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!

Dr. Horenstein from New York, NY is requesting a classroom visitor through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Dr. Horenstein is requesting

Improvisation: Learning to Let Go and Reach Out!

Help me give my students a chance to explore their creativity and build confidence in a safe, supportive environment.

FULLY FUNDED! Dr. Horenstein's classroom raised $752

This project is fully funded

My Students

Hello everyone, I am a New York City high school biology teacher with a love for the theater. Our student population is quite diverse; academically, racially and economically.

Many of them will be the first people in their family to attend college.

Our students are extremely motivated to succeed. This drive can often lead to dynamic interactions in the classroom and first rate work; however, these aspirations can also create considerable pressures, leading to counterproductive outcomes such as sleep deprivation and grade competition. Last year, I found that theater games were effective at alleviating these pressures for a handful of our students. My goal is to expand this program for the current academic year.

My Project

My goal is to create a safe, noncompetitive space for the students to express themselves, unlock their creativity, and learn important life skills, all while laughing and having fun -- a terrific antidote to the stress and rigor of our students' academic life. This after-school workshop will be taught by Susan Kaessinger, who has been teaching children and adults, as well as performing and directing improvisation, for over 25 years, including 10 years at The Lucy Moses School.

Each day's workshop will have two components: theater games that are designed to loosen up the students and turn their focus onto interacting with the group as a whole; and then structured scenes where students play out improvised scenarios in front of the group while receiving expert coaching.

The exercises are designed to encourage trust, teamwork, and risk taking. Learning to accept a failure and move on is encouraged as well as stretching emotional, physical and verbal “comfort zones.” The workshop will also give the students a chance to see their peers from a different perspective, and to meet students they might not encounter during their academic day.

There will be 3 workshops that meet once a week after school. If it goes well, we hope to extend it for another 3 classes, including a performance. Susan charges $200 per class, and I have discovered that this is a bargain after doing comparative shopping throughout New York City.

Dr. Horenstein Stuyvesant High School Grades 9-12

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.

New York, NY 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

20 students impacted 4donors

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 Dr. Horenstein 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
Visitor Total
Susan Kaessinger $600.00

Visitor cost

$600.00

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$9.00

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$639.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$112.76

Total project goal

$751.76

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $751.76

4 Donors

-$734.12

Donations toward project cost

-$639.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$95.12

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$17.64

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

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 Dr. Horenstein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NY","teacherPossessivePronoun":"their","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/improvisation-learning-to-let-go-and-re/4184243/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":20,"isEquityFocusV1":false,"teacherScreenName":"Dr. Horenstein","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"-1800378069","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"New York","teachersOnPage":[6500626],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":4184243,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":2182,"schoolName":"Stuyvesant High School","authorIds":{"6500626":{"owner":"Dr. Horenstein","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[4184243],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6500626_orig.jpg?crop=982,983,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1563383404702","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":21406123,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NjcyMDU4Ng==","NDI0MDE0","NTAzNjA4MQ==","NjIyMzMx"],"teacherId":6500626,"schoolCounty":"New York (Manhattan)","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NY","name":"New York"}}