Teaching Sel Skills With the Use of Brilliant Color!

Funded Jan 6, 2025

I'm not sure if the amazing donors understand all of the work that goes into setting up a room that encourages learning and growth, everything from beautiful bulletin boards to labeling bins for the students. I specifically have been in need for ink for my printer at work. It has been a struggle for the past few years. I brought my home printer to work last year and my own ink because at times I would spend 20 minutes just trying to print one sheet of paper in the main office. That time would be better used on other duties. Unfortunately, this year I did not have the resources to buy my own ink and so one of my colleagues suggested I applied for a donation through Donors Choose. I decided to go for it. I received color and black ink.

I know that ink may not seem important to some but in Social Emotional Learning and education in general it is. Color inspires kids. It helps me provide materials that they can better understand and are more engaged while using. For example, there is a print out I use for students to identify their triggers. There is a thermometer on top with 4 colors-red for really angry, orange for angry, yellow for annoyed or uncomfortable and green for not a problem. Students use crayons to color in with the appropriate color for each trigger presented to them. Without the ink I would not be able to provide this activity in this way.

Not only does it help with better activities and handout when needed, but it also improved the classroom environment. For example, I was able to do a themed feeling word wall, a bulletin board highlighting many calm down strategies, and positive affirmations to put around the mirror in the room. It is really nice to see the kids using the word wall during our session check ins and also pointing to strategies that they could use when they are experiencing an uncomfortable feelings. It has also personally helped me with being stressed out whenever I had to print a document for the student. I now can just print the sheet and make copies, as needed in the main office. Thank you so much for contribution, everything is beautiful, labeled and the kids are taking advantage of it. I'm proud of the way my room looks and you were a part of that!!!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Gonzalez