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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman from Waukegan, IL is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman is requesting

Young Authors and Illustrators: Creative Writing in the Classroom

My students need blank books, flair pens, and colored pencils to create their own books.

  • $200 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman for her next project!

Help Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman 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

I recently switched positions to become a fourth grade teacher. In my previous position, I worked with these students when they were in second and third grade. I have watched them grow into responsible and caring individuals that support each other.

My fourth graders are bursting with curiosity and the will to learn as much as they can.

They are strong willed and filled with personality. Although they are chatty, they are often helping each other learn and asking questions.

My students attend a high poverty school with Title I services. English language learners make up half of our student population. What our school lacks in resources, we make up for in determination to succeed.

My Project

I am a firm believer that children need to be given opportunities to be creative. Too often they are not allowed to think outside the box because they are given a writing prompt or a research topic that guides their thinking instead of giving them a blank slate. These blank books would be blank slates for them. I have no plans for these blank books besides allowing my students to create, write, and draw their own creative stories about the topics they choose. I will use writing workshop time to help students through the writing process. The students will also have their peers for assistance.

Student ownership is a key to learning.

These books will be something each student creates from start to finish using their own ideas, words, and illustrations. I hope to show that some tasks take longer than others and that perseverance pays off in the end. Each student will receive two blank books for the school year. They will write their final drafts in the books using the flair pens and illustrate their book using the colored pencils.

I will ask the students to donate one of their books to our library to showcase student authors. I hope their books will inspire other students to write more.

Mrs. Pociecha-Sparkman John S Clark 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. Pociecha-Sparkman

Waukegan, 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

28 students impacted 1donor

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Edupress - Blank Book • Teachers' School Supply $1.29 60 $77.40
Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point, Limited Edition Tropical & Assorted Colors, 24 Pack • Amazon Business $20.02 1 $20.02
Crayola 50ct Long Colored Pencils (68-4050) Pack Of 2 • Amazon Business $16.82 1 $16.82
Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point, Black, Box of 12 • Amazon Business $7.56 2 $15.12

Materials cost

$129.36

Vendor shipping charges

 $8.51

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$1.94

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$169.81

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$29.97

Total project goal

$199.78

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $199.78

1 Donor

-$199.78

Donations toward project cost

-$169.81

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.97

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Pociecha-Sparkman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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