Ms. Mari Castro's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 9

• Cha-Ching! Empowering Sped Students With Financial Literacy Tools

  Funded Oct 25, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous support! Your contributions to our project are truly appreciated and will make a meaningful difference in our classroom.

  The cash register and play money will be invaluable tools for teaching financial literacy to my students. With the cash register, they’ll get hands-on experience in learning to make transactions, understand basic math in real-life contexts, and build confidence in handling money. The play money will allow them to practice essential money management skills like counting bills, making change, and recognizing values—all critical steps in developing independence.

  Thanks to your donations, my students will be able to engage with these concepts in a fun, interactive way that will help them build practical skills for the future. I’m so grateful for your support in making this possible!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

• Crafting Calm: Enhancing Mental Health Through Creativity

  Funded Sep 24, 2024

  I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donations towards the arts and crafts tools for our classroom. Thanks to your support, my students now have access to creative resources through the Cricut machine that will undoubtedly enhance their learning experience in exciting and meaningful ways.

  Arts and crafts play a significant role in boosting the self-confidence of my special education students. By engaging in hands-on activities, they are able to express themselves creatively, helping to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm. Having the ability to create something tangible, something they can be proud of, brings them immense joy and pride.

  With the Cricut, my students can now create a wide variety of projects that not only bring out their artistic skills but also provide a tremendous sense of accomplishment. From personalized cards to vibrant decorations, each craft they complete reinforces their confidence and inspires them to continue growing.

  Thank you for being a part of their journey. Your support makes a lasting impact on their creativity, mental health, and overall well-being.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

• Tech & Touch: Boosting Brilliance with Screen & Scene

  Funded Sep 1, 2024

  I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your incredible generosity and support through DonorsChoose. Your contributions will have a lasting impact on my students, especially as we continue to provide individualized instruction and tools to enhance their overall learning experience.

  The touchscreen monitor you’ve provided will be an invaluable resource in my special education classroom. For my students, especially those with specific learning needs, interactive technology like this helps to engage multiple senses in the learning process. It offers them the ability to access learning materials through touch and visual stimuli, making lessons more engaging and accessible. The students can interact with content at their own pace, which empowers them to take ownership of their learning and builds their confidence.

  Additionally, the document camera you’ve made possible will greatly enhance how we present and explore content. By displaying worksheets, books, or manipulatives in real-time, I can better cater to individual learning needs by breaking down lessons step-by-step for each student. This is especially important in my classroom, where each student’s path to success is unique, and visual supports are critical for comprehension. The document camera will allow me to provide clear, differentiated instruction that helps ensure no student is left behind.

  Because of your generous donation, my students will have access to tools that support their growth both academically and functionally. Your impact will not only be felt in their academic progress but also in their overall confidence and engagement in learning. Thank you once again for believing in us and for helping make a difference in our classroom!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.

• I-Learn, I-Play, I Request: i-Pads!

  Funded Aug 16, 2024

  Thank you so much for your incredible support in funding our iPad project! This technology will truly make a world of difference in our classroom. For our students with special needs, the iPad is more than just a device; it’s a gateway to personalized learning experiences tailored to their unique needs. The apps and tools available will allow us to differentiate lessons in ways that were not possible before, ensuring that each student can engage with the material in a way that suits them best.

  The iPad will also bring so much fun and enjoyment into our classroom, turning learning into an exciting adventure. Whether it’s using interactive apps, participating in hands-on activities, or exploring new concepts through multimedia, the iPad will help our students stay motivated and eager to learn.

  Your generosity has given us a tool that will enrich our learning environment and bring joy to each child’s educational journey. We are deeply grateful for your support and for believing in the potential of every student in our classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.

• Calming Center

  Funded May 3, 2022

  Thank you very much for the generous donations you have given to my class. The materials and equipment we received for my calming center helped not only the students but all persons in the classroom- preparation, instruction, and intervention-wise.

  When my student saw the materials that they can use, they were overjoyed and excited! I felt that they knew that those items and materials can help them regulate their sensory problems and can ease their tension when agitated and dysregulated. Seeing them excited makes my teacher's heart grow with deep gratitude that I made a step to make this project come to life. Paraprofessionals and support providers also shared their excitement about using the equipment and materials as those are helpful during instruction and intervention.

  We have set up a system where students can be in our calming center and use different materials that can help them overall and use the space to keep calm and regulated so they can be more engaging and productive in class. I thank you all for supporting my project! Until next time.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 11 other donors.

• Let Us Handle That Candle

  Funded Nov 30, 2022

  We appreciate your generosity in helping us with our project. My students will be excited to know they will have the opportunity to learn to make candles and run a potential business which will result in a skill they could build on for a future career. I could not provide this type of opportunity without donors like you.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 6 other donors.

• Work Space - Work Station

  Funded Aug 1, 2022

  Thank you very much for the donation you have given to my class project. Having these supplies and a to-go working station will mean so much to our students.

  Teaching them how to organize must start with the basic and foundational skills so they can practice them in their daily lives. Having a designated workstation in the classroom where they can be stationed with equipped materials needed enables them to practice organization through sorting, categorizing, labeling, and being neat at their working station.

  The workstation makes it easier to collaborate with others and helps students increase productivity and planning.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

• Teacher Pay Teacher Resources

  Funded Apr 7, 2022

  Thank you for your generosity in helping me fund this project.

  The teacher pay teacher gift cards will help me a lot in providing supplemental learning activities for my amazing students! There are a lot of activities available in the teacher pay teacher that can assign individually, diad, or via small group instructions depending on the level of the students. With my diverse student population, I can simply get individualized resources in there so that they can practice their skills both at home and at school. I can print it out, or assign it online- depending on the learning preferences and what works best for my students. Again, thank you very much for your support of my project. Your simple gesture will really come a long way!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose community & an Anonymous Partner and 4 other donors.

• Cook and Clean: Getting Ready to Rock This School Year!

  Funded Aug 30, 2022

  "I want to express my appreciation for your generosity in support of my project campaign. As we get ready to rock this school year, your personal commitment is incredibly helpful. Your support means so much to me, but even more to my students who will have the tools needed to stay committed and foster their creativity in cooking. Thank you from all of us! We are grateful for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Mari Castro