You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

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

See what Ms. Calhoun is requesting

Cultivating Independent Minds With Independent Work Stations

My students need Versatiles and storage pockets for independent work stations that will challenge their young minds.

  • $424 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Calhoun

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

My Students

Hello!

I'm a 5th grade English and Language Arts teacher with a wide variety of students.

I have English language learners, English as a second language, and special education all included in my group of 45 students (two different classes).

My school is also a Title One school, meaning that most students are on free or reduced lunch. Within that dynamic, Hurricane Harvey hit our school community hard, and many families are still picking up their pieces (and will be for a while).

My Project

Versatiles are a tool for workstations that are easily self-guided by students. The students answer questions from a reading passage and place tiles in the spots on their answer board that they have decided have the correct answer. After, they flip the tiles over to reveal a (solved) puzzle. If the puzzle isn't correct, they students must go back and review their answers. Not only do Versatiles reinforce learning, but they also tap into the creative part of our brains - how to make a puzzle work with the proper information.

Also, differentiated instruction allows me to better reach my students where they are.

Versatiles are designed for differentiated instruction. In the vast range of reading levels in my classroom, the 4th and 5th grade kits will be a stretch or perfect level for most students. They will be able to work in pairs, groups, or alone, but they will not always need a teacher over their shoulder. This will help build independence - a skill all students must practice!

While I am working with other groups and individuals, some students will be able to utilize the Versatiles. In a situation that feels like a game, my students will be actively learning and practicing reading comprehension. A special benefit is that some of the passages are science, which helps reinforce the work of my partner teacher! The heavy duty folder pocket chart will allow the students to store all their independent workstation work in one convenient place, which makes for smoother and less teacher-led transitions.

Ms. Calhoun Jewel Askew Elementary School Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Calhoun

Houston, TX View local requests

More than half 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

45 students impacted 1donor

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
VersaTiles Literacy Workbook and Answer Case (Grade 4) • Amazon Business $29.95 5 $149.75
VersaTiles Literacy Workbook and Answer Case (Grade 5) • Amazon Business $29.95 5 $149.75
Heavy Duty Storage Pocket Chart with 30 Pockets, 5 Over Door Hangers included, Hanging Wall File Organizer by Hippo Creation - Organize Your Assignments, Files, Scrapbook Papers & More (Black) • Amazon Business $25.99 1 $25.99

Materials cost

$325.49

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.88

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$360.37

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$63.59

Total project goal

$423.96

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $423.96

1 Donor

-$423.96

Donations toward project cost

-$360.37

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$63.59

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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. Calhoun and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"TX","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/cultivating-independent-minds-with-indep/2811933/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":45,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Calhoun","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"920804046","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"Houston","teachersOnPage":[4809867],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":2811933,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"4809867":{"owner":"Ms. Calhoun","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2811933],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4809867_272x272.jpg?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505797747697","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":19,"teacherChallengeId":21007238,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":4809867,"schoolCounty":"Harris","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"TX","name":"Texas"}}