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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Murray from Saint Louis, MO is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mr. Murray's classroom raised $1,853

Save the Apples for the Students!

My students need an Apple Macbook.

Mr. Murray Humboldt Middle School

Saint Louis, MO Grades 9-12

Apples make us smarter, Macs make us brilliant. I am currently teaching in an inner-city high school in Missouri. The school is a comprehensive school for freshman, situated in a low-income, high poverty community. I teach Freshman Literature and AVID College Prep. Currently our building has 227 students enrolled.

As with any inner-city high school, we are up against numerous challenges. The biggest challenge we face everyday is a lack of resources and an absence of money. Being a public school working off a limited budget means that we have almost no wiggle room for spending on our students. At the beginning of this school year, there was a zero balance in the Literature/English Department. This simply means that anything we want to do with our students outside of using the textbook, will be coming out of the teacher's pocket. This is fine, but ultimately our own money begins to dry up. Our students deserve better and yet they continually suffer at the hands of problems that are completely out of their control. In order to compete with the surrounding schools in the state, we are going to have to offer more resources to our kids. In Literature, we spend the majority of our time working out of novels. We read classics such as "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and "The Odyssey". The materials themselves are somewhat advanced in the beginning, so the students have shown a real interest in creating video montages and webquests to accompany the readings. Through technology, we are reading more.

Unfortunately, computers with the ability to perform certain video-based projects are very expensive and difficult to come by. I have decided that because these video/Internet projects have been a catalyst in generating interest for our novels, as well as raised test scores; we need to do more. In order to do more we must have more computers. Currently we have one Macbook in the classroom and students are permitted to check it out and use the various Mac applications to create video montages using film clips from itunes and other various media outlets.These presentations are then shown to other students as a wrap-up of a novel or unit. They are also using the Safari software to create their own webQuests for other students to take as precursors for their reading. We are hoping to add more MacBooks to the classroom, starting with one from Donors Choose. While we certainly could use more (our ultimate goal is one for every student by 2010), we understand that the cost alone will only allow us to add one or two at a time. However, the students have been so excited about using them, we haven't had any issues with the students sharing time as long as they know they are going to get their turn.

I know that this project is a rather large amount to fund and I know that it might be more than is necessary. However, I have always believed that my students are the best, it doesn't matter how many bad things happen at our school, how many times our district might be in the news, or how many people on the outside think we are hopeless. I will never give up, never stop believing, and never turn my back on the greatest kids in the world. You know what, they won't quit either. Dells or Hewlett Packards might be cheaper, but they aren't the best, Macs are and my kids deserve the best. For too long we have had fewer resources, less money, and poorer working conditions than everyone else. Your contribution can be the first in a string of donations that start to turn the tables in out favor and give us the edge for once. Please take the time to read this proposal. You are forever changed once you have made a difference.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

157 students impacted 8 donors

Project tagged as

Saint Louis, MO
Grades 9-12
Literacy
Literature & Writing
Technology
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

Mr. Murray Humboldt Middle School Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Saint Louis, MO View local requests

More than three‑quarters of 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

157 students impacted 8donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz - 13.3" TFT • CDW Inc. $1,287.00 1 $1,287.00

Materials cost			$1,287.00
Vendor shipping charges			$128.70
Sales tax			$54.44
3rd party payment processing fee			$32.18
Fulfillment labor & materials			$17.00
Total project cost			$1,519.00
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$333.44
Total project goal			$1,852.44
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$1,852.44
6 Donors			-$893.06
Donations toward project cost			-$759.10
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$133.96
match offer			-$894.00
Match offer toward project cost			-$733.08
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$160.92
Excluded support for DonorsChoose			-$32.67
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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 Mr. Murray and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

This teacher needs your help!

Save the Apples for the Students!

Project tagged as

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.