Nowlin Elementary School in Dearborn, Michigan on DonorsChoose

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We read together in small groups, use picture supports, act out parts of the story, and connect each book to sensory‑friendly activities. Some students enjoy listening to the story while holding a fidget or sitting in a calm space. Others love pointing to pictures, repeating key phrases, or helping turn the pages. Reading becomes a shared experience where every student can participate in a way that fits their needs.\r\n\r\nA few students are already showing a special connection to the new books. One student who usually avoids reading activities has been drawn to The Worrysaurus, pointing to the dinosaur's expressions and trying to name the feelings he sees. Another student laughs every time we read The Very Cranky Bear and enjoys acting out the characters' emotions with the class. These moments show how powerful the right books can be for helping students engage, communicate, and enjoy reading.","fullyFundedDate":1736542042993,"projectUrl":"project/updating-our-classroom-library/9031760/","projectTitle":"Updating our Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3669852_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1468204423450","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ebony-shaw"},{"teacherId":3669852,"projectId":9028899,"letterContent":"The new texts introduced several important skills and teaching strategies that are already helping me better support my students. The Reason I Jump gives insight into how autistic students experience communication, sensory input, and emotions, which helps me teach self‑regulation and expressive language with more empathy and clarity. You're Going to Love This Kid provides practical strategies for building inclusive routines, strengthening communication, and supporting social engagement. Learners on the Autism Spectrum offers evidence‑based approaches for teaching academic skills, structuring the environment, and supporting sensory needs. Together, these books help me introduce lessons on communication, independence, emotional regulation, and inclusive learning practices.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is a hands‑on, flexible experience. Students explore books through pictures, read‑alouds, guided discussions, and sensory‑friendly activities connected to our Lunar New Year unit. Some students prefer listening to stories while using sensory tools, while others enjoy looking at pictures and talking about what they see. Reading often happens in small groups or one‑on‑one so I can tailor instruction to each student's needs.\r\n\r\nA few students have been especially drawn to the new books. One student who typically avoids reading activities has been fascinated by the photos and personal stories in The Reason I Jump, pointing to pictures and asking questions. Another student enjoys when I share strategies from You're Going to Love This Kid during our routines—he responds well to the visual supports and communication techniques I learned from the text. These books are helping me understand my students more deeply, and my students are engaging with reading in new, meaningful ways.","fullyFundedDate":1736197246068,"projectUrl":"project/book-study/9028899/","projectTitle":"Book Study","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3669852_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1468204423450","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ebony-shaw"},{"teacherId":3669852,"projectId":9020694,"letterContent":"When our new storage drawers arrived, my students immediately began using them as part of their independent work station routine. Each drawer now holds a different activity connected to our current unit, which focuses on the Lunar New Year. Students rotate through tasks like counting red cards, matching Zodiac animals, and completing simple art‑based activities that help them build independence and confidence. The drawers give them a clear, predictable system that supports focus and reduces frustration.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stood out was when a student who usually needs a lot of prompting walked straight to the workstation, opened the correct drawer, and began working without assistance. Seeing him take ownership of his learning was a powerful reminder of how much structure and visual organization can help our students succeed.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were excited and curious. They opened the drawers, explored the space, and immediately began asking what activities would go inside. Several students started practicing opening and closing the drawers, showing how eager they were to use their new workstation.\r\n\r\nOur next steps involve expanding the activities inside the drawers to include more art and storytelling tasks connected to the Lunar New Year. Students will create simple Zodiac animal art pieces, sequence story cards, and complete independent counting and matching tasks. These new materials will continue helping them build independence, strengthen fine‑motor skills, and participate more confidently in our classroom routines.","fullyFundedDate":1735497545748,"projectUrl":"project/establishing-an-independent-work-station/9020694/","projectTitle":"Establishing an Independent Work Station","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3669852_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1468204423450","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ebony-shaw"},{"teacherId":3669852,"projectId":9020273,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students were able to explore the Lunar New Year through hands‑on, creative learning that truly brought the unit to life. As soon as the materials arrived, my class lit up with excitement — they immediately wanted to touch the ink pads, sort through the Zodiac animal sponges, and test out the coffee filters to see how the colors would blend. For a group of students who learn best through tactile experiences, these supplies opened the door to deeper engagement and understanding.\r\n\r\nWe used the materials during our Lunar New Year storytelling lessons, where students stamped Zodiac animals to respond to the characters and events in each story. The coffee filters became beautiful open‑ended art pieces that students decorated to represent lanterns, fireworks, and symbols of good fortune. One of my favorite moments was watching a student who normally hesitates during art activities proudly hold up her finished \"dragon lantern,\" explaining each color choice with confidence. The photo storage box is already filling up with their creations, and we plan to display them at the end of the unit so families can see the growth and joy behind each project.\r\n\r\nYour support didn't just provide art materials — it gave my students a meaningful cultural experience, a chance to express themselves, and tools that made learning feel exciting and accessible. 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About this school

Nowlin Elementary School is an urban public school in Dearborn, Michigan that is part of Dearborn Public School District. It serves 251 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.6:1. Its teachers have had 18 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

251 Students

20 Teachers

23600 Penn St

Dearborn, MI 48124 View local requests

http://www.dearbornschools.org

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Nowlin Elementary School to request what their students need.

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Nowlin Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mr. Hawkins

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Nowlin Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

11%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Nowlin Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jul 25, 2026

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