Suncoast Credit Union

Many of our students are experiencing really big feelings. These feelings can actually feel too big for some of our students to deal with in an appropriate way, causing them to disengage from learning and to get into trouble. The goal of this project is to teach students at Herbert Cambridge Elementary how to identify these feelings and to give them a safe space with specific, actionable steps to help them calm themselves down. This space will allow students to proactively channel those big emotions and physical impulses to better manage their feelings appropriately and help them return to the classroom ready to learn.

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Help, my feelings are too BIG!

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School:
Herbert Cambridge Elementary 
Subject:
Character Education 
Teacher:
Cara Denny 
Students Impacted:
275 
Grade:
K-5 
Date:
July 29, 2021

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Harry Debes Family Foundation - $198.48

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 275

Imagine having a safe palce to gow when you are feeling angry or frustrated! A room where the lighting is low, there is soft music playing and a slight scent of lavender, then you look around and see activities that are set up for the purpose of helping you calm down. Well, thanks to the generous donations that funded this grant that is exactly what we were able to provide for the students at Herbert Cambridge Elementary. Certain students were identified from prior data as experiencing anger or frustration in the classroom causing disengagement from learning, or causing them to get in trouble and often removed from the classroom. These students were introduced to the calm rooming and taught the calming activities, they were given the opportunity to practice these activities on a regular basis. When they did become angry or frustrated, a trip to the calming room was what they needed to calm down and return to class ready to learn. Other students who were dealing with big or overwhelming feelings would experience and work through the calming activities under the guidance of the School Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Psychologist.

Students would be asked to rank their feelings when they entered that room, most ranked their big feelings to be at least a 7, some even ranked it a 10. Students would then rank their fellings after working through the 9 steps, most ranked it under a 5, some even reported a ranking of a 1. Observations of the student also suggested that they were calming down, it showed in their body language, their engagement in the activities, their breathing and in their words. As engagement increased in the activities, students also began to engage with the adult in the room verbalizing their anger and frustrations in a more appropriate manner. While keeping data on the usage and benefits of the HCE calming room, others professionals in the school district took notice and there is a effort to try to place calming spaces in more elementary schools.  

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Two students flex it out in the calming room

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Yoga Poses

 

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S.T.A.R. Breathing

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Trace the Rainbow

 

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Where do you land? Rank your Feelings

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Many of our students are experiencing really big feelings. These feelings can actually feel too big for some of our students to deal with in an appropriate way, causing them to disengage from learning and to get into trouble. The goal of this project is to teach students at Herbert Cambridge Elementary how to identify these feelings and to give them a safe space with specific, actionable steps to help them calm themselves down. This space will allow students to proactively channel those big emotions and physical impulses to better manage their feelings appropriately and help them return to the classroom ready to learn. 

 

What will be done with my students

All students and teachers will be introduced to and taught how to utilize the Active Calming Corner, which consists of nine physical and mental tasks that help them calm down and cooperate. Many experts remind us that all behavior is a form of communication, and that 'acting up", "acting out" or physical restlessness often precedes an emotional meltdown or outburst. Students and teachers will be taught to identify these cues and students can proactively utilize the Active Calming Center. They will work through the 9 physical and mental tasks that begin with moving major muscle groups, and then progress to crossing the midline, stretching, task accomplishment and deep belly breathing culminating in a calm safe space allowing them to return to class calm, refocused and ready to learn. Bright colors, varying textures and simple tasks such as, 'Stomp It Out', 'Trace the Rainbow', and 'S.T.A.R. Breathing' encourages success and engagement. 

 

Benefits to my students

The benefits of the Active Calming Center for students will be many, both immediate benefits of maximizing student time and energy focused on learning in the classroom, as well as the future benefits of managing their emotions by learning important self calming strategies to use throughout their school careers and the rest of their lives. Students will also experience an increased sense of self esteem as they are able to proactively manage their emotions and behaviors, lessening the need for discipline, consequences and negative feedback from other students, while increasing their learning and academic success in the classroom.  

 

Budget Narrative

The purchase of the Active Calming Center will be a tangible tool to help teach important calming techniques and strategies and is a resource that can be used year to year to help students build and practice these important life skills.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Active Calming Center $164.00
2 Shipping $23.00
3 Tax $11.48
  Total: $198.48

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union