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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Francois-Smith from Coral Gables, FL is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Francois-Smith is requesting

Flying Drones + Gardening = Proven Results

My students need drones and drone batteries to continue building a class structure which promotes positive student outcomes.

  • $309 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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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

I had the privilege of teaching and learning with the most incredible boys this past school year and I would like to share their story with you in hopes that you will be compelled to help me raise funds to continue implementing classroom efforts which contributed to the academic and behavioral success of these boys this past school year. This past school year I had 9 boys in a combined class of 6th and 7th graders ages ranging from 11 to 16 years old.

We ended the 2017-2018 school year with proven results!

Each of my boys improved academic grades by at least one letter grade in each subject area, decreased the number of the referrals they receive in a school year, increased their involvement in school clubs and activities, experienced increased awareness and obtained additional coping strategies on issues impacting pre-teens, decreased physical restraints, and experienced increased parental involvement in school activities! I literally watched my boys transform into model students, high achievers, empathetic problem solvers, capable of forming healthy relationships, accepting responsibility for their actions good or bad and taking ownership of their learning!

My Project

What do you do when the anticipated outcome is accomplished? You keep doing the stuff that worked. After reflecting on what worked this past school year, I concluded that I want to continue doing what worked.

When I reflect on our year I have to admit that two main things helped my boys.

A Safety Monitor at our school decided to teach the boys how to fly drones every other day as a class curriculum. He paid for the drones, batteries and tee-shirts out of pocket. At the end of the school year, each boy took home their drone for the summer. Initially, some boys were terrified to try something new and some were aggressive in flying, banging the drones against walls and trees. In watching the boys fly, we concluded that flying the drones taught the boys temperament and discipline. Our motto for flying the drones was “If you can control that device in your hand, then you can control your emotions, your behavior, and the outcome of your decisions good or bad.” In addition, a Science Teacher gave my boys a garden plot where we planted tomatoes, broccoli, basil, brussel sprouts, bell peppers, onions and sun flowers. Every other day the boys would water and fertilize their plot. The boys experienced planting seeds, maintaining and grooming them, watching them grow, and then picking and eating them! The Science teacher retired and left us with about 8 garden plots to tend to. The Safety Monitor will continue the drone activity with the boys. However, I would like to obtain funding for additional drones and drone batteries so that the security monitor does not have to spend money out of pocket.

Ms. Francois-Smith Ponce De Leon Middle School Grades 6-8

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. Francois-Smith

Coral Gables, FL 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

15 students impacted 6donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
REALACC H36 Mini Quadcopter Drone 2.4G 4CH 6 Axis Headless Mode Remote Control UFO Nano Quadcopter RC Toy RTF Mode 2 (Blue) • Amazon Business $17.99 11 $197.89
REALACC H36 Mini Quadcopter Drone 2.4G 4CH 6 Axis Headless Mode Remote Control UFO Nano Quadcopter RC Toy RTF Mode 2 (Blue) • Amazon Business $17.99 1 $17.99
6PCS 150mah upgrade Battery and 1to6 Charger for POKE FPV Eachine E010 JJRC H36 GoolRC T36 NIHUI NH010 Rc Quadcopter Drone Spare Parts • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99

Materials cost

$228.87

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$262.30

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$46.29

Total project goal

$308.59

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $308.59

5 Donors

-$242.00

Donations toward project cost

-$205.70

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$36.30

match offer

-$66.59

Match offer toward project cost

-$56.60

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$9.99

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Francois-Smith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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