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"The worst thing I can say to the children in my class is: "there's no school tomorrow." Why? Because for so many of them, their home lives are so bleak and lacking in parental consistency, so riddled with tension and exposure to violence, and so blanketed by poverty that their exposure to books, appropriate toys, and normal everyday life experiences burdens them with handicaps that are not even thought of in socially and economically functional communities.

Our preschoolers live in an inner city community in NY in which the crime rate is so compelling that parents generally will not risk taking their children to the playground. Being confined to an over-crowded apartment can be devastating to the development of curiosity, socialization, and general knowledge in young children.

Given these roadblocks to success, I am well aware of how incredibly potent the influence of preschool is for these children. This is why I continually strive to provide them with the materials that will stimulate their development of social skills, enhance their conversation and vocabulary, and flood them with information about the world that exists beyond their windowsill.

I am eager to set up a sand table so that the students can have the experiences that are usually considered to be the rites of childhood; however, in order to do so I need to have clean sand. In addition, I want the children to be able to extend their block play by providing figures representing traditional occupations, as well as fences so that they can build zoos, farms, etc.

Lastly, I am in need of storage solutions which will permit me to better utilize classroom space.

With your support, we can help to repair the damages that deprivation have caused to these preschoolers, who can then enter Kindergarten with the skills to talk instead of fight, read instead of watch TV, and have experiences that teach them about the world that awaits them. Thank you, thank you, donors, for your concern and generosity.

My students need moon sand, block play career figures, block play fences, 2 mobile storage organizers. The cost of this proposal is $314, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment ."

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See Mrs. B.'s class participating in this project! (Enlarge photos)

Mrs. B. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Aug 25, 2009

Dear Betty and your morning rider,

Thank you for the great news! I learned today that you have generously agreed to fund my proposal, and although school has not yet begun, I can all ready envision the smiles of delight when the children discover the moon sand, career figures, and other new additions to our classroom.
Your kindness will offer the children a more enriched, hands-on introductory school experience, which will begin the development of a life-long love of learning, as well as a strong, tactile introduction to the studies of science and social studies.
Again, thank you so very much for your generous contribution to today's young learners.

With gratitude,
Mrs. B.

Mrs. B.'s Classroom: High Poverty School

Region:

New York (City)

Where is the classroom located?

Submitted:

Apr 23, 2009 |

Expires:

Sep 29, 2009

Great news -- this project is now a reality! We ordered the materials and they were sent directly to the classroom.

Materials	Vendor	Price	#	Total
Moon Sand 20 lb. Bag - White	Kaplan Early Learning Company	$51.56	1	$51.56
10 Drawer Mobile Organizer	Kaplan Early Learning Company	$55.86	2	$111.72
Vinyl Career Figures	Kaplan Early Learning Company	$27.48	1	$27.48
Barnyard Fence	Kaplan Early Learning Company	$8.00	4	$32.00

Vendor Shipping Charges				$22.28
State Sales Tax				$0.00
3rd Party Payment Processing Fee				$3.34
Postage / Processing for Donor Thank-You Package				$9.00
Project Subtotal				$257.38
Optional Donation Towards Operating Costs				$56.50
TOTAL PROJECT COST				$313.88
2 Donors				-$313.88
To Go				$0.00