Trash Your Troubles-an emotional support system for the classroom

Are you looking for ways to promote a growth mindset in your classroom that will support behavior, promote positive peer relationships, and foster open communication between you and your students? Maybe you need a simple go between for you and your school counselor? Then maybe Trash Your Troubles is for you! 

What is Trash Your Troubles?

Creating a safe environment for kids is so important for todays classroom. We have fabulous school counselors to turn to that do a phenomenal job supporting teachers and kids daily!

What if we also helped in our own classrooms as well?

I saw this little trashcan at the Dollar Tree and the idea just hit me. 

I am sure you have heard of “burn” therapy. You write down your worries etc and then burn the paper essentially releasing it from you. Now I have personally never done that, but this idea is along those same lines.

If a kid is having something that is troubling them they can write it down, wad it up and throw it away in this little trashcan! 

Now this does not at all take the place of a kid seeing the counselor if needed. It would just be an easy way to sort of give them a therapeutic way to deal other than keeping it bottled up. Some troubles may be as small as “_____ took my pencil.” or as big as a true bullying issue that maybe the child is not confident speaking up out loud yet. This also does not take the place of the teacher being an active observer of your kids and open communication.

The kids can write their name if they want to so then the teacher can see who might need to talk or it can be just a quick jot from a child to release their thoughts. The teacher can check the trashcan a few times a week or as often as they want or need to.

Establishing a solid and trusting relationship with your kids is also very helpful and important with this as well. So the kids feel comfortable writing their name so you could help with any problems they may have or need to refer to the counselor.

You would also need to set expectations for when they can use this: not during teaching time, etc. As the teacher you could decide what works for you and your classroom. I would also recommend putting it somewhere they can access it easily but also somewhat private.

Just copy the template onto colored paper, cut and set near the trashcan!

The thought is truly to open communication within your classroom and include an extra option of having kids share their thoughts, worries, struggles in a safe manner. It might also be beneficial in that first step between you and the counselor if needed! 

Sound like something that might be useful to you? Go grab the template HERE:

Have a BLESSED week!

"Jesus never asks us to go where he hasn't been."