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Ms. P. from is requesting other through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Ms. P.'s classroom raised $483

Literacy Lounge: An Oasis for Students with Special Needs

My students need seven bean bag chairs in order for us to have a reading area.

Ms. P.
Grades 6-8

Imagine that you are in eighth grade, entering your final year of middle school, in a low-income school in New York State. This is the scene as you enter the school on September 2nd; you walk past the general education students in the schoolyard all speaking about their summers. You don’t feel comfortable joining in because you don’t know many of these students. Instead of switching classes every period, as is the norm amongst eight graders, you spend the majority of your day in one classroom, with eleven other students who also have special needs. You enter the school, heading to the classroom you know all too well, because you spent 7th grade there too. You sit down only to be immediately disappointed when the teacher announces that it is time for independent reading. You despise this portion of the day for a variety of reasons. First, being that you are well aware that you are on a first grade reading level, far behind your eighth grade peers. Second, because you are almost six feet tall and are extremely uncomfortable as you sit at your cramped desk for 45 minutes of independent reading. This is the exact angst of just one of my eighth grade students in my English class for students with special needs. Independent reading time is essential for the literacy and growth of my students. Their reading levels range from first grade levels all the way up to eight grade levels. For this reason independent reading is necessary as a way each student can be individually challenged when given books on their level, catered to their interests. As a result of the necessity of this allotment of time for reading, I’ve made it a goal to make reading and independent reading time in the classroom comfortable and appealing for students who are already extremely discouraged in their educational endeavors. I am asking for seven beanbag chairs to begin a literacy lounge for my students. Regardless of whether this lounge is donated, my students will be required to read independently for 45 minutes per day. This is what’s necessary for them to make significant gains in the classroom. With the donation of these chairs, this independent reading could be held in an attractive environment, with the potential of fostering a love for reading amongst its inhabitants. Research by Savage in 1999 found that attractive classrooms influence student behavior positively, whereas unattractive classrooms show high levels of student discomfort and feelings of unease. I have no doubt that my students will excel at reading this upcoming year. They’re extremely bright and motivated. However, you have the opportunity to change their daily reading time from one of discomfort and dread, to one of comfort and advancement. On a larger scale, you have the opportunity to permanently transform my student’s perception of reading. Their perceptions can change from seeing reading as something they are painfully forced to do, to being something they do to relax and escape, while inadvertently becoming educated in the process. Please help me show my student how to love learning.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

12 students impacted 2 donors
Ms. P. Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

12 students impacted 2donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Large Bean Bag Chair, Dark Blue Denim • Highsmith Inc. $42.54 1 $42.54
Large Bean Bag Chair, Light Blue Denim • Highsmith Inc. $42.54 1 $42.54
Large Bean Bag Chair, Red Denim • Highsmith Inc. $42.54 1 $42.54
Bean Bag Lounger Navy • Highsmith Inc. $52.22 1 $52.22
Bean Bag Lounger, Purple • Highsmith Inc. $52.22 1 $52.22
Bean Bag Lounger, Green • Highsmith Inc. $52.22 1 $52.22
Bean Bag Lounger Royal Blue • Highsmith Inc. $52.22 1 $52.22

Materials cost

$336.50

Vendor shipping charges

 $33.65

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.41

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$396.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$86.93

Total project goal

$482.93

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $482.93

2 Donors

-$0.00

Donations toward project cost

-$0.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $482.93

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

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Project Activity

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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. P. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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