Our RSP Classroom Toolkit: Nourishing Calm, Creativity, and Connection
Help me give my students calming sensory tools, creative building materials, and fun rewards like Play-Doh and Legos to help them feel regulated, focused, and connected in our special education classroom.
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
This year, I’ve had the great opportunity to teach amazing young students who are creative, curious, and resilient. They thrive when given the right tools to feel calm, safe, and engaged. Sensory items like Play-Doh, magnetic sand, and fidgets help them regulate their emotions, while Legos, bracelet kits, and DIY tote bags spark creativity and connection. Timers, stickers, and photo rewards support focus and celebrate their growth and achievements.
What makes my students special is their incredible perseverance.
Some days are tough, there are wild moments, big emotions, and tears when things feel hard. Many of my students have learning disabilities, and even the smallest tasks can feel overwhelming. But what amazes me most is how our students always reflect apologize, try again, and keep showing up. They work so hard, and even when progress seems small (like remembering a letter sound) it’s a huge win. Their growth, however it comes, is deeply inspiring, and a daily reminder for me to lead with patience, empathy, and hope.
With calming scents and cozy spaces, my goal is to create a classroom that nourishes their calm, creativity, and confidence. A place where every student feels seen, supported, and ready to learn.
More than three‑quarters 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
Fujifilm - INSTAX MINI LINK 3 Smartphone Printer - Rose Pink
• Best Buy Education
$99.99
1
$99.99
24 Pcs Round Floor Cushions Floor Pillows Meditation Seat Pillows Flexible Seating for Adults Kids 12 Colors Chair Cushions for Classroom, Nursery, Living Room, Yoga(Colorful,Medium 15.7 Inch)
• Amazon Business
$71.99
1
$71.99
Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film (2 Pack, 40 Sheets) 5 Plastic Desk Frames + 60 Sticker Frames + 2 Packs Corner Stickers
• Amazon Business
$64.95
1
$64.95
Stress Balls Squishy Fidget Toys: OleOletOy 32 Pack Stress Balls for Adults, Squishy Ball Sensory Toy with Autism, Classroom Prizes, Birthday Party Favors, Goodie Bag Stuffers, and Travel Toy Gifts
• Amazon Business
$31.29
2
$62.58
PUZZLE EZ Crayon Organizer and Storage Lazy Susan School Art Supplies Caddy | Rotating Kids Desk Organizer Rainbow Color Bins | Pencil Marker Storage, Stationary Caddy for School & Office
• Amazon Business
$26.99
2
$53.98
Kaplan Early Learning 5 Clear Bins for 10-Cubby Wall Locker
• Kaplan Early Learning Company
Lakeshore Design-Your-Own Tote Bags - Set of 15
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$24.99
2
$49.98
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 Building Toy Set - Featuring Storage, Includes Train, Car, and a Tiger Figure, and Playset for Kids, Boys, and Girls Ages 4-99
• Amazon Business
$24.88
2
$49.76
Unittype 6 Pcs Fall Sunflower Floor Pillow Kids Floor Cushions for Classroom Valentine's Party Favor Gift Throw Pillow Yellow 3D Plush Chair Cushion Reversible Decorative Mat Flower Chair Pad, 15''
• Amazon Business
$41.99
1
$41.99
TIME TIMER MOD with Dry Erase Board — 60-Minute Visual Countdown Timer with Magnetic Whiteboard — for Notes, Chores, Classroom and Office Reminders, Visual Schedules, for Kids and Adults (Blue)
• Amazon Business
$41.95
1
$41.95
Special Supplies Bumble Bee Sensory Vibrating Pillow, Pressure Activated for Kids and Adults, Plush Minky Soft with Textured Therapy Stimulation Bumps. Size: 11 by 20 inches
• Amazon Business
$37.99
1
$37.99
Amazon Basics Facial Tissue, 2-Ply, 2880 Count (18 Packs of 160), (Packaging May Vary)
• Amazon Business
MINTWOOD Design Extra Large 22 x 14 Inch Rainbow Blanket Basket for Colorful Room Decor, Playroom & Classroom Storage Basket, Decorative Cotton Rope Basket, Toy Storage Baskets & Bins, Pastel Rainbow
• Amazon Business
$33.95
1
$33.95
Play-Doh Bulk Pack of 48 Cans, 6 Sets of 8 Modeling Compound Colors, 3oz, Back to School Gifts & Prizes for Students & Classroom, Preschool Toys for Kids, Ages 2+ (Amazon Exclusive)
• Amazon Business
$30.09
1
$30.09
Lakeshore Mold & Play Sensory Sand Set
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$29.99
1
$29.99
Dixon Ticonderoga TriWrite #2 Pencil - 12 Pack
• Kaplan Early Learning Company
$4.73
6
$28.38
Manaloom Storage Box, School Supplies Crayon Box, Crayon Organizer, Crayon Holder Case for School, Clear Storage Organizer - Stackable Boxes - 3.5 x 4.75 x 1.6-4 Pack
• Amazon Business
$13.29
2
$26.58
Mexi-Mix Box Mexican Candy Assortment. 86 count. Care Package Variety of Spicy Candy Box Gift Bulk Dulces Mexicanos Snack Include: Obleas Duvalin Lucas Vero Mango Pulparindo Pelon Pelo Rico
• Amazon Business
$25.49
1
$25.49
X-ACTO 1670 School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener, Black/Gray
• Amazon Business
$24.99
1
$24.99
Epakh 6 Pieces Clear Acrylic Pencil Pen Holder Cup Round Clear Makeup Brush Holder Acrylic Make up Brush Storage Organizer Clear Desktop Pencil Cup for Home Office Supplies, Desk Accessories
• Amazon Business
$21.99
1
$21.99
ONEFIRE Galaxy Projector, White Noise Night Light Projector for Bedroom, Bluetooth Music Ceiling Projector Room Lights, Remote Timer Galaxy Light Skyligh,Star Lights Projector for Kids Teen Girl Gifts
• Amazon Business
$19.98
1
$19.98
Gamenote Word Building Desktop Pocket Chart Tent Flash Cards Kit - CVC Words Phonics Games Blending Board for Kindergarten Reading and Spelling
• Amazon Business
$18.99
1
$18.99
Play-Doh Holiday Set of Tools, 43 Accessories & 10 Colors, Kids Arts & Crafts, Preschool Toys for Girls & Boys, for Kids, Ages 3+ (Amazon Exclusive)
• Amazon Business
$16.69
1
$16.69
ECOTREE Easter Basket Stuffers, Pencils #2 Pre-sharpened Pencils Number 2 Pencil Rainbow Pencil for Kids, School Supplies, 24 Pack
• Amazon Business
$15.99
1
$15.99
OUTUXED 7200pcs Seed Beads for Friendship Bracelet Kit, 4mm Glass Bracelet Beads Kit and 300pcs Letter Beads for Jewelry Making, Necklaces, Craft Gifts
• Amazon Business
$7.99
2
$15.98
6 Pack Multi-Function Electronic Timer - Magnetic Digital Timers Big LCD Display The Loud/Silent Switch Countdown Timer Extensively Use in Break Time, Cooking,Gym, Meeting, Classroom
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
PowerTRC Classic 3D Pin Art Toy, Hand Art Sensory Toy Hand Pins Impression Toy, Fun Fidget Pin Art Board Toy for Birthday Gifts 8x6 Inches
• Amazon Business
$14.89
1
$14.89
PowerTRC 3D Pin Art Toy, Pin Art Toy Pin Board Toy for Kids, Sensory Toy for Ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 10+ Years Old Kids Boys Girls, Fun Fidget Toddler Toys for Birthday Gifts 8x6 Inches
• Amazon Business
$14.89
1
$14.89
LIORQUE 60 Minute Visual Timer for Kids, Visual Countdown Timer for Classroom Office Kitchen with 'Rainbow' Pattern Design, Pomodoro Timer with Silent Operation (Batteries Included)
• Amazon Business
$14.39
1
$14.39
Apple Timer
• Lakeshore Learning Materials
$5.99
2
$11.98
Squishy Sensory Toys for Kids: Calm Down Sensory Toys for Autistic Children Toddlers Special Needs, Squeeze Stretch Anxiety Relief Autism Toys, Sensory Shapes Learning Toys Classroom Must Haves
• Amazon Business
$9.79
1
$9.79
2060 Sheets Star Origami Paper 27 Assortment Color Star Paper Strip Double Sided Origami Stars Paper Solid Color Decoration Paper Strips DIY Hand Art Crafts
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
200PCS Teens Hero Stickers for Water Bottles Superhero Stickers for Boys Teens Adults Waterproof Vinyl Stickers Bulk for Skateboard Luggage Laptops Bumper Comic Legends Theme Party Supplies
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
200Pcs Water Bottle Stickers for Kids Teens, Waterproof Vinyl Stickers, Aesthetic Laptop Stickers, Stickers for Water Bottles,Cute Stickers Packs
• Amazon Business
$7.98
1
$7.98
300 PCS Water Bottle Stickers, Cute Stickers for Hydroflasks VSCO Sticker Packs Cute Vinyl Waterproof Stickers for Water Bottles, Skateboard Phone Laptop Stickers for Kids Teens Girls
• Amazon Business
$7.87
1
$7.87
Sports Stickers 150PCS Sport Gift,Sports Stickers for Water Bottles,Basketball,Baseball,Football,Volleyball,Soccer,Stickers Sports,Stickers for Teens/Kids
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
Creative Teaching Press Emoji Hot Spot Stickers, Pack of 880 - Early Childhood-Elementary - Toddler
• School Specialty
$6.97
1
$6.97
100Pcs Hello Kitty Stickers Pack Kitty White Theme Waterproof Sticker Decals for Laptop Water Bottle Skateboard Luggage Car Bumper Hello Kitty Stickers for Girls Kids Teens
• Amazon Business
$5.99
1
$5.99
Creative Teaching Press Emoji Reward Stickers, Pack of 75 - Early Childhood-Elementary - Toddler
• School Specialty
$5.77
1
$5.77
Materials cost
$1,195.51
Vendor shipping charges
$8.37
Sales tax
$109.39
3rd party payment processing fee
$17.93
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$1,361.20
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$240.21
Total project goal
$1,601.41
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$1,601.41
13 Donors
-$320.28
Donations toward project cost
-$272.24
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$48.04
match offer
-$1,281.13
Match offer toward project cost
-$1,088.96
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 Ms. Rivera and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"CA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":false,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/our-rsp-classroom-toolkit-nourishing-ca/9268473/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":20,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Rivera","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"861306770","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Pasadena","teachersOnPage":[9699228],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":9268473,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":1,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":28292,"schoolName":"McKinley School","authorIds":{"9699228":{"owner":"Ms. Rivera","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[9268473],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9699228_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738264245958","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":22388461,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":{"completingDonationAmount":1227,"proposalURL":"project/from-stress-to-success-a-classroom-that/9758715/","proposalTitle":"From Stress to Success: A Classroom That Cares","proposalId":9758715},"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":9699228,"schoolCounty":"Los Angeles","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"CA","name":"California"}}
