SAN ANTONIO — It's common for teachers to raise funds for pricey classroom supplies, but one San Antonio teacher raised money for something unique: turning his classroom into a mental health oasis.
KSAT was there as teacher Annette Graham began to bring her classroom to life at Zackly Middle School.
“Preparing for the classroom is like Christmas for teachers because of the excitement we can create!” Graham said as she walked into the classroom.
She strives to create a mental health sanctuary where children can be calm while learning.
As a teacher at a magnet school within Zachry, her lessons include practical skills and interactive tools.
“My classes are focused on interpersonal skills. It's not just about getting up and speaking in public. It's about interacting with your peers and ultimately preparing you for work in a career environment and working with team members,” Graham said.
These skills include emotion regulation, which is referred to as social-emotional learning (SEL).
“I've seen a lot of anxiety in my students, especially middle schoolers. They're really dealing with a lot of change,” Graham said.
There, students learn tools to help them manage their emotions.
“We focus on addressing all the stressors, not just career and college search and high school registration, but how to handle conflict within and outside of friend groups, what to do when anxiety levels increase, how to recognize those triggers and how to distance yourself from them,” Graham said.
She wanted to ensure her classroom was a place where students felt safe to learn about and understand their emotions, and as a result, learn practical skills to become successful adults. But she needed help creating a calm space.
Graham used Donors' Choice, a fundraising website that helps teachers pay for supplies and projects.
The $629 goal was reached within a month, allowing us to purchase things we never thought we would find in our classrooms.
$100 – Calmness Strips, a sensory focus tool like a fidget toy
$47.99 – Fluorescent Light Covers/Filters
$98 – Bubble Tube, Colored Aquarium, Sensory Bubble Lamp
$21.98 – Stress relief balls, slime packs, putty
Graham explained the purpose of each item.
“We talk about stress management and I get out the slime. I have different textures and I tell them what's stressing me out, and they say, 'Oh, can I have some of that?' and I say, 'Oh, sure!'” she said.
There are several varieties: some soft, some dense, and Graham says manipulating such textures can have a calming effect, which is especially important for kids with ADHD or autism, something she understands personally.
“As someone who suffers from ADHD and has sensory issues, anything that stimulates that part of the brain without the distraction of others is invaluable,” she said.
Graham then pointed to a small, colorful strip sitting on the Chromebook.
“Calm Strips were developed by individuals who need sensory engagement. There's no distraction, just touch while you work. They stick to anything and can be removed without leaving a mark,” Graham said.
She purposefully chooses materials that are quiet and distraction-free, but she is always attentive to how her students use them.
“If it becomes a distraction or a toy, it's no longer just a toy to help kids focus. We teach them the appropriate way and the appropriate time and I say, 'Hey, can you put that down now and focus on your work?'” Graham said.
The interesting thing is that these items don't technically belong to Graham: as soon as a student uses them, they become the student's property. The student can use them at school or take them home.
The only thing that is strictly in the classroom is the lighting.
“Fluorescent lighting can be too stimulating for a lot of students, so just dimming the lights can help reduce some of the anxiety. It helps provide a little bit of security,” Graham explained.
She has raised funds to purchase soothing covers that clip onto the overhead lights to create a dim atmosphere, and she also plans to install curtains around the windows and lamps and curtain lights around the classrooms.
Graham has tried this method before and says it works, and even students who aren't in her class will drop in to relax and de-stress.
“They feel it as soon as they walk in. They can come in during their lunch hour and use that time to decompress, regardless of what's going on. They know this room is an option for them,” she said.
Graham also has a Zen day, where she sets aside time for her students to choose five activities that they find calming.
“I could see anxiety rising across campus, so I put up a screen and said, 'Okay, here are five activities you can choose from. You can read, you can pick a slime kit and you can use it, you can do your homework, or you can just put your head down and rest,'” she explained.
The concept is so unique that donations have poured in from all over the country, and other teachers at her school and teachers she knows at other schools are doing the same thing.
Graham hopes other teachers will receive similar support and incorporate this into their curriculum.
“My hope is that people understand the value of what we're doing here,” Graham said.
She always encourages parents and community members to look at teachers' Amazon wish lists and Donors Choose projects if they are able to donate.
Her success story shows that even a small donation can make a difference and change something life-changing.
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