Teachers-please tell me,a non-teacher,that I am doing something beneficial

[w8liftinglady]

My partner is a teacher in a 5th grade resource students/behavior problems.He has them the entire day,and does really well with them.

As I talked to him,I decided to try something with positive reinforcement.I am making spirit bracelets for all the kids with the school mascot and "hope" on them,and I have some positive stickers and Dr. Seuss notes with positive sayings.

I'd like to talk with them about my patients,when they are scared how it helps them to focus on something positive and hopeful.They are all below poverty level,and several have been homeless.

is this degrading/scary for 5th graders?My 2 younger sons say they would have liked it when they were in the 5th grade,but I wonder if they are humoring me.

[HereSince1628]

1. Well, being that they are 'spirit' bracelets I guess that people who

worry about exposure to spiritual things could take exception.

Personally, I wonder about an entirely different issue. Why do you need to inject yourself in your partners work?

[w8liftinglady]

4. spirit,as in school spirit..you know.

Why do you need to inject yourself in your partners work?

he asked me to,as many of the kids are in foster families,unpredictable living.I was hoping showing some caring might help them.he has many students that do well with positive reinforcement.unfortunately,low-income Texas schools are staffed 24 of these students per teacher.i was going to volunteer there,and thought it would be a nice thing to do.I see it isn't a good idea.I'll donate them to something else...maybe a homeless shelter.This is Texas,after all.Everyone likes cowboys.

[luvspeas]

2. not a teacher....

but I've worked with kids from similar backgrounds for many years. All kids like stuff. always. But if you are really going to send them a message, the best way is to get them to come to this conclusion on their own. By 5th grade, they have lots to share. You might want to help lead them in a discussion about things they are positive and hopeful about. People in crisis and stress often have a very collapsed focus of time and their place in it. It's very hard for a homeless kid to think about life beyond the next 15 minutes. The might not even see a future for themselves. Getting them to talk about these things can help a lot.

I'm not sure the school's mascot will inspire positivity and hopefulness. Particularly if they don't have a good relationship with school, or if they are not into athletics.

[noamnety]

7. I had the same thought about dropping the mascot.

Once they are out of the school, they won't want something that marks them as an elementary kid. When my daughter hit high school, the last thing she was going to do was wear a tee shirt from junior high.

I like the idea of a discussion, maybe having a collection of the bracelets in different colors, and then they can pick one as a sort of ceremony of the discussion. Letting them pick which one they like best could make it more personal. Maybe the teacher could have them fill out a favorite color survey to surprise them with one in their favorite colors. That might have more of a connection for them than the school mascot.

[nenagh]

3. Sometimes I wonder whether it would be possible in classrooms..

where there are a large number of students who may be living below the poverty level..

I would say that the greatest gift would be a large slow cooker or several of them..

And porridge or boston baked beans could be cooking in them all day.. then there would be a simple nutritious snack for everyone before school let out..

I hate the idea of anyone being hungry..

[w8liftinglady]

5. I hate that,too.texas does have a nutrition program that these children all qualify for.

This isn't the only thing I planned to do in the school,but I thought,since my patients like it,maybe the kids would.I don't know a lot about other folks kids(mine are all boys).
I'm glad I asked before I handed them out.

that's why I asked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. It's a wonderful idea

I'd love some if anyone made these for my students. And I know they would love them.