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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. L. from New York, NY is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. L. is requesting

A Space to Learn That Is Safe, Beautiful, and Good

My students need rugs; plants to help breathe in our highly polluted part of NYC (one block from the biggest highway on the east coast!), and games/puzzles to keep our play homework revolution going!

  • $1,472 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. L. for her next project!

Help Ms. L.

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. L. for her next project!

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

My students sometimes ask me, "Can we just do our math instead of recess?" When the learning is fun enough, the difference between the yard and the classroom becomes inconsequential. As an Expeditionary Learning school, our instruction is based on the principles of character, academic rigor, and high quality work. In the primary grades, we believe in honoring the development of the whole child, and infuse play and playfulness, music, and art into our learning throughout the day.

My school is a bilingual elementary school in Washington Heights, a diverse (though predominantly Latino) neighborhood in upper Manhattan.

My students are creative, kind, and culturally aware second graders. They can greet you in 5 different languages. They love to sing, meditate, and collaborate. My students learn in Spanish for half of each day, and in English for the other half. While some are learning Spanish, others are learning English -- every child is both a teacher and a learner. With all these wonderful attributes, it bears noting that we are a 95% free lunch public school in serious need of additional resources to provide the education we envision for our students!

My Project

Reggio Emilia schools in Italy are famous for the emphasis they place on "the classroom as the third teacher" – that is, on the environment as a key shaper of a child’s daily experience, and, therefore, her learning. One needs only a moment in a Reggio school to feel the difference between a space created with wood, cloth, and natural light, and the plastic, fluorescent environment we take as given in our public schools.

This project draws upon research by Reggio and EL Education’s "Characteristics of Primary Learners" to provide students with a calming, natural space to learn; plants to support a healthier learning environment; and games to expand our innovative play-homework program.

With woven rugs, paper lanterns, and sand timers, I hope to create a peaceful space that embodies the values of craftsmanship and quiet reflection that are central to our teaching – a place for learning that is “safe, beautiful, and good” (EL Education, Characteristic 3).

In Washington Heights, my students have few opportunities to experience the “order, beauty, and diversity of the natural world” (EL Education, Characteristic 7). Our air quality is among the worst in NYC, due to the close proximity of I-95. However, promising research shows that even a small collection of indoor plants can have outsized effects on air quality – and can create a sense of calm and clarity for over-stimulated young learners.

Finally, with the controversy surrounding homework, and the challenge of reducing screen time, play homework offers a unique opportunity to support developmentally appropriate activities at home. This program, piloted last year, needs an infusion of new games to support its expansion this year.

By honoring the characteristics of primary learners, this funding will provide a learning experience that is "safe, beautiful, and good" for the students who need it most.

Ms. L. Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning 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.

More about Ms. L.

New York, NY View local requests

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

21 students impacted 10donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Casual Handmade Braided Cotton Oval Area Rug • Amazon Business $265.79 1 $265.79
Cotton Craft - Hand Woven Reversible Jute & Cotton Multi Chindi Braid Rug - 8 Feet Round - This Rug is made from multi color re-cycled yarns, actual product may vary in color from the image shown • Amazon Business $147.99 1 $147.99
Post-it Notes, 4 x 4-Inches, Canary Yellow, Lined, 300-Sheets/Pad, 1-Pad/Pack • Amazon Business $3.99 20 $79.80
Set of 10 White Indoor/Outdoor Mini Oriental Style Nylon Lantern Plug-in String Festoon Lights with Warm White Bright Lights, Connectable, Best for Patios, Backyards, Parties, Weddings, and Landscape Decor • Amazon Business $14.99 5 $74.95
Applecreek ACD100 Dulcimer • Amazon Business $71.63 1 $71.63
GeoToys - Set of 6 GeoPuzzles - World Map Puzzle & Jigsaw Puzzle to Learn Countries of the World - Geography Game for Educational Fun • Amazon Business $59.99 1 $59.99
Luna Bazaar Premium Paper Lantern, Lamp Shade (24-Inch, Ivory) - Rice Paper Chinese/Japanese Hanging Decoration - For Home Decor, Parties, and Weddings • Amazon Business $21.00 2 $42.00
Cushion Grip Non-skid Area Rug Pad for 8-Feet Round Rug • Amazon Business $39.99 1 $39.99
The Original Gorilla Grip (TM) Non-Slip Area Rug Pad, Made In USA, Available in 3x5, 5x8, 4x6, 2x4, 2x8, 6x9, 8x10, 8x11, 9x12, 10x14, 12x15, Rounds and Squares, Extra Cushion, Locks Rugs In Place, Hard Floor Protector, 10 Year Guarantee, No Chemical Odor, Great As Drawer Liner. (8x11) • Amazon Business $39.99 1 $39.99
Continent Puzzle Combo Pack (171 Pieces in 5 Puzzles) • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
Latice Board Game (Standard Edition) • Amazon Business $22.99 1 $22.99
Monkeys Up - Educational Family Game - Fun for Kids and Adults 6 Years Plus • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
BOJIN Sea Blue Decor Hourglass Sand Timer - 15 Minute Classical Wood Frame • Amazon Business $17.55 1 $17.55
VIAHART Classic Sand Hourglass • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Winning Moves Tile Lock Scrabble • Amazon Business $14.98 1 $14.98
G.W. Schleidt 36005NA-G Sand Timer 5 Minute Green Sand in Natural Stand 6-Inch • Amazon Business $14.68 1 $14.68
Parcheesi Royal Edition • Amazon Business $14.59 1 $14.59
Bananagrams • Amazon Business $14.51 1 $14.51
Big Boggle • Amazon Business $13.85 1 $13.85
Chinese Checkers and Traditional Checkers • Amazon Business $13.12 1 $13.12
Sequence for Kids • Amazon Business $12.69 1 $12.69
Charades for Kids • Amazon Business $12.56 1 $12.56
Fantado Single Socket White Pendant Light Lamp Cord for Lanterns, 15FT, UL Listed by PaperLanternStore • Amazon Business $12.50 1 $12.50
Melissa & Doug USA Map 51 pcs Floor Puzzle • Amazon Business $12.44 1 $12.44
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden USA Map Puzzle • Amazon Business $11.76 1 $11.76
Twister Game • Amazon Business $11.39 1 $11.39
The Learning Journey Lift & Learn USA Map Puzzle • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Melissa & Doug Solar System 48 pcs Floor Puzzle • Amazon Business $10.95 1 $10.95
Double Six Jumbo Dominoes Set of 28 Black Case/Ivory Tiles • Amazon Business $10.89 1 $10.89
Melissa & Doug World Map Floor Puzzle, 33 Pcs, 2X3-Feet • Amazon Business $10.75 1 $10.75
Yahtzee to Go Travel Game 2014 • Amazon Business $9.14 1 $9.14
Clue Grab and Go Game • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
Connect 4 Grab and Go Game • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
Checkers • Amazon Business $7.76 1 $7.76
Melissa & Doug 60 Piece Land of Dinosaurs Jigsaw Puzzle • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
Checkers - Take 'N' Play Anywhere Game • Amazon Business $6.42 1 $6.42

Materials cost

$1,180.58

Vendor shipping charges

 $22.74

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$17.71

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,251.03

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$220.77

Total project goal

$1,471.80

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,471.80

8 Donors

-$1,122.00

Donations toward project cost

-$953.70

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$168.30

Matching donations from our partners

-$349.80

Match offers toward project cost

-$297.33

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$52.47

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. L. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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