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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Racino from East Haven, CT is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Racino is requesting

Empowering Early Readers through Engaging, Eco-Friendly Literacy Tools

Help me give my students the chance to practice new reading and writing skills with hands-on materials.

  • $269 goal

This project expired on September 6, 2025.

This project expired on September 6, 2025.

My Project

As a reading coach in a pre K-2 school, I work with young learners who are just beginning their literacy journeys. Our students are bright, eager, and full of potential, but many of them need targeted, small-group instruction to unlock the foundational skills necessary for reading success. This project will help create an engaging, skill-based small group station that supports literacy development through hands-on, reusable materials.

We are requesting Elkonin sound boxes for phonemic awareness, reusable writing tablets for writing practice, a phonics/word work small group kit, and the Little Minds at Work phonics game set.

These resources will be used daily in small group instruction to develop critical reading skills: sound segmentation, phoneme manipulation, letter-sound correspondence, decoding, and writing.

These tools are not only powerful for instruction, but they’re environmentally conscious. By choosing reusable writing tablets and laminated or wipe-clean resources, we reduce the use of paper, contributing to a more sustainable classroom. This also models environmental responsibility for our young learners, connecting our classroom practices to bigger ideas about taking care of the planet.

Phonics instruction doesn’t have to mean worksheets! With these materials, students can engage in literacy learning through multi-sensory, collaborative games and tools that support both academic growth and eco-awareness. Small choices, like switching from paper to tablet, can make a big difference for the climate, and this project shows kids that they can be part of that change, even in first grade.

Help us build confident readers and a climate-conscious classroom one word at a time!

Mrs. Racino East Haven Academy 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.

East Haven, CT View local requests

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

300 students impacted

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
hand2mind Advancing Phonics Word Work Small Group Set, Magnetic Letter Tiles, Magnetic Letter Trays, Kindergarten Phonics Manipulatives, Phonemic Awareness, Science of Reading Classroom Materials • Amazon Business $79.19 1 $79.19
hand2mind Little Minds at Work Game Tray Set by Tara West, Includes Reading & Math Preschool Learning Activities, Science of Reading Manipulatives, Math Games for Kids, Teacher Supplies for Classroom • Amazon Business $64.99 1 $64.99
hand2mind Elkonin Boxes Magnetic Dry Erase Boards Set, Phonemic Awareness, Speech Therapy Materials, Letter Sounds for Kindergarten Phonics, Science of Reading Manipulatives (Set of 8) • Amazon Business $30.99 1 $30.99
LCD Writing Tablet 8.5 Inch 4 Pack Electronic Writing Drawing Pads Doodle Board Gift for Kids Boys Girls • Amazon Business $9.99 2 $19.98

Materials cost

$195.15

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.93

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$228.08

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$40.25

Total project goal

$268.33

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. Racino and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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