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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Felland from Vista, CA is requesting reading nooks, desks & storage through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Felland is requesting

Slow Start Cabinet: Anxiety Reducing Stimuli for Survival Mode Kiddos

Help me give my students highly engaging, hands-on materials to help them begin their week with a "slow start" and ease their way into a learning environment free of stress, anxiety, and pressure.

  • $367 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Mrs. Felland

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Felland 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 are motivated scholars who come from impoverished backgrounds filled with trauma and heartache. Our school site population has one of the highest incidents of homelessness in North County, San Diego. Many of my kiddos live in shelters, foster care, multiple family dwellings, etc. They often sleep among their entire families in a single bedroom and are often sharing floor space at night. Regardless of these struggles, they come into my classroom every day with open minds and open hearts.

My Project

I watched my own family morning routines and realized that when we start our day in a softer way, it affects the tone of our entire day.

So, in a nutshell, that's what a soft start is: a gentle invitation into our classroom learning environment.

I was inspired to implement this concept from a fellow teacher's blog (Hello Fifth) who sold me on the idea of lowering student stress and anxiety through interactive play and STEAM-based activities. This concept appealed to me immediately because my students come from trauma filled backgrounds and often enter my door with the weight of the world on their little 8-year-old shoulders. Helping them to "empty their cup" and move out of survival mode into a place of learning has always been a challenge.

By allowing my students the gift of 10-15 minutes of soft start mornings every Monday, I give them an opportunity for choice, interaction, and fun! This simple shift has helped by improving students' overall opinions of school, lowering stress and anxiety, and also lends itself to positive attitudes and less burdened minds.

This funding would provide my classroom with a storage cabinet, storage bins, and the beginnings of interactive toys and games for students to independently choose and engage in. Chosen games include Legos, Uno, Mancala, and Geoboards for starters. As the year goes on I’ll continue to collect new items so that I can rotate activities and keep it fun and new.

Mrs. Felland Maryland Elementary School Grades 3-5

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. Felland

Vista, CA View local requests

Nearly all 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

25 students impacted 1donor

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
HouseinBox Office File Storage Metal Cabinet 3 Door Cupboard Locker Organizer Console Stand 3-in-1,Black (White) • Amazon Business $139.99 1 $139.99
ECR4Kids Scoop-Front Storage Bins, Easy-to-Grip Design Storage Cubbies, Kid Friendly and Built to Last, Pairs with ECR4Kids Storage Units, 10-Pack, Blue • Amazon Business $35.99 1 $35.99
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 Building Toys for Creative Play; Kids Creative Kit (484 Pieces) • Amazon Business $27.99 1 $27.99
Lekebaby Classic Baseplates Building Base for Building Bricks 100% Compatible with Major Brands-Baseplate 10" x 10", Pack of 6, Green • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Learning Resources 5-Inch Double-Sided Assorted Geoboard Shapes, Set of 6 Boards, Ages 5+ • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Mattel Games UNO: Classic (Tin Box) [Amazon Exclusive] • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Mancala for Kids • Amazon Business $8.76 1 $8.76

Materials cost

$254.70

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $23.31

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.82

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$311.83

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$55.03

Total project goal

$366.86

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $366.86

1 Donor

-$311.83

Donations toward project cost

-$311.83

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$55.03

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 Mrs. Felland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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