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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Szalko from Berwyn IL is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Szalko is requesting

Storytelling: Bringing Stories to Life

My students need puppets to retell and create both fiction and nonfiction stories. This will boost engagement and develop necessary language skills for all learners. After all, Kindergarten students are all English Language Learners!!

  • $309 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

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 Students

I entered this school year questioning if I could be successful at teaching Kindergarten. Previously I had spent a decade teaching 4th grade. When I was offered Kindergarten last year I most definitely was surprised. I took a long weekend talking with my family, colleagues, and current and former principal. Everyone I spoke with thought Kindergarten was a perfect fit, but I still entered the school year questioning my decision. As the year progressed, I fell deeper and deeper in love with Kindergarten. My current group of students plays a huge part of my love for this age group. They make me laugh, keep me on my toes, make me proud and most importantly remind me why I chose this profession in the first place.

This particular group of children are energetic, love to tell stories, and are eager to learn.

I have a group of students that literally run into the classroom each day and surround me wanting to tell me all about EVERYTHING. Watching them go from learning letters to reading books has been such an incredible experience. They have made this one of the best journeys of my career.

My Project

I carefully selected puppets that would allow the students to engaged in both fiction and non-fiction literature. They will provide the students with an opportunity to move and speak while continuing to practice their developing reading skills. The students will also be able to create their own stories using the puppets. Students can easily share their stories with their classmates in a new and fun way.

The puppets chosen were carefully selected because they are common animals found in traditional literature and stories that we use as "star books" in our reading curriculum.

I have already purchased many puppets using my own money and I have already seen a dramatic change in my students’ engagement with stories.

Mrs. Szalko
Grades PreK-2

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Folkmanis Screaming Goat Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $56.68 1 $56.68
Folkmanis Timber Wolf Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $32.52 1 $32.52
Folkmanis Snowy Owl Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $28.77 1 $28.77
Folkmanis Dutch Rabbit Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $21.27 1 $21.27
Folkmanis Tortoise Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $19.98 1 $19.98
Folkmanis Orange Tabby Kitten Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $16.25 1 $16.25
Folkmanis Funny Frog Hand Puppet • Amazon Business $16.17 1 $16.17
Folkmanis Mini Cardinal Finger Puppet • Amazon Business $9.03 1 $9.03
Folkmanis Mini Hummingbird Finger Puppet • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Folkmanis Mini Robin Finger Puppet • Amazon Business $7.97 1 $7.97
Folkmanis Mini Monarch Butterfly Finger Puppet • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99
Folkmanis Mini Bat Finger Puppet • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$228.61

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$262.04

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$46.24

Total project goal

$308.28

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $308.28

9 Donors

-$306.52

Donations toward project cost

-$262.04

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$44.48

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$1.76

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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Project Activity

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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. Szalko and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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