Past projects 7
Special Delivery!
Funded Sep 16, 2020I am beyond grateful for you support in donating to this big project. All of my students have the counseling supplies that they need for our sessions at home! Their reactions have been very sweet. They thanked me for the supplies, and they come to our remote sessions declaring, "I've got my counseling stuff!" It warms my heart and it sets us up to be productive each session.
After some identity exploration in our first few weeks of school, we enjoyed doing self portraits (in the style of artist Ivan Brunetti, as demonstrated in a video by artist Lynda Barry). Using the "People Color" pencils -- which were a big part of my project -- each student found the shade that they felt most closely matched their skin color in order to most accurately represent this aspect of their identity. It was a powerful couple of sessions and my students were very enthusiastic.
Many of you are repeat donors and it means the world to me.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 25 other donors.Essential Heartwork
Funded Aug 19, 2020I am so grateful for your support in funding my project. The books you helped me purchase have been a huge part of my remote counseling program this year. I have been reading with students in remote sessions, and also recording readings of the books with discussion prompts. In this way, I have been able to reach students in my school beyond my caseload.
In my photos you can see screenshots of the the recording I did with the book Mae's Frist Day of School, by Kate Berube. This was one of the many books included in my project. I also read this book in live remote sessions with students. We noticed the worries that the characters in the book had, we made connections to our own worries, and we thought about the support systems that we all have.
Your support and contributions mean the world to me.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
Legos and Tempers and Chairs, Oh My!
Funded Aug 28, 2019I can't thank you enough for your generous donations towards materials for my counseling office. My students are doing amazing work this year, using the many books I was able to purchase through my Donors Choose Project.
In one of my project photos you can see two students using playful monster masks to help identify and express feelings today. The masks come with the book Glad Monster, Sad Monster which was purchased through this project. Masks are a very common way to cope with vulnerability. We use them all the time. Emotional masking (think, posturing). Physical masking (think, sunglasses). Sometimes healthy, sometimes not as healthy. In this case, these students who don't have the easiest time opening up, felt a layer of protection under their masks and did some excellent work!
One beautiful moment, while reading the book Cool Down and Work Through Anger, was when it prompted one of my students to rattle off seven adults at school who he considers to be part of his support system. Building trusting and supportive relationships is so key to setting a student up to be able to accept the support of "cooling down and working through anger" when a moment arises.
I was able to purchase a series of workbooks which have been game changing for some of my students. The workbook structure lends to me working on examples alongside students, which can open up communication and support understanding of concepts. In one of my project photos you can see my student's amazing drawing of his "worry bully" disintegrating in a ball of fire and a train barreling down on it to smash it to smithereens.
Finally, many of my students are regularly practicing a "calming sequence" which is part of the strategies offered in the book When My Worries Get Too Big. In one of my project photos you can see two students playing together after working through their calming sequence and calming movements. These students have to work hard to regulate their emotions so that they can play and work together peacefully. This book has been great for them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
Hearts at Work II
Funded Aug 19, 2018It gives me such pleasure to update you on the amazing work my students have been doing this year, thanks to your generosity in supporting my Hearts at Work II project. My students have been working hard, and having fun! The materials you helped me secure have been game changing for my students engagement in the hard work of reflection, motivation and change.
In one of these photos, you can see two students working cooperatively to put together a puzzle that you helped me buy. This is not a small thing! These two students have been working hard to improve their sharing, fair play and cooperative skills. It's helpful to have low-stakes tasks that they can practice these skills with, to help them with the bigger moments in life. You can also see more cooperative play in the photo of the three students using the play food to engage in social skills building. Another photo shows how one student used the Eggspressions eggs and the dollhouse to engage in play therapy during one of our session.
Problem solving is another big skill we work on. I love witnessing my students' creative problem solving skills, such as using the Glitter Wands as a rolling pin when using the Model Magic. Having an abundance of materials available to them allows them to think outside the box and problem solve independently. Finally, how amazing is my student's visual representation of some tricky social dynamics that she's contending with during track practice? I honestly never imagined the Model Magic being used in this way, but my students are endlessly creative and strong in their expression.
Thank you so much for your generosity and support. It means the world to me.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
Hearts at Work
Funded Aug 2, 2018Thank you so much for funding my project Hearts at Work. Our year has been off to an amazing start and my students are truly loving all of the new materials and activities we've been doing in our counseling work this year. This project was heavy on basic supplies, such as art supplies (glue sticks, markers, pens, etc.) and professional books for me that help me with creative ideas for our sessions. Many of these photos show visual representations of the conceptual and introspective work my students are doing. It's truly a gift to have the general supplies needed to do this work.
In one photo you can see a group of young students who literally wandered into my room because "it looks so cozy" and "has so much cool stuff." Having my office look appealing and inviting as students pass by is very important. I am always cognizant to challenge the antiquated misconception that the counseling room is a place where "bad kids" or "kids with problems" go. The Stop, Relax and Think game has been very popular this year. You'll see in one photo that students make me take a photo of where we left off in the game, so we can pick right up again in our next session. And then you'll see a few photos of charts and tools that I've made with students to address very specific goals that they're working on. I decided to keep it real here, and even include the activity in which a students just can't help himself from finding any opportunity to use the word "fart." But if you'll notice, he was also authentically engaged in the activity, circling his real feelings related to his experiences of facing new things.
Thank you so much for your generosity and support. It means the world to me and my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
Happy Hearts at School
Funded Sep 19, 2017Words cannot express my gratitude for your generosity. The materials that I now have on hand have helped me develop my counseling curriculum and provide meaningful support to my students. A few particular resources that your donations provided have been invaluable this year.
Thinking, Feeling, Behaving: An Emotional Education Curriculum for Children. The principals of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET) are at the root of the lessons and activities in this book. RET is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs. My students did a lot of work this fall to increase self-acceptance by challenging some common maladaptive beliefs about identify, ability, and making mistakes. You can see the photos of students displaying some of this work.
The School Counseling and School Social Work Treatment Planner. This resource has been a game-changer for me in identifying, writing and implementing counseling goals for my students. My ability to write clearer, more focused goals for my students tremendously enhances my communication with parents and teachers.
Much of the positive feedback I receive from parents is a direct result of the usefulness of these, and the other resources that you contributed to.
• "I appreciate all your work and thoughtfulness very much."
• "As usual we appreciate your professionalism and attention to detail!"
• "Thank you for preparing for J's IEP meeting with such thoughtfulness and care. As a parent, I felt tremendously supported during the entire process and it was evident how seriously all of you take this work."
• "Thanks for taking this so seriously and taking care of the problem so quickly. We are grateful for your expertise and compassion."
• "Thanks for your help and insights in helping E through this difficult time. Thanks for your support and providing an environment of love and protection for E to come through this."
• "G found your time with him yesterday to be something of a lifeline. It was a big deal to him."
• "That's great, Megan! I love the work you do and you make it so fun!! C really has enjoyed your guidance and presence."”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy
Heart Work
Funded Sep 8, 2015Thank you so much for your generosity in funding my project. My students use the materials every single day. Many of them are coming into the room with big worries, overwhelmed brains and lots and lots of feelings. The materials that you helped me purchase help with emotions management, relaxation and self-esteem building.
To be able to fiddle with play dough while telling me about their struggles is hugely comforting. To be able to "paint their feelings" rather than endlessly search for the right words to describe what's in their hearts, is enormously freeing. To be able to practice fair play and "good sportsmanship" by playing games in the safety zone of the counseling room helps them to transfer those skills to the classroom and beyond.
The most powerful items are the books that help my students through real life experiences. My favorite project so far this year has been the "It's Good To Be Me" folders and activities I have done with several groups of kids who struggle with self-esteem and social dynamics. These activities were inspired by the book, It's Good To Be Me. The students lighten up, smile, encourage each other and offer themselves positive affirmations constantly while working on these activities.
These little things truly go a long way with young kids. I love what one of my fifth grade boys said about counseling, and specifically the materials in my office: "I like coming to counseling because it relaxes me and helps me get my anger out. The paint and the playdough and the dinosaurs and the legos and the dollhouse make me feel welcome."”
With gratitude,
Ms. Kennedy