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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Cusick from Chelsea, MA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Cusick is requesting

Books for Grade One Scholars!

Help me give my students bilingual books to encourage their love of reading!

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Cusick's classroom raised $589

This project is fully funded

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 Students

My students are delightful, resilient first graders. They have become tech wizards thanks to our days spent together on Zoom. Chelsea MA was, for a time, the nation's epicenter of the COVID pandemic and there has been loss all around. Our district is now bringing many students back to school, but about half, including all of my 22 learners, will remain online this year.

My Chelsea, MA first graders reflect the best of our community- they are strong, resilient problem-solvers.

They are, for the most part, the children of Central American immigrants. Most are low-income, and many are struggling mightily against the odds to secure an education. They have the drive and potential to become leaders in our community. I am proud to play a role in helping them reach their potential as bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural global citizens.

Thanks to Zoom, our family engagement is amazing. One student has a 2 year old sister who has joined us for most lessons. Another child's grandmother sits beside her. Grandma speaks only Spanish, so her granddaughter translates the English portions of the class, and grandma helps all of us improve our Spanish vocabulary.

My Project

My grade one dual -language students are learning via Zoom. On a monthly basis, I drive to their homes to drop off materials. Each month I give them printed copies of the Spanish and English books we will read together. They love getting their packets, and treat the materials with care. They are so excited to receive "real" books. We have been able to achieve amazing things with technology, and incorporate many online platforms into our learning.

But, they still need books, because there is a physicality to reading that cannot be duplicated on screen.

My students are learning to read. During our lessons, they have hard copies of books in their hands, and I use a document camera to model how to sweep their finger under the text as they read. Especially for my struggling readers, holding an actual book to read supports them being able to focus on the page before them. In class, we have read many of the titles requested. With the gift of these new bilingual books, we will support family literacy as well as their individual growth as independent readers.

Ms. Cusick George Kelly Elementary School Grades PreK-2

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.

Chelsea, MA 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

22 students impacted 3donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Cusick is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
English/Spanish Story Book - Set of 8 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $59.36 3 $178.08
Social and Emotional Encouragement Book Set - Set of 7 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $44.96 2 $89.92
Bilingual Children's Paperback Books - Set of 6 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $43.16 2 $86.32
Celebrate Diversity Books - Set of 8 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $59.36 1 $59.36
At Home with Diversity Books - Set of 7 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $49.46 1 $49.46

Materials cost

$463.14

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.95

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$500.09

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$88.25

Total project goal

$588.34

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $588.34

2 Donors

-$319.16

Donations toward project cost

-$271.29

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$47.87

match offer

-$269.18

Match offer toward project cost

-$228.80

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$40.38

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

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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. Cusick and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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