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!

Mrs. Kushner from Evanston, IL is requesting professional development through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Kushner is requesting
Professional development

Engaging Learners Through Hands-on Making

I need funding to attend this professional development so I can learn about new maker technologies and create lessons to bring back to my school and community.

  • $2,682 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Kushner for her next project!

Help Mrs. Kushner

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Kushner for her next project!

My Students

I have been teaching Media Arts for almost 19 years. As a tech enthusiast, I am always looking to expand what my students are able to do by providing them a wide range of opportunities to meet their diverse learning styles and interests.

Students' favorite part of my class is bringing their unique digital designs to life using machines such as the laser cutter, 3D printer, or vinyl cutter.

Maker education has changed the way my students learn, giving them hands on problem solving techniques that allow them to express their ideas through a variety of media. Often students who struggle in other subject areas thrive in my class because of the hands on, collaborative nature of making.

My Project

I'd like to go to this professional development opportunity so I can meet future collaborators and colleagues who are just as passionate about using maker technologies in the classroom as I am! Because I am the sole Media Arts teacher in my building, I am often the one bringing innovative tech to my school and district.

However, innovation does not happen in isolation-- teachers need to share ideas, try new things, and be exposed to new ways of seeing and doing in order to expand their practice.

The Maker Educator Collective offers a range of professional development in everything from robotics and micro controllers to wearable tech and laser cutting. I hope to learn by tinkering and creating during this professional development, then take my experiences and bring them back to my students in the form of hands-on, problem-based learning challenges.

Specifically, I'd like to bring back more lessons for students on creating with wood, 3D printing, circuits, and microbits. Using ideas from the last PD I did with the Maker Educator Collective, my 8th graders made light boxes using wood, LEDs that they soldered, and acrylic which they created laser cut designs for using Photoshop and Illustrator. This project was very popular, built a range of skills in design and problem solving, and engaged many of my hands-on learners who struggle in other subject areas.

Maker projects like these have also been a great way to build community in my classroom. As I explore new methods of making and teaching, I look forward to planning a variety of ways for students to engage in problem solving and design thinking together, building empathy and community.

Mrs. Kushner Chute Middle School Grades 6-8

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 Mrs. Kushner

Evanston, IL 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

675 students impacted 5donors

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 Mrs. Kushner is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Component Company Total
Trip package Pathfinders Institute: Maker Educator Collective Winter Bootcamp (Updated). $2,216.00

Trip cost

$2,216.00

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$33.24

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$2,279.24

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$402.22

Total project goal

$2,681.46

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $2,681.46

4 Donors

-$2,342.64

Donations toward project cost

-$1,998.74

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$343.90

match offer

-$330.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$280.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$49.50

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$8.82

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 Mrs. Kushner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IL","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":3,"name":"Middle School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/engaging-learners-through-hands-on-makin/4692616/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":675,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Kushner","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1389686747","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"Evanston","teachersOnPage":[2511341],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":4692616,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"2511341":{"owner":"Mrs. Kushner","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[4692616],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2511341_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1578035422415","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":20471044,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NDMwODM3Nw==","NzA2MDczOQ==","MTc5NDU4NQ==","Njg2Njg3Ng==","Mzc0MDYyNg=="],"teacherId":2511341,"schoolCounty":"Cook","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IL","name":"Illinois"}}