A Classroom Grant awarded last year to Marshall Keough, 4th-grade teacher at Pine Creek Elementary, is giving students discreet, hands-on tools to help regulate restless energy and stay focused—this time, with Calm Strips.
“Research shows that sensory tools are effective for many students in managing restless energy and increasing focus,” said Keough, “One common challenge with traditional “fidget” tools is that they can be noisy or take up space. “Calm Strips provide students with a tactile, low-distraction way to manage energy and stay on task. They’re small, reusable, and can be used whenever a student needs a moment to refocus.”
Before using the strips, students were guided in deciding where each Calm Strip would be most helpful. Many placed them on their desks within easy reach, while others used them on computers, seats, or water bottles. The strips were especially popular during silent reading, assessments, and standardized testing, and some students even asked their families to try similar products at home.
“Seeing students ask for new Calm Strips before our last assessment told us they were making a real difference,” Keough explained. “It shows our school community values providing every student with the tools they need to succeed.”
With nearly 100 students directly benefiting from the project, Calm Strips support Pine Creek’s School Improvement Goal of meeting diverse social, emotional, and behavioral learning needs while reinforcing guidance curriculum strategies like breathing techniques.
The Foundation’s funding highlights the impact of teacher-led innovation. “When teachers have the freedom to try new approaches, it empowers them to do what’s best for students,” Keough noted. “It’s an investment that benefits the entire classroom community.”
Projects like this help students develop focus and self-regulation skills while giving teachers practical tools to support learning. With Calm Strips in place, Pine Creek educators are equipped to continue using them for years to come.
