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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Elam from Nashville, TN is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Elam is requesting

Getting a Grip on School

My students need games, toys, materials, and supports to strengthen their fine motor skills.

  • $527 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Elam

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

My Students

Independence is a learned set of skills. One of the many skills that a child must master to become fully independent is the use of his or her hands. Help me put things in my students' hands that will build strength and independence!

My students are vibrant, inquisitive and busy learners.

They are 3 & 4 years old and they are excited to be in school! For most of my students, this is their first time to being in a school setting. We are learning about our classroom rules and routines, practicing using new types of materials, and exploring the new world around us. Our classroom is blended, meaning that half of our students have special needs. Those needs vary greatly across our classrooms. And many of our students, peers included, are working on growing their fine motor skills.

My Project

The school year and classroom environment has placed many new challenging situations in our students' daily lives. Buttoning pants, clasping belts, holding pencils, and manipulating shoelaces are new challenges for most of our students, as they are new to the independence that school requires. This project is important because it will help every student in our class. These materials will allow us to practice dressing skills, writing skills, fine motor/finger isolation, and many other necessary movements to gain full control of our hands.

Whether a student is working on being able to button his or her pants without help or write their name from memory, the materials included in this project will help each child in our class strengthen his or her fine motor skills.

Our students will gain independence and grow their confidence at being self-sufficient. The materials and tools in this project will truly empower every child in our class.

Ms. Elam KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary School Grades PreK-2

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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. Elam

Nashville, TN 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

16 students impacted 6donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Super Snow Classroom Kit • Kaplan Early Learning Company $24.95 1 $24.95
Touch & Feel Puzzles (Set of 4) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $47.95 1 $47.95
Eggspression • Kaplan Early Learning Company $24.95 1 $24.95
Rubbing Plates Shapes • Kaplan Early Learning Company $14.95 1 $14.95
Eco Friendly Beehives • Kaplan Early Learning Company $27.95 1 $27.95
Stetrotm Pencil Grip (36 count package) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $9.95 1 $9.95
Kaplan Kolors Finger Paint 8 Ounce (Set of 6) • Kaplan Early Learning Company $10.95 1 $10.95
SMART Start Story Paper Grades K-1 • Kaplan Early Learning Company $17.95 1 $17.95
KIT BUTTON TREE • Abilitations, Inc. $17.66 1 $17.66
LACES FOR SHOE TYING MADE SIMPLE 50'' PAIR/2 • Abilitations, Inc. $9.49 1 $9.49
PAPER JOURNAL HI-WRITE BEGINNER 1 • Abilitations, Inc. $9.49 1 $9.49
PUZZLE SPEECH SOUND • Abilitations, Inc. $37.99 1 $37.99
BOOK BRAIN GYM SIMPLE ACTIVITIES • Abilitations, Inc. $13.58 1 $13.58
LOOPERS LACE TRAINING SNEAKERS • Abilitations, Inc. $23.74 1 $23.74
RING EXPLORER • Abilitations, Inc. $39.13 1 $39.13
SCREEN STAMP AND SEE SCREEN • Abilitations, Inc. $28.49 1 $28.49
BOOK SENSATIONAL ALPHABET • Abilitations, Inc. $31.34 1 $31.34

Materials cost

$390.51

Vendor shipping charges

$21.09

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.86

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$447.46

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$78.96

Total project goal

$526.42

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$526.42

4 Donors

-$526.42

Donations toward project cost

-$447.46

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$78.96

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

View complete list Show less

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Project Activity

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