Help me give my students a "shift the lift" classroom to achieve more academic success through collaboration and teamwork!
$576 goal
This project expired on August 11, 2025.
This project expired on August 11, 2025.
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
These supplies will help my classroom participate in what is called "shifting the lift" to students, in which teachers take a facilitator position and the learning is shifted to the students. This classroom format is inspired by the book "Building Thinking Classrooms" by Peter Liljedahl, which describes the positive effects of student-led thinking and collaboration with a random partner. I had done a small-scale version of "shift the lift" in the 24/25 school year, and the results were incredible! My students' I-Ready growth was up 120% on average, and students who had struggled with math before were leading and helping their random partner for the day. In the next school year, I want to fully commit to the "shift the lift" classroom.
In a general sense, a day with "shift the lift" would look like this: In the morning, students choose a random card that pairs them with a random partner.
With this partner, they take turns either writing the solution on the board or telling their partner what to do. This allows students to collaborate and teach each other while they work. Writing on the whiteboard also benefits students, letting them move around, and, best of all, it also helps me showcase the strategies different partners used to solve the same problems.
One of the struggles that we faced last year was the lack of space. The 4 extra whiteboards allow for 4 extra groups to work more comfortably. Another problem that we faced was students mixing up materials. The colored folders, erasers, magnets, etc., will help students keep track of what is theirs versus what belongs to the adjacent group. Since students will be switching desks daily to sit with their partners, the two mailboxes will be a place where students can keep their books and materials.
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
23 students impacted
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Safco Literature Organizer, 24 Compartments, 2 Drawers, Office and Classroom Mailbox with Adjustable Shelves, Wood Paper and Mail Sorter, Gray
• Amazon Business
$129.12
2
$258.24
VIZ-PRO Magnetic Dry Erase Board, 24 X 18 Inches, Silver Aluminium Frame
• Amazon Business
$21.90
4
$87.60
Mr. Pen- Plastic Folders with Pockets and Prongs, 15 Pack, Vibrant Colors, Pocket Folders, Folders with Prongs, File Folders with Fasteners, 2 Pocket Folder, Folder with Pockets, Two Pocket Folder
• Amazon Business
$13.98
2
$27.96
54 Pack Magnetic Large Blank Cards Dry Erase Magnets Multipurpose Erasable Labels Magnetic Index Cards Dry Erase Magnetic Cards, 5.6 x 3.7 Inch (Color Borders)
• Amazon Business
$22.99
1
$22.99
Mymazn Refrigerator Magnets for Fridge Cute Magnets Colorful Magnets Glass Decorative Whiteboard Magnet Office Kitchen Locker 24 Color
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
Dry Erase Erasers, IHPUKIDI 24 Pack Magnetic Whiteboard Dry Eraser Chalkboard Cleansers for Classroom, Home and Office (8-Color, 2 x 2 Inch)
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
Materials cost
$414.77
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$37.95
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.22
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$488.94
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$86.28
Total project goal
$575.22
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. Penny and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
