This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I teach kindergarten at an elementary school in the Mississippi Delta where 92% of the students receive free and reduced lunch. Students arrive at school at 7am for breakfast and leave at 3:30pm, so our school is truly a second home and safe haven for many of our children.
The rug that was in my classroom when I arrived at the school was severely damaged and stained after years of use. I have been using sections of plain brown carpet for group instruction and reading time. This carpet was generously donated by a local company, but it was made for home use and is not standing up to daily use by 20 kindergartners. It is difficult to clean and the pile is beginning to wear out after just a few months. I know it will not stand up well to muddy shoes when the fall rains come, or to busy foot traffic.
We use the carpet in my classroom for our daily morning greetings, calendar time, read-alouds, writing time, whole-group math instruction, puzzles, centers, class plays, yoga time, and nap time. It is the focal point of our room and the space where our class spends the most time as an entire community. I am worried that when the current carpet wears out I will be unable to replace it, and my students will lose this valuable time and space together. I want my students to continue to have a clean, comfortable, durable space to come together and learn.
The carpet I have selected would be the centerpiece of my classroom. Its alphabet border would provide space for student seating and alphabet skills practice. The central numbers circle would reinforce numbers 1-20 and provide small-group space, and the colors would be a useful reference for teaching both colors and the concept that words are made of letters. Made of durable nylon that is stain-resistant and easy to clean, it will stand up to years of use in my classroom.
My students come from homes with little environmental print, very few books, and few child-friendly spaces. For most, school is the only safe space they have to play, explore, read, and grow. They spend over 8 hours each school day in my room, several of which will be spent on this carpet. A vibrantly-colored, print-rich gathering place will truly enrich their education. You can help create this place where these children learn to read, count, make friends, and participate in a community.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Gernes and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.