The cost of these Necessary Classroom Supplies is $685, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. C.'s classroom raised $658
This project is fully funded
I am a second year teacher at Woodlake Elementary School in Mandeville, Louisiana. We are located about 25 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana. At this time, I have 19 students. Woodlake is a great school with extremely supportive parents and PTA volunteers. In addition to our parents and PTA organization, our district does everything it can to provide teachers with the support and materials they need to provide students with the best learning environment.
Unfortunately, since Hurricane Katrina the parents are dealing with personal tragedies within their families. Our district finances have been put towards rebuilding and/or replacing damaged schools and materials as well as trying to keep up with population growth from the surrounding more heavily damaged New Orleans. Our parish has already exceeded its five year growth plan due to population increases as a result of the hurricanes of last year.
As a new teacher, I cannot afford to purchase the vast amount of materials I need for my class. I have tried to beg, borrow and make as much as I can. Our curriculum requires that we incorporate literacy centers into our reading and writing curriculum. I agree, as does the research, that this is an effective way for students to take ownership of their work and their learning as well as to learn to work independently and in small groups. Practice and learning which take place in centers through the use of hands-on, manipulative types of learning is very effective because students work at their level and have some choice in their methods. Both of these factors are great motivators for learning. In centers, learning can be differentiated for every learner, regardless of their level. This is especially efficient because students at all levels can work successfully in centers with developmentally appropriate materials.
Unfortunately, the amount and kinds of materials needed for literacy centers are out of my financial realm at this time. I would love to provide my students with quality literacy centers. However, things like pointers, stamps, word cards, magnetic words and letters make the cost of quality centers out of my reach. These center materials would give students opportunities to learn through fun activities using manipulatives which can make learning easier for them. If I had the materials needed for centers, I could allow my students to use centers to get efficient and effective hands-on practice in reading and writing skills they are learning while at the same time, I could be there to provide support as the students need it. I would also be able to break my class into small groups thereby allowing me to have the ability to meet with small groups in order to provide intense small group instruction at the students' individual levels in reading and writing.
However, in order to have enough different kinds of materials for 19 students to be able to rotate to several centers each day, I need some help in obtaining the materials. Please help me provide my students with the materials to make learning effective and fun. When students receive highly differentiated and quality learning experiences in school, they become successful life-long learners. Learning which takes place through doing and manipulating information and materials is more likely to become a part of the students. Students also become more motivated to learn. Please help me to obtain these materisals so that I can provide my students with quality center experiences and small group instruction with me, which will in turn help my students to become interested and active learners.
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
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 Mrs. C. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.