Past projects 6
Coping From Home
Funded May 19, 2020My students and I have been enjoying all of our new books and resources! Our school is still 100% remote, so I have been reading "screen to screen." This year our counseling program is focusing on using Zones of Regulation, which includes teaching about feelings and coping skills, as well as relationship building skills.
These resources directly tie in with our goals. At the end of last school year, we worked with the book, The Invisible String and talked about how to keep up relationships with people even when you can't physically be in the same place. To start off this year, we have read The Color Monster to start discussing feelings.
In my lunch bunches by grade level, we have read Potato Pants, Cool Beans and The Bad Seed to discuss ways of managing friendships and emotions. My students have enjoyed all of these books and we have had some really great discussions in return!
Thank you again for all of your support! We really appreciate your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 8 other donors.Being Mindful and Having Growth Mindset Creates Learning Brains
Funded Oct 17, 2018My students and I are so thankful for your generosity! In our lower grade classrooms (K-1), we are focusing on the 7 Habits of Happy Kids and reading the 7 stories that teach students to set goals, identify values and to persevere through tough times. Grades 2-4 are working with the book "Just Say It" and are learning better communication and listening skills. The upper grades are continuing with mindfulness techniques, as well as thinking about their mindset and finding the positives in their lives.
When I see students in my office on an individual basis, we have used the kinetic sand, the arm slinky, and the brain puzzles as calming techniques. Many times when students are having personal issues, they cannot focus in class and need a break. These items have helped kids regroup and return to class quicker so that they can get back to learning.
As a counselor, I have different needs than classroom teachers, but my resources benefit all classrooms in both of my schools. I appreciate that my needs were recognized and funded. I am so thankful for the resources I have received from your donations.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School.Mindful Moments Matter!
Funded Nov 1, 2017Classrooms in both of my schools are enjoying all of our new materials and resources. I have introduced mindfulness in grades K-6. When I enter a room to teach a lesson, kids will cheer and say "what are we doing today to be mindful?!?" We have practiced some meditation, yoga, breathing, mindful coloring, and multiple other activities focusing on being in the present and making good choices.
Yesterday in a 6th grade classroom, we did mindful eating where we made silent observations with our five senses. I guided them through the steps of looking, touching, smelling, hearing and tasting a Starburst and taking five minutes to complete this process so that we enjoyed every bit of our food. It was interesting to hear some of the observations that students noticed when they weren't rushing to eat. We also did a guided meditation that went through relaxing our bodies head to toe. I was amazed to see how seriously this class was and how calm they were able to get their bodies at the end of the day. I have given teachers resources so that they can do some of these activities on their own when they believe that their class needs some down time to collect themselves.
My next step in practicing mindfulness globally is to have a quick mindful moment in the morning announcements for the entire school to practice before starting their day. Research has proven that this can increase student production and decrease stress and behavior problems.
So, once again, thank you so much for your gracious donation. We all appreciate our new mindful resources!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer
Social Emotional Learning Library
Funded Nov 8, 2016The students at both of my schools have enjoyed reading many of our new books that we received through the grant. In second and third grade we have read The Monster Who Lost His Mean and discussed how it is important to be ourselves and not feel pressured to be or do things to fit in with others. With my first graders, we read In My Heart and talked about feelings. We made a chart to brainstorm alternate feeling words for "good" or "bad," and then students drew their faces with a feeling that they had that week. Other students had to guess the feeling based on their drawings. I have also used What To Do When You Worry Too Much with two individual students that are experiencing some trauma outside of school and are having trouble focusing at school.
Next year I will be incorporating the MindUp series into classrooms to begin the conversation of being mindful in our everyday life events, especially in school and with social interactions. I hope to infuse this into the entire school environment through daily blurbs on the announcements and pieces in the newsletter to parents each month.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer
K.'s Choices Extension Library
Funded May 6, 2014Thank you all for contributing to my Kelso's Extension project. I teach all of my Kinderg�rtner's and 1st graders the Kelso's Choices program (nine choices to use when having a problem with another student). I review these choices with grades 3-6 and infuse the ideas into all of my lessons. The books that we received enhance my lessons and use the choices in story form, which is ideal for real-world application.
My students are excited to hear new stories, and I love a captive audience when it's a story they haven't heard before. In addition, the teachers at both of my schools have been checking books out of my SEL (social emotional learning) library to use in their classrooms on the days that I am not in there teaching.
The best part of my job is being able to work with ALL students (K-6) in two schools. I have the opportunity to facilitate lessons that encourage positive social skills that prepare students for the "real world." I am appreciative that my co-workers also support SEL both in the classrooms and through lessons using books from this grant. The continued use of SEL has created a more positive environment with less behavior problems throughout the school.
Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer
Social Emotional Learning/Skill Building
Funded Oct 22, 2013Thank you so much for your generosity. I have been using many of my new books in K-6 classrooms to reinforce social and emotional learning skills. Both my students and I are excited to explore all of our new materials. With limited resources, it was wonderful to get some new books on my shelf. Your donation has allowed me to start this school year with new lessons and fresh ideas! In turn, I am also able to share these resources with my fellow counselors at other schools; we meet as a group once a month to share ideas for curriculum and classroom lessons.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Downer