual distractions. The noise sound machine will reduce some of the distraction and emotional activation created by noise from other classrooms. The privacy dividers will also help with focusing and limiting distractions. At times, all students will be asked to use them (e.g., independent writing). But there will also be times when students can learn to self-select whether or not the privacy divider is something that will help them be more successful. Our classroom has great space, but no windows. The lamps will allow our senses to have a break from harsh florescent lights. And finally, the weighted stuffed animals and singing bowl have been shown to help improve focus, reduce anxiety and stress, promote stillness, and make transitions easier. The materials I am requesting have the great potential to help my first graders be more successful not only in the classroom, but these skills around self-regulation can extend outside the classroom setting and beyond first grade.

About my class

Ideally, students would come to school with all of their basic needs met, allowing them to be ready to learn, take in new information, problem solve, be creative, and easily make friends. But if you spend time in most any classroom, it quickly becomes apparent that students come to school with needs that supersede their ability to engage in learning. The materials and supplies that I am requesting for my students are a start towards providing a space in the classroom for self-regulation. I seek to give my first graders the tools they need to focus and pay attention, handle difficult emotions, adjust to change, and manage frustrations that are inherent in learning something new and navigating friendships. Our open classroom school can be especially challenging for students that have difficultly focusing or have backgrounds with trauma. There is constant background noise and visual distractions. The noise sound machine will reduce some of the distraction and emotional activation created by noise from other classrooms. The privacy dividers will also help with focusing and limiting distractions. At times, all students will be asked to use them (e.g., independent writing). But there will also be times when students can learn to self-select whether or not the privacy divider is something that will help them be more successful. Our classroom has great space, but no windows. The lamps will allow our senses to have a break from harsh florescent lights. And finally, the weighted stuffed animals and singing bowl have been shown to help improve focus, reduce anxiety and stress, promote stillness, and make transitions easier. The materials I am requesting have the great potential to help my first graders be more successful not only in the classroom, but these skills around self-regulation can extend outside the classroom setting and beyond first grade.

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About my class

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