Help Students in South Los Angeles

Funded Nov 7, 2024

I want to start by sincerely thanking you for supporting my classroom through your generosity on DonorsChoose. Because of you, my students — all of whom are on the alternate curriculum and have varying abilities and communication styles — now have access to new tools that are making a world of difference in how they learn, play, and grow.

The day the materials arrived was truly special. My students, most of whom are non-verbal or minimally verbal, were immediately drawn to the colorful farm animal counters, the calming sensory tubes, the educational manipulatives, the Legos, and the bright, soft bean bag. One moment that stands out to me was when I unboxed the sensory tubes during morning meeting. Several students leaned in close to watch as the glitter and beads swirled inside. One student, who is often anxious during transitions, picked up a tube and rocked in his seat, calm and focused in a way I hadn't seen before.

The farm animal counters have become a classroom favorite during math rotations. We use them to practice sorting by color, shape, and animal type, and to work on one-to-one correspondence and basic counting. One student who often avoids structured table work now eagerly sits at the math station, choosing the green animals and lining them up carefully as we count together. The tangible, colorful pieces make abstract concepts feel real and accessible for them.

The bean bag has become a cozy retreat in our calm corner, where students can go when they need a sensory break or quiet time to reset. One student who frequently needs help regulating emotions now independently walks over to the bean bag, squeezes a sensory tube, and takes deep breaths before returning to the group. This simple tool has given him — and several others — a safe space to self-regulate and return to learning.

Right now, we are working on a unit about "Our Community" using our Unique Learning System curriculum. The next step for my students is to create a class book about community helpers. We plan to take photos of the students holding different manipulative items — like the farm animals when talking about farmers, Legos to represent construction workers, and sensory tubes for scientists (since they're used for observation). Each student will help label their photo or answer simple "who" or "what" questions, and we will turn this into a book that they can read and revisit.

Your kindness has made my classroom feel more alive, more engaging, and more inclusive. You haven't just provided materials — you've given my students tools that spark curiosity, communication, and joy. Thank you for investing in them. We couldn't do this without you!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Avalos