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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Rectenwal from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Culturally Relevant Reading

Help me give my students culturally responsive books and titles related to social and emotional skills for our classroom library!

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Rectenwal's classroom raised $654

This project is fully funded

My Students

My name is Caroline Rectenwal, and I teach Kindergarten through 3rd grade special education on Chicago’s West Side.

My students are leaders, risk takers, and problem solvers. I love that they teach me patience, resilience, and perseverance. They know what they need to do to reach their goals, and they celebrate each other on a daily basis.

I encourage my scholars to give each other shout outs at various points throughout the day. I am always amazed by how thoughtful, authentic, and kind their words are, especially when the world is not always kind to them. Some of my students have speech and language barriers that inhibit their ability express themselves and utilize vocabulary. This does not stop them from showing kindness to their peers. One goal I have for my scholars is for them to be kind, impactful, and responsible citizens.

In order to achieve this goal, I am asking for help to create a culturally responsive classroom library so that my students can see themselves in the characters that we read about and can continue to build the skills that they will need to succeed as responsible citizens.

My Project

These books will help my students see themselves in the characters and situations that we read about. We currently have a social emotional block worked into our day; however, we have very few resources to help foster social and emotional learning.

These books will serve as lessons for my students in school, and they will also serve as a tool to teach them how to be positive leaders, responsible decision makers, and passionate learners.

When students are able to see themselves in stories pertaining to courage, bravery, leadership, and more, they are more likely to demonstrate these attributes in the real world.

Project tagged as

Chicago, IL
Grades PreK-2
Social Emotional Learning
Students with Disabilities
Books
Nearly all students from low‑income households

Mrs. Rectenwal Herzl Elementary 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 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

15 students impacted 12donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

African American Biographies (6 Books) • AKJ Education $42.99 1 $42.99

Favorite Author Study - Ezra Jack Keats (4 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $23.91 1 $23.91

When the Beat Was Born • AKJ Education $17.09 1 $17.09

Hip Hop Speaks to Children • AKJ Education $14.59 1 $14.59

H.O.R.S.E. • AKJ Education $14.59 1 $14.59

On the News • AKJ Education $14.56 1 $14.56

Giant Steps to Change the World • AKJ Education $13.86 1 $13.86

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone • AKJ Education $13.83 1 $13.83

The Day the Crayons Quit • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

What Can a Citizen Do? • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

Wangari's Trees of Peace • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

Red • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

No, David! • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

Mae Among the Stars • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

The Bad Seed • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

Emmanuel's Dream • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

The Dark • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

David Gets In Trouble • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13

It Jes' Happened • AKJ Education $13.10 1 $13.10

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote • AKJ Education $13.10 1 $13.10

Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles - Think of That! • AKJ Education $12.59 1 $12.59

The Rain Stomper • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40

How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad! • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40

Nina • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40

Daniel's Good Day • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40

Rude Cakes • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40

Puppy Mind • AKJ Education $12.37 1 $12.37

Jabari Jumps • AKJ Education $11.67 1 $11.67

Just a Minute! • AKJ Education $11.67 1 $11.67

I Am Peace • AKJ Education $10.91 1 $10.91

Glad Monster, Sad Monster A Book About Feelings • AKJ Education $9.48 1 $9.48

Who's Coming Tonight? • AKJ Education $8.72 1 $8.72

Visiting Day • AKJ Education $6.56 1 $6.56

Anansi the Spider • AKJ Education $6.56 1 $6.56

New Shoes • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83

Chrysanthemum • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83

Those Shoes • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83

Wemberly Worried • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83

Alvin Ailey • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83

MY BROTHER WANTS TO BE LIKE ME • AKJ Education $5.80 1 $5.80

Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up • AKJ Education $4.37 1 $4.37

Materials cost			$517.90
Vendor shipping charges			FREE
Sales tax			$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee			$7.77
Fulfillment labor & materials			$30.00
Total project cost			$555.67
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$98.06
Total project goal			$653.73
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$653.73
7 Donors			-$497.85
Donations toward project cost			-$436.67
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$61.18
match offer			-$140.00
Match offer toward project cost			-$119.00
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$21.00
Excluded support for DonorsChoose			-$15.88
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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 Mrs. Rectenwal and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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This teacher needs your help!

Culturally Relevant Reading

This project is fully funded

My Students

My Project

Project tagged as

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

Equity Focus

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Give the most requested basic supplies

Give back to your community

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.