You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Menu
Skip to main content

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

Your school email address was successfully verified.

Edit classroom photo

Ms. Heller’s Classroom Edit display name

  • Central Elementary School
  • Olathe, KS
  • More than half 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

https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/8109235 Customize URL

View your stats
Track donations »
Edit
I am a therapist in four elementary schools. I support students dealing with all sorts of issues. Some students have ADHD-type symptoms. Some have family trauma. Some are non-compliant and struggle with listening. The common theme among all the students I work with is that they are all full of magic, capable of beautiful things, and only need a little support to get there. Research shows us children process their emotions best through play. They do not always have the words to explain how they are feeling or what they experience. Instead, they use play to demonstrate, to act out, and to process. They are able to gain more from therapy by using play with toys, books, and games to process what they experienced. As many of the children I work with have trauma that impacts their ability to learn, providing play-based therapeutic interventions will help them process through their mental blocks to create space for learning. The dollhouse I requested will let them “explain” what the home looks like. The books will help them see the emotions and tools I’m teaching them in action. All of these items will allow my students to better work through their blocks and learn better. My goal is to create a space with tools for all the students at my elementary schools to express themselves and to ready their minds for learning.

About my class

I am a therapist in four elementary schools. I support students dealing with all sorts of issues. Some students have ADHD-type symptoms. Some have family trauma. Some are non-compliant and struggle with listening. The common theme among all the students I work with is that they are all full of magic, capable of beautiful things, and only need a little support to get there. Research shows us children process their emotions best through play. They do not always have the words to explain how they are feeling or what they experience. Instead, they use play to demonstrate, to act out, and to process. They are able to gain more from therapy by using play with toys, books, and games to process what they experienced. As many of the children I work with have trauma that impacts their ability to learn, providing play-based therapeutic interventions will help them process through their mental blocks to create space for learning. The dollhouse I requested will let them “explain” what the home looks like. The books will help them see the emotions and tools I’m teaching them in action. All of these items will allow my students to better work through their blocks and learn better. My goal is to create a space with tools for all the students at my elementary schools to express themselves and to ready their minds for learning.

Read more

About my class

Read more
{"followTeacherId":8109235,"teacherId":8109235,"teacherName":"Ms. Heller","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/136/teacher-placeholder-3_136.png","teacherHasProfilePhoto":false,"vanityURL":"","teacherChallengeId":21822939,"followAbout":"Ms. Heller's projects","teacherVerify":-1305484774,"teacherNameEncoded":"Ms. Heller","vanityType":"teacher","teacherPageInfo":{"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"teacherHasClassroomDescription":true,"teacherClassroomDescription":"","teacherProfileURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/8109235","tafURL":"https://secure.donorschoose.org/donors/share_teacher_profile.html?teacher=8109235","stats":{"numActiveProjects":0,"numFundedProjects":1,"numSupporters":5},"classroomPhotoPendingScreening":false,"showEssentialsListCard":false}}
Supporting teachers and students since 2000

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America create classroom project requests, and you can give any amount to the project that inspires you.

We've earned the highest possible ratings from Better Business Bureau, Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, and Guidestar.