CADEkids

On #GivingTuesday CADEkids asks you to help us create virtual lessons for K-8th grade students. As distance-learning continues, kids’ social-emotional needs are growing and we’re working to positively impact this stay-at-home reality. Whether you donate $5 or $500, every contribution helps To show our kids that you believe in them during tough times! To give a little back.... CADEkids’ Prevention Specialists help Philadelphia public school students build proud futures through: - Drug and alcohol prevention - Goal setting - Peaceful problem-solving - Problem gambling awareness Thank you for standing with CADEkids! Please visit our website to donate. www.cadekids.org

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Natasha Bracewell Specialist Spotlight Ms. Bracewell worked in education from preschool to teaching to after school programs before becoming a gambling specialist for CADEkids. She feels a calling to work with youth and is currently in a nonprofit management MBA program. ... Ms. Bracewell believes lessons about probability are essential for students. Ms. Bracewell discusses taking chances, everyday gambles, and positive decision making during these lessons. She builds upon these layers to have conversations with students about how they can take control of their lives at a young age. One highlight Ms. Bracewell has from this year is from small group sessions she had with students. One student was struggling and having a very difficult year. By the end of their time together, Ms. Bracewell noticed this student’s social skills and participation increase. The student still had struggles, but she saw just how much CADEkids services helped him and his school. Fun Fact: Ms. Bracewell is learning how to garden. She is taking this time to focus on slowing down and to be in the moment.

Khareema Thomas Specialist Spotlight Ms. Thomas began working for CADEkids after working in the Philadelphia School District. She worked in special education and after school programs for elementary and middle school students.... Ms. Thomas believes decision making is an essential lesson for students. Taking time to think before a decision and to reflect after can be extremely helpful for students. Ms. Thomas says that some students have trouble identifying how they feel, but that these lessons help them to learn to stop, think, act, and reflect. She stresses to students that its ok to feel however they want to feel. One highlight Ms. Thomas has from this year is from a student who used what they learned from goal setting lessons. This student set a goal to pass the spelling test and got an 8/10. They then set another goal to get all of the questions correct on the spelling test. Ms. Thomas saw this student achieve their goal, celebrate their success, and then set a new goal. This showed Ms. Thomas that the student understood the importance of progress. Fun Fact: Ms. Thomas likes to travel and go on cruises.

Donovan Young Specialist Spotlight Mr. Young has 15 years of experience in the human services field. He came to CADEkids 2 years ago after working in a position to help differently abled people procure jobs. Mr. Young aims to create close relationships with the communities he serves in every place he works.... Mr. Young believes an essential lesson for students is decision making. He likes to use real-life examples to show students that you can be on the right path, that the littlest decisions can lead you somewhere you don’t want to go. Mr. Young also enjoys using crossword puzzles to engage students and make the classroom environment welcoming. One highlight Mr. Young has from this year is from an 8th grade class at Longstreth Elementary School. This class was rowdy and had a history of disciplinary issues when Mr. Young arrived to give his first lesson. Mr. Young entered the classroom and cracked a joke which got the students’ attention. The side conversations ended, and everyone became fully engaged. Mr. Young enjoyed seeing these students participate and the lightbulbs go off in their minds. Fun Fact: Mr. Young produces music and has a song with the R&B artist Miguel.

Jamila Johnson Specialist Spotlight Ms. Johnson is a gambling prevention specialist for CADEkids. She previously worked in special education in the Philadelphia School District.... Ms. Johnson believes it is important to show students that gambling does not always involve casinos or the lottery. She focuses on the overall standpoint that you can gamble with anything in your life. The definition of gambling does not fit into a neat box, like some students may think. Ms. Johnson teaches that traditional gambling is not the only form of gambling. One highlight Ms. Johnson has from this last year is when she was able to see kids connecting lessons to their personal lives. In a project at Waring Elementary School, students created a poster board of all the ways gambling can affect everyday life. The students connected their experiences with what they learned in their own words. Ms. Johnson also enjoyed seeing their individual artistic expression in this project. Fun Fact: Ms. Johnson is a problem solver and is a foodie. One of her favorite restaurants is Green Eggs.