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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Elle from New York, NY is requesting reading nooks, desks & storage through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Elle is requesting
Fully Funded

Ms. Elle's classroom raised $3,658

A Soothing and Safe Sensory Space

Help me give my students a sensory space with bean bag chairs, a Tropical Bubbling Water Panel , a weighted blanket and a variety of lamps and fidgets to give them a chance to calm down.

This project is fully funded

Classroom photo
Ms. Elle Middle School 224 Manh E School Arts & Academy
New York, NY Grades 6-8

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Project

My middle school students attend a small school with limited space and resources. Their senses are assaulted by noisy, crowded halls and cramped classrooms with uncomfortable seating. Many students complain they feel overwhelmed and this results in negative behaviors or poor classroom concentration. My goal is to improve the overall environment of our school.

As an occupational therapist I want to provide the school with a much needed safe, comfortable, soothing space where students can have sensory relief so that they can return to optimal focus and function in the classroom.

When there are student conflicts the "fight or flight" response needs to be reduced before they participate in restorative justice.Currently they sit around a conference table in hard backed chairs. This does not reduce the tone. Our counselors also have sub optimal environments. They meet with students in unoccupied classrooms. Occupational therapy sessions, including sensory treatment, take place in a corner of the computer lab with hard chairs. This furnished space, in a designated office, would provide an excellent area for counseling, restorative justice and occupational therapy and therefore benefit the 140 students who attend our school.

My students are inner city children. They appreciate help with sensory needs:feeling better and concentrating in class after doing chair yoga stretches for example. Bringing students into a space where they can stretch and relax their bodies,senses and minds will contribute to enjoyment of their school day in turn increasing motivation for learning. From my professional studies, I learned that middle school children need to sprawl due to growth patterns (weaker core strength as they experience limb growth for example) Their intense physiological changes (neuron pruning and hormonal spurts) also impact their moods. I believe a soothing sensory space is important to their development and would be an asset to the school.

Equity Focus

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

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

140 students impacted 34 donors
Ms. Elle Middle School 224 Manh E School Arts & Academy Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

New York, NY 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

140 students impacted 34donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Midwest Tropical Bubbling Water Panel, Wall Mounted, 29 x 3 x 45 Inches, Yellow • School Specialty $1,920.34 1 $1,920.34
Comfy Round Classroom Carpet - 6' Diameter - Forest Green • Lakeshore Learning Materials $179.00 1 $179.00
Sofa Sack Bean Bag Chair - Plush, Ultra Soft - Memory Foam Bean Bag Chair with Microsuede Cover - Stuffed Foam Filled Furniture and Accessories for Dorm Room 3 Feet - Midnight Black • Amazon Business $81.99 1 $81.99
Sofa Sack Bean Bag Chair - Plush, Ultra Soft - Memory Foam Bean Bag Chair with Microsuede Cover - Stuffed Foam Filled Furniture and Accessories for Dorm Room 3 Feet - Bright Green • Amazon Business $81.99 1 $81.99
BARMY Weighted Lap Blanket (48"x24", 6lbs) Weighted Lap Pad with Removable Cover for Adults, Teens and Kids, Cotton Inner Blanket, Weighted Throw Blanket - Cool Gray • Amazon Business $49.49 1 $49.49
Amazon Basics Round Storage End Table, Side Table with Cloth Basket, Charcoal/Heather Gray, 17.7 x 17.7 x 18.9 in • Amazon Business $28.19 1 $28.19
ORDERSOON Remote-Controlled 13" LED Magma Motion Lamp - 16 Color Changing, Relaxing Night Light, Perfect Home Decor Gift for All Ages(Black) • Amazon Business $26.99 1 $26.99
EDIER Volcano Lamp, 11" Auto Color-Changing Sensory Night Light for Kids, USB/Battery Powered Silent Desk Decor for Autism & Stress Relief • Amazon Business $22.99 1 $22.99
hand2mind Sounds of Rain Sensory Tubes • Quill.com $21.05 1 $21.05
John N. Hansen Hoberman: Mini Sphere - Firefly Glow • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
JA-RU Marble Mesh Fidget Toy (6 Pack; 18 Units) Marble Sensory Toy for Kids. Stress Relief Anger Management Toys. Quiet Fidget Toys for Classroom Prizes. Bulk Party Favors. 4790-6s • Amazon Business $14.50 1 $14.50
Stress Balls - Squishy Balls Fidget for Adults Stress Relief, Sensory Ball Squishies Ball Sticky Balls, Squeeze Balls Colorful Balls • Amazon Business $13.97 1 $13.97
Fulmoon 120 Pcs Anxiety Sensory Stickers Textured Strips Tactile Rough Calm Sensory Stickers Adhesive Tactile Number 8 Shape Fidget Tool for Classroom Desk Adults Teens Anxiety Relief(Multicolour) • Amazon Business $8.49 1 $8.49

Materials cost

$2,465.98

Vendor shipping charges

 $576.10

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$36.99

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$3,109.07

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$548.66

Total project goal

$3,657.73

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $3,657.73

31 Donors

-$2,437.80

Donations toward project cost

-$2,140.08

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$297.72

Matching donations from our partners

-$1,140.00

Match offers toward project cost

-$969.00

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$171.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$79.94

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

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. Elle and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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