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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Trayers from Houston, TX is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Trayers is requesting

Zen and the Art of Imagination Maintenance

My students need 19 art supplies including multicultural paints and paper, tempera paints, paintbrushes, collage materials, pots to decorate and blank hardcover books.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Trayers's classroom raised $474

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

Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge". Unfortunately, that doesn't show up on standardized tests, so many schools limit the ways their students can be creative. I teach a Gifted/Talented first grade classroom and want to give them many opportunities to show their creativity.

My students come from an area of low economic status.

For many English is a second language. They are bright, precocious, and definitely keep me on my toes. They are the future inventors, artists, and architects of our society. Some of them have never held a paintbrush before, much less been asked to create a masterpiece. In any classroom, but particularly in a GT classroom, these kids need to have practice honing the skills of creativity. We want them to be creative in their writing, but it can show up in so many more places than that. These students have re-created Van Gogh's Starry Starry Night and remember that from last year. They are so engaged by these activities that the lessons will last a lifetime.

My Project

We spend a lot of time focusing on the academics of reading, writing and math. But for many of them, the time they are most engaged is when the art supplies come out. I like to use art in instruction as a lesson in history, studying past artists, but also as a different way for the children to show what they've learned. If they can invent a new insect out of pasta, I can look at that project and see if they have retained what we learned in our unit-they have 6 legs, 3 body parts and come from eggs. The students invented a new kind of bug, but had to have those attributes in their design. It's very exciting for them. Every week we like to do a different project, but that gets expensive for me as the teacher because art supplies are not something covered by school resource money. They make dioramas comparing characters in books, self-portraits, and this year I'd like them to write and illustrate their autobiographies.

Creativity is rarely found in our classrooms anymore.

It's sad but true. I don't want that to happen in my class. My students would love to have the opportunity to create new masterpieces as another way to show what they have learned. They have such vivid imaginations and you will be responsible for helping them be able to foster that creativity and enjoy learning again.

Ms. Trayers Roosevelt 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.

Houston, TX View local requests

Nearly all 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 21donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
AA774 - Blank Hardcover Book - Set of 10 • Lakeshore Learning $29.95 3 $89.85
AA765 - Collage Pots - Set of 15 • Lakeshore Learning $19.95 2 $39.90
FF534 - Tissue Paper Squares • Lakeshore Learning $9.95 1 $9.95
LC564 - Felt • Lakeshore Learning $12.95 1 $12.95
LA716 - Hair-Colors Crinkle Strips • Lakeshore Learning $9.95 1 $9.95
BJ2580 - Wiggly Eyes • Lakeshore Learning $4.95 1 $4.95
KW5851 - Art Tissue Paper - 100 Sheets • Lakeshore Learning $9.95 1 $9.95
LC383 - People Colors® Craft Paper • Lakeshore Learning $6.95 1 $6.95
TS127 - Jumbo Tempera Painters • Lakeshore Learning $10.95 1 $10.95
TA4412 - White Drawing Paper - 12" x 18" • Lakeshore Learning $16.50 2 $33.00
TA4409 - White Drawing Paper - 9" x 12" • Lakeshore Learning $8.90 2 $17.80
FE219 - Watercolor Paintbrushes - Set of 144 • Lakeshore Learning $7.99 1 $7.99
AB451 - Painting Bowls - Set of 10 • Lakeshore Learning $8.99 1 $8.99
LA820X - Lakeshore No-Spill Paint Cups - 10-Color Set • Lakeshore Learning $9.95 1 $9.95
JJ304 - Washable Fingerpaint - Six-Pack • Lakeshore Learning $8.99 1 $8.99
PX2020 - Fully Washable Liquid Tempera Assortment • Lakeshore Learning $24.50 1 $24.50
BA918 - All-Purpose Paintbrush Assortment - Set of 30 • Lakeshore Learning $16.95 1 $16.95
GG350 - Washable People Colors® Liquid Tempera Assortment • Lakeshore Learning $27.50 1 $27.50
JJ419 - Washable Tempera Paint Pack • Lakeshore Learning $10.99 1 $10.99

Materials cost

$362.06

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$402.49

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$71.03

Total project goal

$473.52

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $473.52

19 Donors

-$473.52

Donations toward project cost

-$402.49

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$71.03

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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 Ms. Trayers and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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