I teach in a diverse K-8 special education center that services students with moderate to severe disabilities. My classroom is a self-contained room comprised of a group of very smart, witty, and talented kiddos who are eager to learn.
My students all have the ability to become independent and soar academically but need more resources to do so.
My goal is to purchase supplies to increase independence, engagement, as well as support academic and social periods, and teach financial literacy to my students. Once this project gets funded, my students will be able to learn the ins and outs of saving, budgeting, and wage-earning. In addition, they will be able to become more independent by having to access necessary classroom tools without leaving the room to borrow someone else's (ie pencil sharpener, broom, etc.)
My Project
As a recently graduated, first-year teacher, starting midyear in a self-contained, special needs classroom, I don't have a lot of supplies or rewards to offer my students.
They are students who are eager to learn but need some motivation to get the ball rolling.
I am initiating a token economy reward system in my classroom to reward positive behaviors; however, I need incentives for them to purchase. I will be using this system will encourage my students to complete their work, stay on task, and engage in more socially acceptable behaviors in order to earn classroom cash. They will use their classroom cash to purchase items in my classroom store. Once this is funded, they will be able to learn how to earn, save and budget their cash to purchase highly desired items such as Gatorade, snacks, and prizes from the prize bucket. They will also be able to increase their independence in the classroom after this is funded.
Currently, when it is time to complete our classroom jobs, they need to go to a neighboring classroom, accompanied by a staff member, to borrow the broom and a pencil sharpener. When this is funded, they will be able to complete their jobs without assistance from staff members and earn more classroom cash.
With the help of gracious donors, such as yourself, my students will be able to purchase more desirable items in our school store, work on budgeting and financing, become more independent, and most importantly, grow academically and socially.
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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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.