I teach English at an urban high school in Connecticut in a school with nearly 2,000 students. We have a wide range of students in our school, so my classroom is a great mix of people from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of my students are new to the country and the language (there are 10+ different languages represented in my sheltered English classes) and many of my students are from low-income families (the school has almost 50% free and reduced lunch); but all of my students want to get something out of their education.
My students want to learn, they want to grow, and they want to succeed.
Sometimes, though, these students run into obstacles, whether physical, mental, or psychological, that keep them from finding this success. My goal is to create a classroom that is welcoming and safe for my students to help them traverse some of the obstacles that are in their way. I want all of my students to succeed and that starts with making them feel like they belong.
My Project
If I can help my students discover that reading can be fun and educational, I will be able to engage them in my classroom much more. This project will help me create a reading area for my students, where they can feel a little more comfortable, and maybe forget for a moment that they are reading in school.
With your help, I can turn my classroom into a place where students want to be.
The bench and bean bag chairs in my project will provide my students with non-traditional seating, allowing them to feel like they are no longer in my classroom; like they can be transported into the world of a book at any given moment. The area rug and lighting will add to the ambiance of the reading area, and the clipboards will serve as writing surfaces should the students be inspired to write.
This reading area will help encourage students who are attending 85% of school days or less to come to school, come to my class, and be excited to be there. Students who are failing two or more classes will have the chance to feel what it is like to enjoy school and learning without the rigid restrictions of traditional seating, and students who are having disciplinary problems will have a creative outlet for their energy. This reading area will serve as a safe haven for my students; a place where they can experience reading comfortably and re-engage with their own learning. My students, even the disengaged ones, really want to learn, and knowing that there are people out there rooting for them is just the push they need.
Simpli Home Waverly Tufted Ottoman Bench, Slate Grey
• Amazon Business
$132.90
1
$132.90
Superior Modern Rockwood Collection Area Rug, 8mm Pile Height with Jute Backing, Textured Geometric Brick Design, Anti-Static, Water-Repellent Rugs - Chocolate, 8' x 10' Rug
• Amazon Business
$82.26
1
$82.26
Big Joe Bean Bag, 98-Inch, Sapphire
• Amazon Business
$35.00
1
$35.00
LED String Lights 33 ft with 100 LEDs, TaoTronics Waterproof Decorative Lights for Bedroom, Patio, Parties ( Copper Wire Lights, Warm White )
• Amazon Business
$9.29
2
$18.58
Materials cost
$268.74
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$4.03
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$302.77
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$53.43
Total project goal
$356.20
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$356.20
1 Donor
-$151.38
Donations toward project cost
-$151.38
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$0.00
match offer
-$178.11
Match offer toward project cost
-$151.39
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Mr. Kimmel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
