I am lucky enough to be living out my dream, teaching 18 first graders in a small, rural elementary school in Western New York. My students are filled with wonder, energy and an enthusiasm for learning! It is my goal to nurture and protect the joy my students have for their education, while fostering their academic and social growth. Each day, we journey to new places with amazing characters in our books, we create our own adventures in shared writing, we solve the world’s “problems” as mathematicians, and we conduct science experiments to answer thought provoking questions.
Developing friendships and building a strong learning community are a top priority in the classroom.
My students have many opportunities to practice kindness, respect and responsibility, while working in a variety of groupings. As a result, my students love talking and collaborating, making shared learning experiences really fun! While there are a wide range of skill levels in my class, it is the blend of abilities and relationships that makes our learning environment an exciting challenge everyday.
My Project
The classroom carpet is the heart of our room. We use it in so many different ways throughout the day! It’s a place where our small community can come together to talk, listen, and learn. We use it as a gathering place for different types of instruction and groupings. It is a cozy spot that we get together in to read so many books and work on our shared writing projects. During our literacy instruction, groups of students work on the rug to practice partner reading and some students bring a pillow to the carpet for independent reading. The whole group meets there for a focused math lesson on the SmartBoard, and later, small groups come to the carpet to play math games during their rotations.
The classroom carpet is more than just a gathering spot; it is also a place where we work to positively build our learning community and develop friendships.
Sitting together, first graders learn how to be respectful of one another’s space, listen to the ideas of their classmates, and take turns engaging in the conversation. We work on creating a safe space where each member of our community feels valued.
We’re not always serious, though. We also enjoy “cutting a rug” and our carpet will also serve as our dance floor when we bust our moves dancing and singing to GoNoodle videos! This rug would be such a valuable addition to our classroom and would help to create a feeling of home away from home for the young learners in my class.
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
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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 Mrs. Kinkelaar and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
