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Mrs. Ostrom from Elk Grove CA is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Capturing Beginning Readers with a Reading Nook

Help me give my students books, blankets, and other reading materials to make an inviting and productive reading nook.

  • $781 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

"I believe in myself now!" These are the words my students say to me after months of reading or math intervention and struggling to learn in their general education classroom. Witnessing the confidence building in my students is the most incredible feeling as a special education teacher. With that said, I work with students from kindergarten to third grade on reading, writing, spelling, and math intervention for students who are several grade levels behind their peers academically. All the students I work with have a learning disability and face difficult challenges daily in order to learn the necessary strategies and skills taught in school to help them ultimately reach their fullest potential. My classroom is full of highly diverse students coming from different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of them have come from all around the world, from many different and often difficult situations.

Despite the challenges my students may face, they show up everyday with a smile on their face, eager and excited to learn.

Their upbeat spirit and motivation to do their best is a daily reminder that with effort and positivity anything is possible.

My Project

My special education students come to me for specialized academic reading instruction. We have several amazing programs that we use for reading intervention, where we often need to do anywhere from 10-20 minutes of fluency practice where students practice reading stories at their level. This is always my students' favorite part of the group and lesson, as this is the time they get to put their hard work to use. Recently, I brought in some pillows for them to read in different parts of the classroom and the students went crazy for it. I thought to myself, since this is so successful, why not create an entire reading nook for them to practice their reading either during groups for fluency, during recess or lunch, or anytime when they are feeling motivated to cozy up to a good book and put their newly learned skills to use.

My students need these reading materials in order to support and practice their newly acquired skills, and, most importantly, to motivate them and encourage them to read.

I am requesting many different reading materials to make this reading nook truly captivating for my students with special needs. I am requesting the blankets for them to sit or lay upon so they can truly dive deep into a book at their level. I am requesting reading trackers so they can follow along and not get lost while they or others are reading aloud, which happens quite frequently. Lastly, and most importantly, I am requesting books at their level so they have choices when picking a book to practice their skills. Many of these books focus on a positive mindset, which I feel are crucial for my students with special needs. Overall, these supplies can be used year after year and will help motivate struggling readers.

Mrs. Ostrom
Grades PreK-2

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Post-it Super Sticky Easel Pad, 25 x 30 Inches, 30 Sheets/Pad, 2 Pads, Large White Premium Self Stick Flip Chart Paper, Super Sticking Power (559) • Amazon Business $41.58 1 $41.58
Popular Phonemic Awarnes Books - Set of 6 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $41.36 1 $41.36
EXPO 1927526 Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Vibrant Colors, 16-Count • Amazon Business $17.93 2 $35.86
Step Into Reading Book Set - Level 1 (Set of 9) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $31.46 1 $31.46
Mexican Blanket (Forest Green) • Amazon Business $27.88 1 $27.88
Step Into Reading Book Set - Level 2 (Set of 8) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $27.86 1 $27.86
Black Felt Letter Board 10x10 Inches. Changeable Letter Boards Include 300 White Plastic Letters and Oak Frame. • Amazon Business $23.95 1 $23.95
RETON Rewritable Magnetic Dry Wipe White Board Markers Pens with Eraser Cap (100 Pcs, Black) • Amazon Business $22.99 1 $22.99
Topaz Hill Authentic Handmade Mexican Blanket - Vibrant Color Yoga Blanket - Super Soft Throw Blanket Picnic Blanket, Beach Blanket, Travel Blanket, Outdoor Blanket - Well Made Yoga Bolster • Amazon Business $22.95 1 $22.95
Big Box of Sentence Building • Kaplan Early Learning Company $22.46 1 $22.46
Jolly Rancher Pieces Assorted 5lb • Amazon Business $10.48 2 $20.96
Roylco Colored Rice, 1 Lb. Box • Amazon Business $10.41 2 $20.82
El Molcajete Brand Traditional Mexican Yoga Blanket Serape (Gold) • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
El Paso Designs Mexican Yoga Blanket Colorful 51in x 74in Studio Mexican Falsa Blanket Ideal for Yoga, Camping, Picnic, Beach Blanket, Bedding, Home Decor Soft Woven (Dunas) • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
El Molcajete Brand Traditional Mexican Yoga Blanket Serape Sand • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
El Paso Designs Mexican Yoga Blanket Colorful 51in x 74in Studio Mexican Falsa Blanket Ideal for Yoga, Camping, Picnic, Beach Blanket, Bedding, Home Decor Soft Woven (Burgundy) • Amazon Business $17.99 1 $17.99
El Paso Designs Mexican Yoga Blanket Colorful 51in x 74in Studio Mexican Falsa Blanket Ideal for Yoga, Camping, Picnic, Beach Blanket, Bedding, Home Decor Soft Woven (Beige) • Amazon Business $17.98 1 $17.98
Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress • Amazon Business $12.56 1 $12.56
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
Write on - Wipe off Blocks • Kaplan Early Learning Company $11.66 1 $11.66
Giraffes Can't Dance • Amazon Business $10.76 1 $10.76
One • Amazon Business $10.29 1 $10.29
Post-it Flags,"Sign Here", Yellow, 1-Inch Wide, 200/Dispenser (680-HVSH) • Amazon Business $9.96 1 $9.96
What Do You Do With a Problem? — New York Times best seller • Amazon Business $9.31 1 $9.31
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids (Bucketfilling Books) • Amazon Business $8.49 1 $8.49
Post-it Message Flags, "Sign and Date", Bright Green, 1-Inch Wide, 200/Desk Grip Dispenser, 1-Dispenser/Pack - 680-HVSD • Amazon Business $8.43 1 $8.43
Post-it Notes, Pink, Green, Blue, Orange, America's #1 Favorite Sticky Note, 1 3/8 inch x 1 7/8 inch, 18 Pads/Pack (34,9mm x 47,6mm • Amazon Business $8.38 1 $8.38
Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control, 4-Gram Bottle (1739050) • Amazon Business $3.97 2 $7.94
Crystal Children and Teacher Supply Guided Reading Strips Asst. Set of 7 (Colored Overlays) • Amazon Business $7.48 1 $7.48
Post-it Message Flags, "Sign Here", Red, 1-Inch Wide, 200/Desk Grip Dispenser, 1-Dispenser/Pack (680-HVSHR) • Amazon Business $7.29 1 $7.29
Mr. Sketch Scented Stix Markers, Fine Tip, Assorted Colors, 10-Count • Amazon Business $5.81 1 $5.81

Materials cost

$565.42

Vendor shipping charges

 $7.97

Sales tax

 $51.74

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.48

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$663.61

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$117.11

Total project goal

$780.72

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $780.72

1 Donor

-$701.11

Donations toward project cost

-$663.61

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$37.50

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$79.61

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 Mrs. Ostrom and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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