My students need basic hygiene items like toothbrushes, tooth paste, floss picks, shampoo, conditioner, hair lotion, brushes, and soap; some need new socks and underwear; others need ready-to-eat food to take home for after school, weekends.
Our class consists of two dozen uniquely energetic, creative, motivated six- and seven-year-old students, enjoying the epic adventure that is First Grade. Ours is a neighborhood school, serving the families of our city since 1953. Our class and school has an amazing group of children from a fabulously diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Unfortunately, high poverty is part of the experience for many of these young learners.
Children cannot meet their full potential if their physiological needs are not first being met; food security is one of our most basic needs, as are basic self-care and hygiene.
These wonderfully wiggly young learners deserve every advantage as we work together to improve achievement in reading, math, and science by focusing on the whole child - building confidence while fostering their creativity and curiosity.
Thank you for taking the time to read about how we can work together to provide for some of the basic needs of my students that are not otherwise being met.
My Project
In a high-poverty school, not every student starts on a level playing field. Before any real learning can take place, we need to make sure that every student's basic physiological and psychological needs are met-
They need to feel safe and secure; we can make sure they are safe and well-fed at school, but this project will help ensure those needs are being met outside the classroom as well!
Clean socks and underwear- we take those simple comforts for granted. Have you ever found yourself without a clean pair of socks? It's hard to focus on anything else! Try to get a big project done on an empty stomach? We just cannot meet our full potential unless our basic needs are being met.
I've selected a variety of ready to eat, high protein food choices that students can easily take home in their backpacks and prepare and eat on their own- after school or on the weekends. I've also selected some of the most basic needs in hygiene that we need in order to get ready for school in the morning, including brushes, combs, and picks for a variety of hair types, shampoos and conditioners, moisturizing hair lotions, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and those little floss picks for kiddos who just can't stand having a grown-up with a handful of floss try to floss their teeth. New socks and underwear- the most basic of basics- because we just can be our best when we aren't feeling clean, fed, warm, healthy, and SAFE.
More than three‑quarters 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
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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 Mrs. Wilson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
