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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Melby from Cedaredge, CO is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Melby is requesting

Strengthen Those Hands

My students need 1 dressing frame, 2 sets of scissors, beads, 12 sets of tweezers and other supplies to build their fine motor skills to support their ability to write and use other school tools.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Melby's classroom raised $409

This project is fully funded

My Students

Do you remember playing with Lego's, creating crafts, using Lincoln Logs, and spending the day using your hands? Unfortunately many children go through their early years without these crucial experiences that provide them with the prerequisite fine motor skills for school and academic success.

I teach in a rural district in Colorado.

Over half of the elementary school's population qualify for free and reduced lunches. The district is also low on funds as is true of most schools in our country which makes it difficult to stay current with new technology. There is a large ELL population within the school district as well. Students are eager to learn and becoming even more excited and engaged when technology is involved. Within the low-income population many students go through the early years without the experiences and practice to build foundational skills. Students are lacking these skills and in turn face many obstacles and struggles in today's rigorous classroom designs.

My Project

The materials in this project include beads and laces, lacing boards, tweezers, scoop scissors, and boards where they are required to buckle, snap, lace, and tie. Students will be able to use these manipulative materials to not only gain fine motor strength but will build their manual dexterity as well. These are essential foundational skills that lead to success in the academic classroom. Students need to be able to use these muscles in their hands to complete a wide variety of tasks in the classroom. Most importantly, students need to be able to use these muscles effectively when writing. The act of stringing beads, lacing strings, fastening buckles, and using materials such as tweezers specifically target the small muscles needed to write. With the new rigorous curriculum designs being implemented in schools, students who are unable to use those muscles face many struggles.

Students that have missed out on the experiences of using their hands before coming to school are in desperate need of early intervention.

Being able to provide students with activities such as lacing beads, fastening buckles, tying laces, along with many others is crucial. Students who lack these skills not only struggle to use supplies such as scissors and crayons, but it is extremely cumbersome to work a pencil. Creating these experiences early is crucial to their success.

Ms. Melby Cedaredge Elementary School Grades PreK-2

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Cedaredge, CO View local requests

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

25 students impacted 13donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
AA330X - Dressing Frames - Complete Set • Lakeshore Learning Materials $59.99 1 $59.99
HH671 - Lacing Skills Learning Center • Lakeshore Learning Materials $39.95 1 $39.95
LL139 - Fine Motor Tweezer Tongs - Set of 4 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $4.99 7 $34.93
EE228 - Giant Alphabet Beads • Lakeshore Learning Materials $29.99 1 $29.99
LA809 - 1" Beads & Laces • Lakeshore Learning Materials $24.99 1 $24.99
HH544 - Best-Buy Beads and Laces • Lakeshore Learning Materials $24.99 1 $24.99
BD297 - Lace-A-Word Lowercase Beads • Lakeshore Learning Materials $19.99 1 $19.99
HH759 - Fine Motor Scissor Scoops - Set of 4 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $9.99 2 $19.98
EE607 - Easy-Grip Safety Tweezers - Set of 12 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $9.99 2 $19.98
TD341 - Indestructible Lacing Cards Set • Lakeshore Learning Materials $12.99 1 $12.99
PR811 - Craft Laces • Lakeshore Learning Materials $2.99 2 $5.98

Materials cost

$293.76

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $18.80

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.41

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$346.97

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$61.23

Total project goal

$408.20

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $408.20

10 Donors

-$404.72

Donations toward project cost

-$346.97

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$57.75

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$3.48

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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 Ms. Melby and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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