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This teacher needs your help!

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

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Fully Funded

Ms. Black's classroom raised $736

Creating A MindLab: Inspiration Starts Here

My students need 35 items including a CD and DVD player and many different kinds of posters and bulletin board decorations.

Classroom photo
Ms. Black Brentano Math & Science Academy
Chicago, IL Grades 6-8

The quality of education is generally perceived by the school's appearance. When I started working at my school as a substitute kindergarten teacher two years ago, I was totally impressed. Beautiful murals adorned the hallways, a tropical fish tank rested calmly at the entrance, and the school was quiet -- in thinking mode. I knew high-quality teaching and learning was taking place. I knew immediately that *this* was where I wanted to teach. I have since secured a full-time middle grades teaching position in social studies and reading and am in love with my seventh and eighth graders. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to actualize my dream. And I want to show my students that the school and I share a common vision: quality education. I want my students to experience the same wonderment, awe, and inspiration that I felt as I walked up the steps on my first day of school.

Imagine the first day of your new career. You have the excitement, nervousness, and zeal typical of anyone's first day of a fabulous journey. You're dressed to impress and have brought all the tools and resources necessary in order to be a star performer. Only, when you reach your office, you discover that it is wildly under-resourced. Sure, there's a work space, but no pencil sharpener. Or pencils. Or stapler. Last year's At-A-Glance desk calendar sits idly, on the desk top. The walls are bare, the room stark. The vibrant light in your eyes dwindle. Your excitement wanes and your motivation and creativity are stifled. First impressions are everything, and the classroom is no different. Classroom design has a strong impact on student learning and achievement and consequently should be designed to stimulate students in a positive way.

I need classroom decorations and visual teaching and learning aids to build a community and to reinforce that we are all here together and we are all here to learn. The DVD and CD player are versatile; they can be used for literature circles, historical film screenings, and providing ambient music to stimulate creativity during independent study. These small classroom effects, which are too often taken for granted, speak volumes to the students: "We care about you and we want you to be here. We want you to learn and we can have fun doing it. We value you. We like and respect you, and we want your classroom to be a place that you enjoy and look forward to everyday so that you will be productive, creative, thoughtful, and happy." We all know that work environments impact performance, and this is the exact reason why I need to create a positive working/learning environment for my students. Two factors that contribute to this positive environment are the organization’s culture and the climate in which we work. The classroom climate that I want to create will not only reflect the school's culture of a quality, rigorous education, but also motivate my students to meet our high expectations.

Once upon a time, I would imagine that our schools had an endless supply of bulletin board paper with colorful scalloped trim, visual teaching aids that enforced teaching points, posters and banners, and teacher supplies. The teacher would arrive on the first day to set up her classroom and be regaled with chalk and dry erase markers. Those days no longer exist, and as a new teacher, I have not accumulated the proper classroom effects to properly outfit my students with a room that is ready for them to learn, create, and be inspired. Your contribution is timeless, inspiring every student I touch, year after year, providing them with the necessary tools for them to learn and for me to teach.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than a third of students from low‑income households

62 students impacted 13 donors
Ms. Black Brentano Math & Science Academy Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, IL View local requests

More than a third 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

62 students impacted 13donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
YOU LL ALWAYS MISS 100 % OF THE SHOTS YOU DON T TAKE BANNER----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $6.87 1 $6.87
BULLETIN BOARD SET - HISPANIC HERITAGE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $12.49 1 $12.49
COBY CX CD377 micro system radio CD • CDW Inc. $39.89 1 $39.89
SAMSUNG PRGRSV SCAN DVD PLAYER • Highsmith $54.33 1 $54.33
DAILY HANDWRITING CONTEMPORARY CURSIVE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $21.21 1 $21.21
GRAMMAR GR. 7-8 KELLEY WINGATE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $17.44 1 $17.44
ASSORTED STARS 1/2 INCH - 577 STARS----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $2.57 1 $2.57
CHART SEALS FROGS 810/PK ACID AND LIGNIN FREE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $2.84 1 $2.84
TEACHER’S CLASSROOM SUPPLY PACK----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $149.95 1 $149.95
POSTER PACK CHARACTER TRAITS 6/PK 13" X 19"----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $18.72 1 $18.72
POSTER 30 YEARS FROM NOW 13" X 19" ----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.75 1 $3.75
COLOSSAL POSTER WHAT GOOD WRITERS Over 5 1/2 Feet Tall----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $11.16 1 $11.16
COLOSSAL POSTER WHAT GOOD READERS DO Over 5 1/2 Feet Tall----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $11.16 1 $11.16
COLOSSAL POSTER EDITORS MARKS Over 5 1/2 Feet Tall----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $11.16 1 $11.16
POSTER SET LITERARY GENRES GR. 4-9----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $9.92 1 $9.92
READY LETTERS: 2 UPPERCASE CASUAL YELLOW LETTERS----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.75 1 $3.75
LETTERS DOT-TO-DOT UPPERCASE BLUE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $7.48 1 $7.48
LETTERS DOT-TO-DOT UPPERCASE BLACK----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $7.48 1 $7.48
LARGE VERTICAL INCENTIVE CHART PACK 10/PK----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $21.10 1 $21.10
BULLETIN BOARD SET - U.S. PRESIDENTS----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $14.97 1 $14.97
BULLETIN BOARD SET - FAMOUS BLACK AMERICANS GR. 4-6----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $12.49 1 $12.49
BULLETIN BOARD SET - MAP OF THE UNITED STATES----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $12.49 1 $12.49
SCHOOL TIME CALENDAR BULLETIN BOARD SET----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $16.24 1 $16.24
TRIMMER FILE N SAVE SYSTEM FOLDER----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $4.49 1 $4.49
TRIMMER DEEP PINK----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $2.99 1 $2.99
TRIMMER PURPLE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $2.99 1 $2.99
BORDER/TRIMMER SCALOPPED 2 1/4 IN. X 50 FT. MAGENTA----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.79 1 $3.79
BORDER/TRIMMER 2 1/4 X 50 FT. ROYAL BLUE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.14 1 $3.14
BORDER/TRIMMER SCALLOPED 2 1/4 IN. X 50 FT. VIOLET----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.14 1 $3.14
BORDER/TRIMMER SCALLOPED 2 1/4 IN. X 50 FT. EMERALD GREEN----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.14 1 $3.14
BORDER/TRIMMER SCALLOPED 2 1/4 IN. X 50 FT. ORANGE----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $3.14 1 $3.14
CHALKBOARD TOPPER - LITERARY GENRES DESIGN----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $9.92 1 $9.92
CHALKBOARD TOPPER - U.S. HISTORY LINE DESIGN----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $9.92 1 $9.92
WELCOME BANNER----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $8.11 1 $8.11
ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE! BANNER----*Comments* • Teachers' School Supply Inc. $8.11 1 $8.11

Materials cost

$532.34

Vendor shipping charges

 $53.23

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.99

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$603.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$132.37

Total project goal

$735.37

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $735.37

12 Donors

-$729.87

Donations toward project cost

-$603.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$126.87

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$5.50

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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. Black and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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