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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Askounis-Thomas from Chicago, IL is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Do the Math! We Need Some Help!

My class needs 30 graphing calculators to help them on high-stakes state standardized tests.

  • $1,872 goal

This project expired on October 18, 2008.

This project expired on October 18, 2008.

Classroom photo
Ms. Askounis-Thomas profile photo
Ms. Askounis-Thomas McCutcheon Elementary School
Chicago, IL Grades 6-8

I am a third year teacher working in inner city Chicago. The school is a great community filled with teachers who extend themselves everyday to give much needed help to their students. I consider myself to be one of these teachers. I come to school early and stay late to work with my students and work on my classroom so that the hours spent in the classroom are enjoyable as well as educational. The students at my school come from very poor families. 10% of the students are homeless and all of the students in my class receive free breakfast and lunch. For many of these students, the meals that they receive at school are the only meals they receive all day. I play the role of teacher and parent to many of my students and do everything within my means to help them. After teaching 1st grade for 2 years, my principal moved me to 8th grade to help the students pass the state standardized tests and meet the graduation requirements. There is so much pressure on students to perform well on these tests that it has taken over the love of learning for many these students. Teachers are now pressured to teach only to this one test. However, as a new teacher to these high stakes tests, I do not want to fall into the same routine that many other teachers do. I want to make sure that my students are having fun and learning. When students are engaged and enjoying what they are doing they are more likely to learn and perform better on these tests. I have noticed from teaching after school math programs that many of these students know how to do the math but due to the speed that they are trying to complete their tests, make simple computational errors and then get the wrong answer even though they know what to do! This is extremely frustrating as a teacher to watch. I would like for my students to have graphing calculators to help them with their math. I think these calculators will help minimize simple computational mistakes and really help my students show what they actually know and can do. Many students living in more affluent communities receive the luxury of having this calculators as a great tool to help them with math. However, my students do not have that luxury and do not even get the extra help that they need at home. These calculators will be a great tool for my students to succeed. Additionally, by spending less time speed drilling my students, we can actually spend time doing enriching, fun and very educational activities that will help foster a life long love of learning. These calculators will give my students confidence and encouragement to succeed in school. It is unfortunate that there is so much emphasis on these standardized tests but the truth of the matter is that these tests are not going to go away for a while. Students who do not pass the state tests often are retained and then often times drop-out of school. I want to give my students hope and inspiration that they can accomplish anything and that learning can be fun! Please help my students succeed in school. This donation will continue helping students for many more years. These students need our help and support! PLEASE HELP A NEW TEACHER AND A GREAT GROUP OF STUDENTS!

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

24 students impacted
Ms. Askounis-Thomas McCutcheon Elementary School Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, IL View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

24 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
CASIO GRAPHING CALCULATOR -- Casio Graphing Calculator; FX-9750GPLUS • Quill Corporation $44.99 30 $1,349.70

Materials cost

$1,349.70

Vendor shipping charges

 $134.97

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$33.74

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$1,535.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$336.95

Total project goal

$1,871.95

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Askounis-Thomas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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