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Mr. Finlay from Chicago, IL is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Calmness Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity for Learning

Help me give my students a calm classroom, a safe and intentional space where students can pause, reset, and return to learning ready to succeed.

  • $935 goal

This project expired on June 12, 2026.

This project expired on June 12, 2026.

Classroom photo
Mr. Finlay profile photo
Mr. Finlay George Leland Elementary School
Chicago, IL Grades 6-8

My Project

At our school, our students come to school each day eager to learn, but many also arrive carrying big emotions, stress, and anxiety that can make learning feel overwhelming. This project will help us create a Calm Classroom, a safe and intentional space where students can pause, reset, and return to learning ready to succeed.

A Calm Classroom is more than a quiet corner, it’s a supportive environment designed to help students regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, build focus, and develop lifelong social-emotional skills.

With soft seating, calming visuals, sensory tools, and mindfulness resources, students will have access to strategies that help them manage their feelings in healthy, age-appropriate ways.

At our school, we see firsthand how emotional well-being impacts academic success. As academic expectations increase, so do the emotional needs of our young learners. When students struggle to self-regulate, it affects their confidence, behavior, and ability to engage in instruction. This project ensures that students have proactive tools, not just reactions, to help them succeed.

Your support will directly impact our students by helping them learn how to identify and manage their emotions, reducing classroom disruptions and anxiety, and improving focus, confidence, and readiness to learn.

Creating a nurturing school culture where students feel safe and supported is important. When students feel calm, they can think clearly. When they feel supported, they can thrive. By funding this Calm Classroom, you are investing in the whole child, emotionally, socially, and academically.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

500 students impacted
Mr. Finlay George Leland Elementary School Grades 6-8

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

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, IL View local requests

Nearly all 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

500 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
FlyDOIT 9x12 Feet Large Area Rugs for Living Room, Navy Blue Shaggy Rug Fluffy Throw Carpets, Ultra Soft Plush Modern Indoor Fuzzy Rugs for Bedroom Girls Kids Nursery Room Dorm Home Decor • Amazon Business $109.99 1 $109.99
POLYDUN Outdoor Rocking Chair, High Back HDPE Patio Chair, All Weather Rocker Porch Chair, Lawn Chair for Deck, Porch, Backyard, Garden and Indoor, Black • Amazon Business $79.99 1 $79.99
Codi Meditation Floor Pillow Set of 2, Round Large Pillows Seating for Adults, Bohemian Mandala Circle Cushion for Outdoor Fireplace Yoga Living Room, 32 Inch, Memory Foam Added, Navy • Amazon Business $66.89 1 $66.89
SereneLife 40" Foldable Mini Trampoline for Adults - Compact Fitness Rebounder with Adjustable Foam Handle, Exercise Trampoline with Max Load 330lbs, Indoor/Garden Whole-Body Workout • Amazon Business $63.49 1 $63.49
Geetery 12 Pcs Floor Pillows for Classroom Bulk Square Seating Cushions for Floor Chair School Kindergarten Reading Corner, 15.7'' Large Thick Meditation Cushions Yoga Nursery Daycare (Bright Color) • Amazon Business $48.99 1 $48.99
Theraputty CanDo Standard Exercise Putty, Assorted Colors and Resistances, Set of 6, Red - Teacher-Parent Resources - Adult • School Specialty $23.02 2 $46.04
ROOTRO Touch Bedside Table Lamp, [Sleek Design & RGB Mode] 3 Way Dimmable Small Lamp for Bedroom, LED Lamp with Warm White Lights, Multi-Color Smart Nightstand Lamp for for Living Room Home Gifts • Amazon Business $21.99 2 $43.98
Amylove 6 Pcs Kids Noise Cancelling Headphones 27db Adjustable Earmuffs for Autism Sensory Toddler Children(Assorted Colors) • Amazon Business $39.59 1 $39.59
Tanlade 24 Pcs Clear Plastic Bottles Empty Sensory Bottles with Caps PET Plastic Juice Reusable Leakproof Drink Container Bulk for Juice Milk (12 Oz/ 350 ml,Black Lid) • Amazon Business $28.99 1 $28.99
Black Rabbit Bean Bag Chairs for Kids Room Organizer, Stuffed Animal Storage Ideas, Playroom Furniture for Toddler, Velvet Extra Soft, Cover ONLY • Amazon Business $25.99 1 $25.99
yescool Weighted Blanket (5 lbs, 36" x 48", Grey) Cooling Heavy Blanket for Sleeping Perfect for 40-60 lbs, Breathable Blanket with Premium Glass Bead, Machine Washable • Amazon Business $25.99 1 $25.99
Cool Lion Bean Bag Chairs for Boys Room Decor, Stuffable Zipper Beanbag for Organizing Children Plush Toys, Extra Large Size, Velvet Super Soft Cover Only • Amazon Business $22.99 1 $22.99
yescool Weighted Lap Pad 2 Pounds Weighted Lap Blanket, Space Plane Small Weighted Blanket, Weighted Throw Blanket Gift for Travel Indoor Outdoor, 20"x30" • Amazon Business $22.99 1 $22.99
Sensory-N-Stuff Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin Filler for Sensory Table - Colored Rice for Sensory Play (4 Cups - 2LB) • Amazon Business $21.55 1 $21.55
10pcs Random Silicone Tie-dye Push pop Bubble Fidget Toy, Autism Special Needs Stress Reliever, Squeeze Sensory Tools to Relieve Emotional Stress for Kids Adults,Party Toys • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Chair Cover for Kids Cute Dog Beanbag Chair for Girls Large Size Toy Organizer Cover Only Without Filling • Amazon Business $18.97 1 $18.97
24 Pack Slow Rising Stress Cube , Dough Stress Balls Soft Fidget Squishy Toys for Anxiety Relief, Pull Stretch Classroom Prize Party Favors Toys for Kids • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
yescool Weighted Blanket 5 Pounds Cooling Weighted Lap Blanket, Grey Heavy Blanket for Sleeping, Weighted Throw Blanket Gift for 40-60lbs, 36"x48" • Amazon Business $16.14 1 $16.14
Interlocking Floor Mats - 8-Piece Nontoxic Exercise Mat or Play Mat for Toddlers, Babies or Kids - Foam Padding for Home Gym by Stalwart (Multicolor) • Amazon Business $15.36 1 $15.36
5 Pack Dinosaur Pop-It Fidget Toys - Glow in Dark Supplies - Rainbow Colored Dino Party Favors - Sensory Toys Help Relieve Stress for Autistic Kids - Perfect Popits for Kids • Amazon Business $14.65 1 $14.65

Materials cost

$748.56

Vendor shipping charges

 $4.60

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.23

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$794.39

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$140.19

Total project goal

$934.58

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 Mr. Finlay and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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