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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Birney from Utica, MS is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Birney is requesting

Building Character From the Beginning Using Books!

My students need books including Heartprints, Chester's Way and Lying Up a Storm related to character education. These titles teach topics ranging from emotions & feelings to how to be a friend and how to behave in school! This helps create a positive class culture!

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Birney's classroom raised $398

This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are a group of lively, loving, energetic, and inspirational young children. They are excited about learning and growing their brains. They are invested in both their ability to learn and their classmates ability to do so. They work together as a team and are constantly encouraging one another. Throughout the year they have learned to face challenges head on and see work that seems hard as an opportunity to grow. They are full of smiles and laughter and pats on the backs and high fives. It has been an honor to teach them and watch them grow. I know my group next year will posses just as much love for one another and the same joy for learning and I hope with the help of Donors Choose we will be just as prepared for a great year!

My Project

Character education is so important for our youngest learners! Early education is more than the ABC's and 123's, although those subjects are highly emphasized in today's classrooms. Social and emotional development and character education are equally important.

Many of the students in my classroom have yet to develop the language or the knowledge to discuss what they are feeling and experiencing, which is a powerful and transformative tool for young children.

They are often unaware of how their actions can positively or negatively affect others. Students are still learning basic social skills like how to share, show kindness, and communicate with others. My students sometimes arrive to school distracted by situations outside of their control that they may struggle to understand. This can at times lead to conflict. In order to provide a safe community atmosphere based on respect, acceptance, kindness, and joy students need to better understand their feelings and how to deal with them. They must also understand that when conflicts or challenges arise, which they undoubtedly will, they have the power and tools necessary to overcome them. However, teachers need to outfit students with these tools. We must provide the language to explain their feelings and actions. We must model the correct behaviors and the values we want our students to uphold in our classrooms. One way to show children how to cope in healthy ways and how to treat others with kindness and respect is through engaging stories!

The unique and touching stories I have chosen like "Heartprints" and "The Invisible Boy" teach children about empathy, acceptance, and kindness towards others. Other stories relate to feelings, bullying, and friendship. Others relate to appropriate school behaviors. These texts provide essential lessons to our youngest students!

Ms. Birney Utica Elementary Middle School Grades PreK-2

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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.

Utica, MS View local requests

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

17 students impacted 3donors

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Invisible Boy • Amazon Business $14.31 1 $14.31
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie • Amazon Business $13.51 1 $13.51
The Class • Amazon Business $13.47 1 $13.47
Interrupting Chicken • Amazon Business $13.05 1 $13.05
Two • Amazon Business $12.82 1 $12.82
What Do You Do With a Problem? • Amazon Business $12.80 1 $12.80
Kindergators: Hands Off, Harry! • Amazon Business $12.61 1 $12.61
The Recess Queen • Amazon Business $11.97 1 $11.97
Thunder Boy Jr. • Amazon Business $11.97 1 $11.97
The Way I Act • Amazon Business $11.68 1 $11.68
Stick and Stone • Amazon Business $11.15 1 $11.15
Enemy Pie (Reading Rainbow book) • Amazon Business $11.02 1 $11.02
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes • Amazon Business $10.45 1 $10.45
The Way I Feel • Amazon Business $10.34 1 $10.34
Lying Up a Storm • Amazon Business $8.84 1 $8.84
Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales • Amazon Business $8.56 1 $8.56
Bully B.E.A.N.S. • Amazon Business $8.45 1 $8.45
The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others • Amazon Business $8.07 1 $8.07
But It's Not My Fault! (Responsible Me!) • Amazon Business $7.95 1 $7.95
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue • Amazon Business $7.77 1 $7.77
Decibella and Her 6-Inch Voice (Communicate With Confidence) • Amazon Business $7.51 1 $7.51
Sheila Rae, the Brave • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
The Name Jar • Amazon Business $6.94 1 $6.94
Stop Picking On Me (A First Look At Bullying) • Amazon Business $6.94 1 $6.94
How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families) • Amazon Business $6.79 1 $6.79
My Mouth Is a Volcano! • Amazon Business $6.27 1 $6.27
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are • Amazon Business $6.15 1 $6.15
Chester's Way • Amazon Business $6.07 1 $6.07
Heartprints • Amazon Business $5.73 1 $5.73

Materials cost

$280.18

Vendor shipping charges

 $3.99

Sales tax

 $19.61

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.20

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$337.98

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$59.64

Total project goal

$397.62

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $397.62

2 Donors

-$197.93

Donations toward project cost

-$169.74

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$28.19

match offer

-$197.93

Match offer toward project cost

-$168.24

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.69

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$1.76

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Birney and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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