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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Merino from La Mesa, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Merino is requesting

Happy Little Brains' Zen Zone

Help me give my students an awareness of their own feelings and tools to help regulate the emotions behind all their feels.

  • $270 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Merino for her next project!

Help Ms. Merino

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Merino for her next project!

My Project

Students need to learn emotions are normal, part of life, and absolutely necessary. The importance is to also learn what it is that helps them regulate their emotions and use tools that will foster a positive mindset. These "tools" / items will help guide in allowing students to recognize the emotions they feel, and then allow them to discover what soothes and or calms them down. These sensory items will enhance our calming center and create the safe space I strive to create for my students at our "Zen Zone". I was very specific to this particular age group's needs when picking sensory items. I chose squishy emotion balls to not only foster oral expression but also allow students to be cognizant of their emotions and help them develop their own understanding of what it is that helps them regulate their emotions if need be. Every child is different keeping this in mind, I selected a variety of sensory items i.e squishy beads, lava lamps, and yoga cards that will allow my students' brains' to take a break.

The ultimate goal is for students to develop self-advocacy in not only recognizing their emotions but utilizing the tools that work best for them when they are feeling certain emotions.

Also, enriching students with books/print may foster a better understanding of why they feel emotions and help normalize that it is ok because they have tools to guide and help them.

In my zen zone, I hope my students understand our brains need breaks in order to continue on tasks. And I hope our zen zone will be able to provide the space for just that with an abundance of sensory items all students will be able to use.

Ms. Merino La Mesa Dale Elementary School Grades PreK-2

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Merino

La Mesa, CA View local requests

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

30 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Merino is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Bowwow Powwow • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $20.00 1 $20.00
VR154 - Squish Squeeze Sensory Beads • Lakeshore Learning Materials $19.99 1 $19.99
Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids: Help Children to Calm and Focus • Amazon Business $15.95 1 $15.95
Liquid Timer - Sensory Toy for Relaxation, Liquid Motion Bubbler Timer with Floating Color Lava Lamp, 3-Pack Incredibly Effective Calming Stress Relief Hourglass Toy for Kids & Adults, Autism & ADHD • Amazon Business $15.95 1 $15.95
Carson Dellosa Calming Strategies Bulletin Board Set—Calming Strategies and Mood Charts for Social Emotional Learning, Homeschool or Classroom Decor (7 pc) • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
PP256 - Little Hands Animal Balls • Lakeshore Learning Materials $14.99 1 $14.99
Everyone Feels Anxious Sometimes - A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Inner Peace and Confidence - Anxiety Book for Children Ages 3-10 to Help Alleviate Worry • Amazon Business $13.45 1 $13.45
Everyone Feels Angry Sometimes - An Anger Management Book for Kids that Teaches Essential Steps to Manage Anger & Frustration - A Psychologist Recommended Book for Children Ages 3-10 • Amazon Business $13.45 1 $13.45
Our Class is a Family • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $13.00 1 $13.00
Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards • Amazon Business $12.78 1 $12.78
The Name Jar • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $9.00 1 $9.00
Calming Coloring for Kids: (Mindful Coloring Books) (iSeek) • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Pop Fidget Ball Popper Its Toys 4 Packs, 3D Squeeze Anti-Pressure Pop Balls Fidget Toys Push Bubble Its Sensory Toys Squishy Stress Balls for Kids and Adults • Amazon Business $7.49 1 $7.49

Materials cost

$179.03

Vendor shipping charges

 $5.00

Sales tax

 $12.54

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.69

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$229.26

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$40.46

Total project goal

$269.72

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $269.72

1 Donor

-$134.86

Donations toward project cost

-$114.63

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$20.23

match offer

-$134.86

Match offer toward project cost

-$114.63

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$20.23

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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 Ms. Merino and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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