My students need this storage rack to enable them to independently keep their work organized, well maintained, and stored in an easy to access location.
I am the Visual Arts Teacher for a specialized school for students with disabilities, ranging from Autism Spectrum and Down's Syndrome to behavioral and emotional challenges. Additionally, the majority of my students come from disadvantaged environments, so everything they have in my classroom is of utmost value to them, specifically, their sketchbooks and portfolios of their work. It is difficult for my students to maintain order, so organization in the room is key. I try to foster independence so that they can maintain their portfolios themselves, but often find them fallen over as they don't fit on a shelf. This makes it very difficult for them to store and care for their work.
My students take great pride in their work and the skills that they develop, increasing their independence is a key to that growth.
My Project
My students have difficulty with organizational skills and keeping their work together and well maintained, a component of their arts curriculum which is challenging for them to do independently. Their portfolios are kept leaning against a wall in the room, which impedes student access. Often their work falls out or scatters on the floor, due to the lack of deep shelving and appropriate storage.
A vertical storage rack on casters would solve the issue of the scattered and fallen portfolios, while keeping floor space clear for navigating the art room for my special needs students.
The addition of this storage rack will facilitate the fostering of independence and a sense of pride and ownership in children who have little control over their environments.
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
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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 Mrs. Seminara and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
