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Ms. Ata from Chicago IL is requesting classroom basics through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Journaling to Find Ourselves

My students need personal writing journals to express and learn about themselves.

  • $1,105 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrate Black Teachers and Students

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.

My Students

Every day, my students find different ways to show me how wonderful they are as human beings. Together, we go on a journey learning about each other and ourselves. Our classroom is a space to explore what we already know and what we have yet to learn.

Literature and language are our gateways into worlds unknown—our tools for figuring life out.

We've explored the devastation of the American soldier experience in The Things They Carried, questioned our identities while reading The Woman Warrior, and catechized the norms of society while reading The White Tiger. We've found truths about the world and ourselves through poetry, analysis, and creative writing.

My students travel anywhere from ten minutes to two hours to get to their school, which is located in one of the roughest and least-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago. They go on this trek every day in order to learn and to better themselves, and they bring along with them all that they embody - their families, hardships, beliefs, and hearts. At one of the most academically challenging schools in our city, our students epitomize success and will be the pillars of this generation's success.

My Project

This project is inspired by my students who have shown me their most vulnerable and admirable selves through writing. Throughout their academic careers, students are asked to write in many different forms: rhetoric, analysis, persuasion, criticism, etc. We constantly ask our students to be themselves, but seldom give them opportunities to truly find themselves. Students are asked to write well, answering prompts and using correct MLA formatting, but I have found that we do not give enough opportunities for students to express themselves creatively.

With their own personal writing journal, my students will each get the chance to not only express themselves but to find themselves through the use of creative and journal writing.

Our classroom will become a safe space and a judgement-free zone in which students can pour their troubles and emotions onto paper, rather than build up and repress these feelings.

Ms. Ata
Grades 9-12

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Be Fearless In The Pursuit Of What Sets Your Soul On Fire: Inspirational Notebook/Journal Ruled 8.5x11 Black Glossy Cover Chalk Board Art Quote Notebook For Women or Men • Amazon Business $6.95 10 $69.50
"The Only Person You Are Destined to Become is the person you decide to be": Inspirational Notebook,Doodle Diary & Inspirational Journal & Composition Book Journal: 100+ Pages for Writing and Drawing • Amazon Business $5.99 10 $59.90
Wake UP Think Big Never Quit Worry Less Stay Strong: A Inspiration Book Journal - Lined and Blank Journal to write in (8.5 x 11 Large), Best Gift Idea (Inspirational Journal Notebook) (Volume 2) • Amazon Business $5.99 10 $59.90
AmazonBasics Classic Notebook - Ruled • Amazon Business $9.99 5 $49.95
Dream Lead Fight Think Write Build Speak Educate Believe Challenge: Journals & Notebooks (Composition Book Journal) (8.5 X 11 Large)(110 Pages) • Amazon Business $4.99 10 $49.90
Yes You Can: 100 Pages Ruled - Notebook, Journal, Diary (Large, 8.5 x 11) (Inspirational Quotes) • Amazon Business $4.97 10 $49.70
Soar Journal (Notebook, Diary) (Black Rock) (Guided Journals Series) • Amazon Business $9.35 5 $46.75
Twilight Garden Journal (Diary, Notebook) (Small Format Journal) • Amazon Business $8.76 5 $43.80
XIDUOBAO B6 Size PU Leather Writing Journal Notebook Notepad Journal Bulk Pack College Ruled Journal for Students, Size: 5" X 6", 64 Sheet/128 Pages(Set of 4,Random Color) • Amazon Business $17.99 2 $35.98
She Believed She Could So She Did • Amazon Business $7.19 5 $35.95
Make Today Amazing: Vintage Cream & Black Polka Dot Notebook (8.5 x 11 Large) (Inspirational Notebook Journal for Women) (Volume 2) • Amazon Business $6.99 5 $34.95
You Got This: Small Softcover Blank Lined Notebook; Gold Marble Notebook; Motivational Quote Notebook, Inspirational Notebook, Marble Journal, Gift Gift, Gift for Bridesmaids, Friends • Amazon Business $6.99 5 $34.95
She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes, Line ruled Inspirational quote journal for girls, 8.5x11 in, 110 undated pages: Quote journal to write ... new ideas, special moments, or daily notes • Amazon Business $6.49 5 $32.45
She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes,Inspirational quote journal, 8.5x11 in,110 pages mixed of 90P Line ruled 20P Dotted grid,: Women quote ... for girl / women / office /student / teacher • Amazon Business $6.49 5 $32.45
Be brave be kind be true :Superhero quote journal,Mix 90P Lined ruled 20P Dotted grid,8.5x11 in,110 undated pages: Large quote journal to write in ... for girl / women / office /student / teacher • Amazon Business $6.15 5 $30.75
Throw kindness around like confetti: Inspirational quote journal, 8.5x11 in,110 pages blank notebook,Pink blue dot bubble circle: Quote journal to ... for life/ business /office /student/ teacher • Amazon Business $6.15 5 $30.75
Killing it :Inspirational quote journal,Mix 90P Lined ruled 20P Dotted grid,8.5x11 in,110 undated pages,Modern marble: Large quote journal to write in ... and new ideas for office /student / teacher • Amazon Business $6.15 5 $30.75
Dream big : Inspirational quote journal, 8.5x11 in,110 pages blank notebook,Black grey: Quote journal to write in your wisdom thoughts, plan,and ideas for life/ business /office /student/ teacher • Amazon Business $6.15 5 $30.75
Don't Forget to Be Awesome: Pink Flamingo Garden Notebook (Composition Book Journal) (8.5 x 11 Large) • Amazon Business $4.99 5 $24.95
Make It Happen: Floral Notebook (Composition Book Journal) (8.5 x 11 Large) • Amazon Business $4.99 5 $24.95
You Are Awesome: Sloth Notebook (Composition Book, Journal) (8.5 x 11 Large) • Amazon Business $4.99 5 $24.95
Hydrangeas Journal (Diary, Notebook) • Amazon Business $4.49 5 $22.45
Lila Unruled Blank Notebook, 100 pages, Marble, Large (8.5 x 11 inches) • Amazon Business $4.25 5 $21.25
AmazonBasics College Ruled Composition Notebook, 100-Sheet, Marble Black, 4-Pack • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
AmazonBasics College Ruled Composition Notebook, 100-Sheet, Assorted Solid Colors, 4-Pack • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99

Materials cost

$895.66

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$13.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$939.09

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$165.72

Total project goal

$1,104.81

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,104.81

2 Donors

-$1,104.81

Donations toward project cost

-$939.09

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$165.72

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Ata and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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