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

See what Ms. Neely is requesting

A Comfortable Place To Read

My special education students need 9 comfortable classroom library resources, including soft seats, floor pillows, beanbags, a Quiet Time Privacy Cube, The Cozy Corner and a Cozy Corner Canopy.

  • $2,374 goal

This project expired on October 13, 2009.

This project expired on October 13, 2009.

Classroom photo
Ms. Neely Jackie Robinson Elementary School
Chicago, IL Grades PreK-2

I am a special needs resource teacher that goes into the regular classroom. I am seeing a lot of students with sensory integration difficulties. They are easily distracted and have little or not impulse control. These students need a comfortable place to focus and read. They need to be able to focus on the words and the meaning and be able to sound out words without being mad fun of by peers. The students do not have pretty pillows and a nice clean comfortable place to just sit and read. The materials are very expensive. I want them to enjoy reading and to connect it with comfort and assurance. I want them to be able to read and visualize which is difficult in the classroom that is crowded and noisy. I want to create an oasis in each classroom. I want the special needs students and the general education student to compensate for their deficits by having a place to sit quietly alone or with a teacher and read

The students that I serve are not the exception, but , the norm. There is an increase in students that cannot concentrate, it is quite difficult. They need to learn how to tune out the negative and focus. They need to be able to concentrate on the reading of fiction and non fiction books and visualize and imagine. Children do not have the opportunity to use their own creativity and imagination. It is essential that we provide tools to teach them to stop and focus on their surroundings through a good book. It is important that students learn to relax and read. My students do not have beautiful homes and pillows and bright colors in their surrounding. They live a rather bleak existence which is apparent by their appearance. They need to learn to associate reading with comfort and beauty. They need to surround themselves with books as a means to formulate a path to success. There are biographies and historical novels and books of special interest. I want them to read constantly everything. I want them to create an oasis at home for the purpose of reading and thinking and focusing on good things.

I will need pillows, bean bag chairs, a reading cube, a reading canopy( which is a bit expensive) I want to entice some skeptics into my web. I want cushions and a listening station which is mainly for my special needs students for reading which everything now is on tape. I can use the bench for my little ones. I need these items for the entire school. I want to create an oasis in each room, or at least in each room that I service. Students need the area and the time for reading silently, which is a large part of the reading block. It is during this designated time that most behavior issues occur. I believe that if you take a slow reader( one that still needs to sound out words, or is not sure of word meaning) an opportunity to have a comfortable place and possibly a book on tape and the regular book and some extended time on task, you might have a student that is improving in his reading and he is focused and accomplished and feels pretty good about himself. He is going to want to repeat this action , because it felt good. This boy could become a scholar and all with the help of a donor that thinks that this young man is worth it.

A thing of beauty lasts forever. These students will forever connect reading with beauty and comfort. It will become the magical thing that reading is to anyone that discovers its beauty. I want them to feel that the reading corner or center is a place that they want to be in for as long as possible. There will be that stipulation that you can remain as long as you are reading. Well, this is one of those you can bring a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. The horse wants to drink and these kids what to read, believe, me. I honestly believe that your donation will serve a worthy cause. These children will benefit, not just for today, but the rest of their lives because you are teaching them the most important tool---reading. You are combining it with comfort and beauty. I think that they will remember this for life.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

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

50 students impacted
Ms. Neely Jackie Robinson Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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.

Chicago, IL 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

50 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
CB243 - Quiet Time Privacy Cube • Lakeshore Learning $249.00 1 $249.00
DD656 - Cozy Corner Canopy • Lakeshore Learning $49.95 1 $49.95
PE463 - The Cozy Corner • Lakeshore Learning $329.00 1 $329.00
LL673 - Sit Together Listening Center • Lakeshore Learning $399.00 1 $399.00
AA364 - Read & Relax Book Station • Lakeshore Learning $329.00 1 $329.00
CK20BU - Little Beanbag Seat - Blue • Lakeshore Learning $39.95 1 $39.95
CK20RD - Little Beanbag Seat - Red • Lakeshore Learning $39.95 1 $39.95
TS540X - Giant Comfy Pillows - Set of 4 • Lakeshore Learning $229.00 1 $229.00
FF107 - A Place for Me Soft Seats - Set of 6 • Lakeshore Learning $49.95 1 $49.95

Materials cost

$1,714.80

Vendor shipping charges

 $171.48

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$42.87

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$1,946.15

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$427.20

Total project goal

$2,373.35

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. Neely and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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