My students are amazing kids who face many challenges both at home and at school. My students all have various disabilities, but they don't let their disabilities hold them back.
All of my students are unique, but one thing is the same in each of them: they love to learn!
My students come from a variety of backgrounds and face many challenges before even entering our school. We work together every day to overcome those challenges and reach new heights. I work with about 75 special education students every week, reaching kids with various disabilities. My students love to move, explore and play.
My Project
One of the most difficult things about school, for my students with disabilities, is not the math or the reading, but instead, making friends. My students who have autism, cognitive impairments, significant speech delays and learning disabilities, don't always know how to engage with their general education peers, and sometimes, their general education peers don't know how to engage with my students.
Every child deserves to experience friendships at school.
In order to help my students and their peers form lasting friendships, we teach them how. We hold twice weekly lunch bunch meetings where we give our students the chance to practice friendship skills: saying hello, taking turns, sharing, playing a game together, accepting each other for who they are. In order to make these lunch bunches extra exciting we have special treats including Capri Sun juice pouches, granola bars, cookies and crackers. Sharing a snack is another way our kids learn to become friends. Additionally, we use fun toys as a way to help our kids form friendships. Toys like Squiggs and PlayDough allow for imagination and friendships to bloom.
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
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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. Griesinger and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.