My students need a clean rug to sit on, books to read, comfortable chairs for larger students, cute decorations to update the classroom, and a heater for cold winter mornings.
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
I have been at the same elementary school for the last 22 years and in the same classroom for most of that time teaching first, second, and third graders, sometimes all at once! I have 26 super second graders this year, many of them siblings or cousins of students I have had in the past. What an exciting thing it is to be working in a community that has so much continuity. I love having former students walk in and tell me that they have just graduated and what colleges they are attending or what other plans they have for their futures. They look around the room and say things like, "I remember doing that!" or "That is new!" or "Do you still...?"
My current students love Pete the Cat and I have tried to update my classroom by drawing large Pete the Cat posters and having the kids make their own Petes.
We read a different Pete the Cat book every week and talk about his positive attitude. I even made a poster of one of Pete's favorite sayings we read when someone is having a hard day. When facing difficulties we ask ourselves, "What would Pete do?"
My Project
Our carpet has been in the classroom longer than I have and has the stains to prove it. I love gathering my students together on the carpet for a good book or a fun song and hope to get a beautiful, clean rug to put over the carpet where we meet. This rug should take me through the next 22 years in the classroom and will serve many students well as we share the new books we will be receiving. Our paper cutter is probably the same age and doesn't cut all the way through longer papers anymore. Having a new paper cutter means construction paper projects and half sheet papers will be even and clean-cut.
Students can't be expected to reach their full potential when they can't concentrate because they are too cold.
A small heater is just the thing to help us better focus on our chilly winter mornings.
I have several students who are not the typical second grader size and I can see that they are uncomfortable in the chairs we currently have. Getting two larger chairs and a beanbag chair means that these children will be comfortable and better able to stay on task.
The colorful book boxes, supply tubs, name tag sleeves, and Pete the Cat wall decals will make the room more organized, look brighter, feel more modern, and will cover up our ugly old cabinets. Kids perform better in a pleasing, comfortable environment. Thank you for helping my fabulous class reach their full potential!
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
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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. Verhoek and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
