This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
Imagine a classroom of fantastic first graders overflowing with excitement for learning. They are smart, adventurous, creative, and curious. The teacher calls them together to explore the Max's imaginary world in Where the Wild Things Are. As she pulls out the book, the students' eyes get wide with excitement and they all scoot a little closer across the...... floor?
Help! I teach first grade in a high-need community and my classroom is in desperate need of a carpet! Our school moved to a modular campus in the middle of last year and we don't have resources like a carpet to create a warm, welcoming classroom environment. My goal is to create a comfortable space for my students that fosters learning and the space I'm envisioning doesn't include them sitting on the cold floor!
My students were displaced from their homes by Hurricane Katrina and many were forced to live in trailers. When our school moved to its modular campus I expected that it might take time for the students to adjust after the move but I did not expect them to be as upset as they were about our school being in trailers. The outsides of the buildings are white, the walls are white, the floor is white, and there aren't a lot of windows -- it's hardly the warm, welcoming environment that a classroom should be! I've put a lot of thought and energy into turning our classroom into a colorful, exciting place for learning but it's missing one very important thing!
In order to create a warm, welcoming classroom I need a carpet that brightens the classroom and provides a comfortable space for students to learn. First grade is a big transition for most students, from nap time in Kindergarten to reading and writing in desks in 2nd grade. In order to ease this transition, I teach most whole-class lessons on the floor, rather than have students sitting far away from each other in desks they aren't yet used to sitting in. Also, having a central meeting space fosters a sense of community that adds to the success of each student. By adding a carpet to our classroom, we will have a comfortable space for community meetings, read alouds, phonics, calendar math, writing mini-lessons, and message time. As you can see, quite a lot of learning will take place on the carpet!
Your generosity will make it possible to create a welcoming classroom where my students feel comfortable and I am able to encourage their excitement for learning. The cold, hard floor is no place for learning! My fantastic first graders will greatly benefit from a carpet and I know your generosity will help foster their love of learning by providing a colorful, comfortable space in our classroom.
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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 Ms. Diamond and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.