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Mrs. Dawdy from Alton, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Help Us Build Strong Readers, Leaders, and Problem Solvers!

Help me give my students social emotional learning (SEL) books that teach empathy, resilience, kindness, and life skills.

  • 3 donors
  • $486 still needed

expires Oct 21

  • 3 donors
  • $486 still needed
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Mrs. Dawdy profile photo
Mrs. Dawdy West Elementary School
Alton, IL Grades 3-5

My Project

At West Elementary, we believe students need more than academic skills to succeed—they need the tools to manage emotions, build friendships, solve problems, and persevere through challenges.

We are seeking funding for the Second Step Classroom Library Collection (Grades 2–5), a collection of engaging books that help students learn important life skills through stories they can connect with.

These books support lessons on empathy, self-control, kindness, resilience, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making.

For many students, books provide a safe and powerful way to understand their feelings, learn from others, and develop confidence in themselves.

Your donation will help students:

Build empathy and kindness

Develop problem-solving skills

Learn healthy ways to manage emotions

Strengthen relationships with peers and adults

Build confidence and resilience

By funding this project, you're not just purchasing books—you're helping our students develop the social-emotional skills they need to thrive in school and in life.

Thank you for helping us support the whole child and create a school where everyone succeeds together!

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

350 students impacted 3 donors
Mrs. Dawdy West Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Alton, IL 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

350 students impacted 3donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Caldecott Honor Book - Zen Shorts (A Stillwater and Friends Book) - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $14.59 2 $29.18
Not Your Typical Dragon • Amazon Business $16.10 1 $16.10
Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You (hardcover) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $16.00 1 $16.00
Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year • Amazon Business $14.95 1 $14.95
Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse • Amazon Business $14.70 1 $14.70
My Brother Charlie - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $14.59 1 $14.59
A Sick Day for Amos McGee - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $13.86 1 $13.86
The Breaking News • Amazon Business $13.33 1 $13.33
You Matter - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13
Come With Me - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13
What Do You Do With ...? - What Do You Do With an Idea - Hardcover Book • AKJ Education $13.10 1 $13.10
A Box of Butterflies - Hardcover Book • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40
Big Nate - Big Nate Lives It Up - Hardcover Book • AKJ Education $11.67 1 $11.67
Author: A True Story • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes: A Growth Mindset Book for Back to School for Kids • Amazon Business $9.96 1 $9.96
What Do You Do With a Problem? - New York Times best seller • Amazon Business $9.53 1 $9.53
Real Friends - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $9.48 1 $9.48
When Sadness is at Your Door • Amazon Business $9.01 1 $9.01
Aani and the Tree Huggers • Amazon Business $8.94 1 $8.94
Elephant and Piggie - Can I Play Too?-An Elephant and Piggie Book - Reinforced Book • AKJ Education $8.02 1 $8.02
Being Edie Is Hard Today • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Most People • Amazon Business $7.96 1 $7.96
Full Cicada Moon • Amazon Business $7.90 1 $7.90
A Bad Case of Stripes • Amazon Business $7.71 1 $7.71
The Book of Mistakes • Amazon Business $7.51 1 $7.51
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) • Amazon Business $7.31 1 $7.31
Magnificent Mya Tibbs - The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
Just My Luck - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
Ramona - Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
Inside Out and Back Again - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
I Can Make This Promise - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions • Amazon Business $7.26 1 $7.26
The Magical Yet • Amazon Business $7.25 1 $7.25
It's Okay to Make Mistakes • Amazon Business $7.25 1 $7.25
The Rabbit Listened • Amazon Business $7.23 1 $7.23
The Invisible Boy • Amazon Business $7.22 1 $7.22
When Sophie Thinks She Can't... • Amazon Business $7.15 1 $7.15
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez: A Picture Book (The Questioneers) • Amazon Business $7.13 1 $7.13
Don't Hug Doug: (He Doesn't Like It) • Amazon Business $7.08 1 $7.08
Beautiful Oops! • Amazon Business $7.06 1 $7.06
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Stretch and Shape Their Brains • Amazon Business $6.96 1 $6.96
Be Kind • Amazon Business $6.91 1 $6.91
The Day You Begin • Amazon Business $6.78 1 $6.78
How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids • Amazon Business $6.77 1 $6.77
All Are Welcome (An All Are Welcome Book) • Amazon Business $6.63 1 $6.63
Ruby Finds a Worry (Big Bright Feelings) • Amazon Business $6.59 1 $6.59
Fish in a Tree - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $6.56 1 $6.56
Enemy Pie : (Reading Rainbow Book, Children’s Book about Kindness, Kids Books about Learning) • Amazon Business $6.52 1 $6.52
Wonder • Amazon Business $6.49 1 $6.49
The Day the Crayons Quit • Amazon Business $6.33 1 $6.33
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family • Amazon Business $6.31 1 $6.31
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug • Amazon Business $5.86 1 $5.86
El Deafo: A Graphic Novel • Amazon Business $5.86 1 $5.86
A Wrinkle in Time Quintet - A Wrinkle in Time - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83
My Mouth Is a Volcano: A Picture Book About Interrupting • Amazon Business $5.60 1 $5.60
Full of Beans • Amazon Business $5.57 1 $5.57
Talk and Work It Out (Learning to Get Along) • Amazon Business $5.19 1 $5.19
A Wrinkle in Time: (Newbery Medal Winner) • Amazon Business $4.78 1 $4.78
The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal) • Amazon Business $4.66 1 $4.66
Fish in a Tree • Amazon Business $4.55 1 $4.55
The Year of Billy Miller: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (A Miller Family Story, 1) • Amazon Business $4.55 1 $4.55
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? • Amazon Business $4.49 1 $4.49
Same Sun Here • Amazon Business $4.34 1 $4.34
Wishtree • Amazon Business $4.31 1 $4.31
Hello, Universe: A Story About Bullying, Friendship, and Being Different • Amazon Business $4.17 1 $4.17
Ms. Bixby's Last Day • Amazon Business $4.00 1 $4.00
The One and Only Ivan: A Gentle Friendship Story About Patience, Kindness, and Everyday Adventures Together • Amazon Business $4.00 1 $4.00
Jabari Jumps: (A Motivational Story of Courage, Overcoming Fear, and Building Confidence - For Kids Ages 4-8) • Amazon Business $3.75 1 $3.75
Wish • Amazon Business $3.69 1 $3.69

Materials cost

$566.58

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.50

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$605.08

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$106.78

Total project goal

$711.86

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $711.86

3 Donors

-$201.00

Donations toward project cost

-$192.25

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$8.75

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$25.18

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $485.68

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

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Project Activity

Project Activity
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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. Dawdy and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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