Rainbow Elementary students learn life skills through new coffee cart service
MADISON — Emily Craig’s special education students at Rainbow Elementary School are gaining and practicing new social and life skills thanks to the implementation of a coffee cart at the school.
Craig’s “Rocket Roasters” have begun pushing a cart filled with coffee and breakfast snacks around the school once a month to give back to teachers and faculty. Craig said she was struck with the idea to start a coffee cart at the school after seeing something similar on Facebook.
After the success of their first go-around Oct. 31, Craig decided to make it a monthly activity. Last week, the students also had the opportunity to share their carted goods with parents at the school’s “Breakfast with the Principal” event.
“The kids are so excited,” Craig said. “They have little aprons, and they love it. … So far, it’s been really fun.”
According to Craig, it took about a month to get the coffee cart approved and established at the school. The idea had to get the green light from Rainbow’s principal, Brian Givens, before going to central office for final approval. After that, Craig said it took about two weeks to gather donations from parents and the school. The students even got their aprons screen printed with their “Rocket Roasters” logo.
“Our principal—he’s backed us up 100 percent because without him, we wouldn’t have been able to get this ball rolling,” Craig said.
In the classroom, Craig’s students practice being helpful and cordial at the cart by learning to greet teachers with a “good morning.” They also practice asking teachers what they would like and leaving them with friendly phrases like “enjoy your food” and “thank you, have a nice day.”
Students practice being friendly and helpful with their communication and service. CONTRIBUTED
The teachers’ reception of the students’ new coffee cart has been extremely positive, according to Craig. Teachers have the opportunity to sign up for a time to have the Rocket Roaster bring the cart around. Then, they have the opportunity to choose from hot cocoa, coffee and tea, as well as breakfast snacks like muffins and Nutri-Grain bars. When it comes to hot beverages, the students help with safe tasks like putting pods in the Keurig machine, but adults take care of the rest.
Craig said teachers have been very receptive of the new coffee cart. CONTRIBUTED
“The kids seem to like it, and the teachers loved it,” Craig said. “It’s also a chance for them (the students) to get out of the room and get away from everything that goes on in the classroom and to work on those life skills because that’s what’s going to prepare them.”
So far, Craig said she has already noticed positive changes in her students’ behavior. Craig also said the cart is a good opportunity for other teachers, and even other kids in the school, to get to know her students. Though some of her students are nonverbal and have more trouble communicating than others, Craig said the cart has helped them learn to communicate with friendly high-fives, hugs and smiles. Many of her sensory students enjoyed the task of pushing a cart.
Students push the coffee cart through the halls of Rainbow Elementary School. CONTRIBUTED
“It’s just a way for them to follow directions and prepare them for a job maybe later in life,” she explained.
Though the coffee cart is still new, Craig said she expects it to continue into the next school year. If its popularity with teachers keeps growing, it may become a special treat every other week rather than once a month. For now, the Rocket Roasters are providing a free service, though that may change with an increase in its frequency.
“Maybe in a few months, we’ll kind of expand it to where [the students] are working with money and money skills, because that’s something they also need to learn. Right now, we’re just focusing straight on communication and social skills. That’s a big thing with our class right now.”
