My students need appropriate materials to learn and practice letters knowledge, letter sounds and phonemic awareness with a hands-on approach.
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. O'Keefe's classroom raised $391
This project is fully funded
My Students
Kindergarten is no longer just about naps and playtime! It is now all about reading!
My school is an overflow site with 500 students consisting of eight kindergartens, seven 1st, and four 2nd grades.
Most of these students did not attend pre-school and start the school well below academic expectations. Even on the first day of school they are already playing catch-up. I spend most of the first month of school teaching the students how to follow directions and learn routines. Many are underprivileged children who rely on eating breakfast and lunch that is provided by the school. Because we are an overflow site we are lacking basic materials that are staples at other schools. We don't have a stocked supply closet full of all the materials needed for the year. I depend on the sales stores have during the summer for 1 cent folders and 25 cents boxes of crayons. My husband and I visit these stores multiple times to ensure my students have everything they need for the year. My students are amazing children, all they need is a chance to be exposed to great things to be wonderful learners.
My Project
My students need a hands-on approach. They need to have manipulatives in their hands to engage their learning. Having rhyming, beginning sounds and alphabet manipulatives actually in their hands is a huge advantage. Since our day consists of academics, using manipulatives also provides them with a chance to "play" with educational resources. They think they are playing but are actually learning. During our day we have a literacy center and a phonics center time where students work independently on differentiated tasks. Having more materials in the class will allow for more differentiation and more choices.
Reading will be part of my students' lives forever.
It is important that they learn the fundamentals now and in an age appropriate way. My students have so little in their lives and I want to ensure that their time in the classroom is engaging and enriched with multiple ways of learning.
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
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 Dr. O'Keefe and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
