You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

Mrs. Corum from Knoxville TN is requesting reading nooks, desks & storage through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Starting Our Day Off Right!

Help me give my students large boxes, building bricks, and watercolor paper so they have a "soft start" to their morning. Even 5th graders need a fun and engaging way to begin our day versus traditional "bell work."

  • $975 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

My Students

My 48 fifth grade students are amazing individuals.

They're kind, empathetic, funny and are just so excited to be back in a school building! They are eager to learn in this strange and new environment! We are a small urban and rural low-income community school. My students do not have exposure to certain experiences and lack certain resources that children need to grow and learn.

My goal is to provide them with as many positive experiences as they can get all while helping them grow, learn, and achieve their goals.

I enjoy spending my day with my students. We are a classroom family that takes care of one another, celebrates our successes together, builds each other up, and we make every minute count! Everyday we're together is a reason to celebrate!

My Project

Just like adults, my 5th graders need time to adjust in the morning. Most people start the day with a cup of coffee or have a routine that helps get them ready for the day. Why don't we do this for students when they arrive to school? I want to change the way my students enter the classroom. Instead of rushing in and being handed some type of "bell work" I'd like to given them a fun and engaging "soft start." A soft start is a time set aside in the classroom when students arrive and have a few minutes of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) and exploratory time before starting the academic part of the day.

The learning toys, such as, watercolor paints, kinetic sand, learning toys, and other supplies on my list would help each student in my classroom have their own tub to begin the day with a soft start, which has been found to be extremely beneficial for a smooth start to the school day.

Students love the routine and we know it helps them get focused for the day in a positive way. Soft starts to the day also build classroom community, better communication, and problem solving skills.

Because of COVID-19, materials cannot be shared as freely as they once were. Therefore, the supplies purchased will be divided and housed in the tubs and storage bins purchased allowing everyone to have a tub of their own. Students will rotate through the tubs (after they've been thoroughly cleaned) to take turns with various S.T.E.A.M. activities including brick building, watercolor painting, magnets, geo-boards, pattern blocks, and brain teasers.

Mrs. Corum
Grades 3-5

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Corum is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Sterilite 19638606 Large Clip Box, Clear with Blue Aquarium Latches, 6-Pack • Amazon Business $51.85 5 $259.25
Sterilite 17918004 3 Drawer Unit, White Frame with Clear Drawers, 4-Pack • Amazon Business $47.61 2 $95.22
GARUNK 1500 Pieces Building Bricks for Kids, 1500 Pcs Building Blocks with Wheels, Tires, Axles, Doors and Windows, Compatible with All Major Brands for Ages 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Year Old Boys & Girls • Amazon Business $33.49 2 $66.98
Veatree 150 Pcs Magnetic Building Sticks Blocks Toys, Magnet Educational Toys Magnetic Blocks Sticks Stacking Toys Set for Kids and Adult, Non-Toxic Building Toy 3D Puzzle with Storage Bag • Amazon Business $23.80 2 $47.60
Kinetic Sand, Sandisfying Set with 2lbs of Sand and 10 Tools, for Kids Aged 3 and up • Amazon Business $14.97 2 $29.94
BONAOK Bluetooth Karaoke Wireless Microphone,3-in-1 Portable Handheld Karaoke Mic Speaker Machine Christmas Birthday Home Party for Android/iPhone/PC or All Smartphone Q37 • Amazon Business $28.99 1 $28.99
Creative Kids Flakes – 1400 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc Set for Safe, Fun, Creative Building – Educational STEM Construction Toy for Boys & Girls - Non Toxic – Ages 3+ • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
Dry Erase Pockets Reusable Sleeves by Office Orchid - Heavy Duty Oversized 10" x 14" - 30 Pockets Assorted Colors + 30 Pens + 500 Worksheets - School or Work - Sheet Protectors or Ticket Holders • Amazon Business $23.99 1 $23.99
Scotch Thermal Laminator, 2 Roller System for a Professional Finish, Use for Home, Office or School, Suitable for use with Photos (TL901X) • Amazon Business $20.75 1 $20.75
Coogam Wooden Mosaic Puzzle, 370PCS Shape Pattern Blocks with 8 Colors, Pixel Board Game STEM Montessori Toys Gift for Toddlers Kids Boys Girls Ages 4 5 6 7 Years Old • Amazon Business $19.98 1 $19.98
Watercolor Paint Sets For Kids and Adults - Bulk Pack of 24 Washable Watercolors Paints In 8 Colors - Perfect for Preschool Classroom , Children's Art School , Party Favors - Paintbrushes Included • Amazon Business $19.97 1 $19.97
100Sheets Newbested White Watercolor Paper Cold Press Cut Bulk Pack for Beginning Artists or Students. (10 x 7 Inch) (12 x 17 INCH) • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
Coogam Wooden Blocks Puzzle Brain Teasers Toy Tangram Jigsaw Intelligence Colorful 3D Russian Blocks Game STEM Montessori Educational Gift for Baby Kids (40 Pcs) • Amazon Business $7.98 2 $15.96
USATDD Wooden Geoboard Mathematical Manipulative Material Array STEM Block Geo Board Graphical Educational Toys with Pattern Flash Cards and Latex Bands Shape Puzzle Matrix 8x8 Brain Teaser for Kid • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
GEMEM 155 Pcs Wooden Pattern Blocks Set Geometric Shape Puzzle Kindergarten Classic Educational Montessori Tangram Toys for Kids Ages 4-8 with 24 Pcs Design Cards • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Kinetic Sand, Seashell Containers 8-Pack with 36oz Neon Pink, Blue, Green, Purple and Kinetic Beach Sand • Amazon Business $12.00 1 $12.00
STEAM Life Educational Speed Cube Set 3 Pack Magic Cube | Includes Speed Cubes 3x3, 2x2 Speed Cube, Pyramid Cube | Puzzle Cube Puzzles Bundle • Amazon Business $10.97 1 $10.97
Kinetic Sand The Original Moldable Sensory Play Sand, Green, 2 Pounds • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
SmartGames IQ Focus Cognitive Skill-Building Travel Game with Portable Case featuring 120 Challenges for Ages 8 - Adult • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
SmartGames IQ Stars, The Entry-Level IQ Game, a Travel Game for Kids and Adults, a Cognitive Skill-Building Brain Game - Brain Teaser for Ages 6 & Up, 120 Challenges in a Travel-Friendly Case. • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Kinetic Sand, Beach Day Fun Playset with Castle Molds, Tools, and 12 oz. of Kinetic Sand for Ages 3 and Up • Amazon Business $9.97 1 $9.97
Educational Insights Kanoodle | Brain Twisting 3-D Puzzle Game for Kids, Teens & Adults | Featuring 200 Challenges • Amazon Business $8.39 1 $8.39
Kinetic Sand The Original Moldable Sensory Play Sand, Purple, 2 Pounds • Amazon Business $7.97 1 $7.97
Paint Brushes Set 40 Pcs, Bulk Nylon Flat Hair Small Brush Acrylic Oil Watercolor Paint Artist Painting Kits for Children • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$786.85

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.80

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$828.65

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$146.23

Total project goal

$974.88

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$974.88

9 Donors

-$957.24

Donations toward project cost

-$815.90

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$141.34

match offer

-$15.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$12.75

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$2.25

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$2.64

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

View complete list Show less

Support your local school!

Donate directly to any school in the US. Your donation will go towards directly purchasing urgent supplies.

Find a local school

Project Activity

{"pmaHash":"","schoolCity":"Knoxville","showProjectRecommendations":true,"teachersOnPage":[7711441],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"TN","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"proposalId":5354098,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/starting-our-day-off-right/5354098/","verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":48,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Corum","isEquityFocus":false,"authorIds":{"7711441":{"owner":"Mrs. Corum","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[5354098],"proposalHash":"-704688766","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7711441_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y124&width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1609906492131","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":21705714,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":7711441,"schoolCounty":"Knox","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"TN","name":"Tennessee"}}