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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. REBECCA from Portland, ME is requesting reading nooks, desks & storage through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. REBECCA is requesting

Dialing Back the Sensory Overload and Creating Calming Spaces

Help me give my students who have behavioral and sensory challenges storage for personalized behavior reinforcements and regulation. My students also need soft lighting to mute the harsh school lights, and cozy seating for restful and calming spaces.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. REBECCA's classroom raised $975

This project is fully funded

My Project

I am a first-year teacher who made a career change in the Spring of 2021 at 56. In December of 2022, I decided to apply for a Master of Science in Special Education. I received teaching certification in January of 2024 following an intense year of coursework to achieve that goal.

Needless to say, when I arrived in my new classroom last Fall, it was empty.

I've done my best to create a space that meets the needs of our diverse population of 1st-5th graders. I just learned about DonorsChoose and am so hopeful about and grateful for the possibilities of what this resource could help me with!

The students in my classroom have disabilities impacting tolerance for external sensory input. Our building is "old school" - not designed for neurodiverse student populations.

Although I purchased light covers to resemble a forest canopy or the night sky, we would love to be able to turn off the overhead fluorescents to have spaces warmed by soft lighting.

I'd also like them to have comfortable spaces for rest and regulation. We only have flat bean bags and some throw pillows I found at a thrift store. The saucer chair and lounger couches will provide resting places for my students--many of whom have sleep dysregulation due to diagnoses of autism, anxiety, ADHD, emotional disturbance, or chaotic home environments.

Finally, two of the bookshelves I inherited have fallen apart. A new bookshelf will allow us to add space for each student to have a bin of personalized regulation tools. Right now, they need to go to an adult to access them. This is not ideal as we are teaching our students to access tools that help them self-regulate independently, but because we need the shelf space or bins needed to accomplish that, the students remain reliant on adults.

Ms. REBECCA Gerald E Talbot Community School Grades PreK-2

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.

Portland, ME 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

20 students impacted 5donors

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Storage Bins With Lids - Set of 5 - Clear • Kaplan Early Learning Company $71.96 3 $215.88
Sunon Wood Bookcase 4-Shelf Freestanding Display Wooden Bookshelf for Home Office School (11.6'' D*33'' W*48'' H,Black) • Amazon Business $139.99 1 $139.99
ALIMORDEN 2-in-1 Flip Out Cuddly Sherpa Toddler Couch, Convertible Sofa to Lounger, Grey • Amazon Business $69.99 2 $139.98
Simple Designs LF2000-BLK-2PK 2 Light Mother Daughter Floor Lamp with Reading Light, 2 Pk Black, 71.5" • Amazon Business $57.57 1 $57.57
Milliard Mini Cozy Chair for Kids, Sensory Faux Fur Folding Saucer Chair for Toddlers, Navy Blue • Amazon Business $54.98 1 $54.98
Simple Designs LF2006-SBG 67" Contemporary Multi Head Medusa 5 Light Adjustable Gooseneck Silver Floor Lamp with Blue, White, Gray Shades for Kids Bedroom Playroom Living Room Office • Amazon Business $46.52 1 $46.52
Willow Vine Lights, 8 Flash Model Twinkling Tree with Remote Control, 8.5ft Flexible Wall Tree Lights for Living Room Bedroom Decorations, 160 LEDs Lighted Tree Branch Lights for Wall Corner Decor • Amazon Business $33.99 1 $33.99
Limelights Incandescent Table Lamp, Blue (LT2024-BLU) • Quill.com $30.99 1 $30.99
Bright desk lamp,small desk lamp set of 2 white,battery powered lamp,Usb cable,3 position adjustable light,360° rotating hose,White eye protection light,Portable desk lamp,Mini lamps for small spaces • Amazon Business $14.99 2 $29.98

Materials cost

$749.88

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $37.49

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.25

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$828.62

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$146.23

Total project goal

$974.85

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $974.85

4 Donors

-$485.22

Donations toward project cost

-$416.19

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$69.03

match offer

-$485.21

Match offer toward project cost

-$412.43

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$72.78

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$4.42

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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 Ms. REBECCA and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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