You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

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

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Chmelo from Clayton, NC is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Chmelo is requesting
Fully Funded

Mrs. Chmelo's classroom raised $599

Growing MINDS, Growing HeARTs

Help me give my students a variety of picture books that explore the social skills necessary to grow their MINDS & their heARTs while we're apart.

This project expired on January 17, 2021.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Chmelo profile photo
Mrs. Chmelo East Clayton Elementary School
Clayton, NC Grades PreK-2

My Students

Every week, over 600 students ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade enter my art room with creative and curious minds... this was BEFORE the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Currently, we are living in a VIRTUAL Art world, seeing various students at various times through a VERY different lens.

These students come from different backgrounds with their own unique learning styles. Through differentiated instruction and the “every child is an artist,” mindset, art has the power to meet the needs of all types of learners and give them the confidence and opportunity to create to their highest potential. I have the privilege to witness their growth year after year right before my eyes as they discover themselves through the world of art.

My love for teaching stems from my students’ ability to transform a lesson with their own ideas and innate abilities. These kiddos, big or small, dictate where a lesson takes us which makes the experience even more rewarding for myself and my students. Their love for the arts can be seen not only in the work they create but also through the joy in their faces.

My Project

No one can argue that teaching (& learning) from afar is not an easy task. Throw the importance of Social-Emotional Learning in there and it is even harder! How are these students supposed to build their social skills and learn from experience when the whole "experience" and social aspects of being IN school cannot happen?

During these difficult times, making connections and focusing on not only the academics but also the social-emotional obstacles these students are facing become a top priority in the "not-so-normal" world we're living in.

This project will allow students (K-5) to focus on growing their MINDS as well as their heARTs through the power of the Visual Arts. After hearing one of these stories, students will participate in an Art activity that will not only reinforce what they hear in the story but will also focus on skills and standards necessary for their growth as an artist.

The Arts provide an avenue for students to break free from the screen and indulge in their creativity. The focus comes back to them and their need for both Art AND social-emotional support. I cannot control what art supplies they have at home, or the where/when they can complete their schoolwork, but I can control the lessons presented to them. These books provide a kid-friendly way to remind them to be kind; to remind them the value of friendship; to remind them that their feelings are important; to remind them to be brave; to remind them they can still have dreams while wearing a mask and staying at home, but mainly to remind them that they are not alone.

This SEL series of Arts and literature (plus a little art therapy) can provide opportunities for discussion and exploration of much-needed social skills while we navigate through "uncharted waters."

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

646 students impacted 13 donors
Mrs. Chmelo East Clayton Elementary School Grades PreK-2

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Clayton, NC 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

646 students impacted 13donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

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

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Art Therapy Card Deck for Children and Adolescents: 50 Therapeutic Interventions for Challenging Clients Who Shut Down, Meltdown, or Act Out • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Big Friends • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
You Matter • Amazon Business $15.89 1 $15.89
Rock What Ya Got • Amazon Business $15.39 1 $15.39
Jabari Tries • Amazon Business $15.29 1 $15.29
Firenze's Light: A Children's Book about Gratitude, Compassion and Self-Appreciation • Amazon Business $14.98 1 $14.98
Be You! • Amazon Business $14.75 1 $14.75
Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You • Amazon Business $14.58 1 $14.58
Fruit Bowl • Amazon Business $14.46 1 $14.46
Bear Came Along • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
The Big Umbrella • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
The Word Collector • Amazon Business $14.38 1 $14.38
Seeds and Trees: A children's book about the power of words • Amazon Business $14.21 1 $14.21
The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings • Amazon Business $14.19 1 $14.19
Brave As Can Be: A Book of Courage (Growing Hearts) • Amazon Business $14.16 1 $14.16
Enemy Pie : (Reading Rainbow Book, Children’s Book about Kindness, Kids Books about Learning) • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Strictly No Elephants • Amazon Business $13.95 1 $13.95
All Are Welcome • Amazon Business $13.94 1 $13.94
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy (I Am Books) • Amazon Business $13.49 1 $13.49
Going Places • Amazon Business $13.29 1 $13.29
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale • Amazon Business $12.49 1 $12.49
A Little Bit Brave • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug (Dinosaur Books, Dinosaur Books for Kids, Dinosaur Picture Books, Read Aloud Family Books, Books for Young Children) • Amazon Business $11.66 1 $11.66
Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
In My Room: A Book of Creativity and Imagination (Growing Hearts) • Amazon Business $10.89 1 $10.89
Grumpy Monkey • Amazon Business $10.62 1 $10.62
The Invisible Boy • Amazon Business $10.59 1 $10.59
The Tell-Me Tree • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Say Something • Amazon Business $9.69 1 $9.69
Eraser • Amazon Business $8.52 1 $8.52
Share Your Rainbow: 18 Artists Draw Their Hope for the Future • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness (I Am Books) • Amazon Business $7.47 1 $7.47

Materials cost

$437.78

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $34.15

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.57

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$508.50

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$89.74

Total project goal

$598.24

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $598.24

10 Donors

-$477.20

Donations toward project cost

-$446.72

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$30.48

Matching donations from our partners

-$72.69

Match offers toward project cost

-$61.79

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$10.90

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$48.35

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

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. Chmelo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NC","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":1,"name":"Early Education"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/growing-minds-growing-hearts/5184722/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":646,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Chmelo","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1582432707","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Clayton","teachersOnPage":[6652829],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":5184722,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":1961,"schoolName":"East Clayton Elementary School","authorIds":{"6652829":{"owner":"Mrs. Chmelo","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[5184722],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6652829_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566064132831","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":21452110,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":6652829,"schoolCounty":"Johnston","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NC","name":"North Carolina"}}