This week, we’re helping two elementary-school teachers planning literacy projects: one teaches special ed students in Mississippi, and the other, English learners in Pennsylvania. We hope that readers who support quality public school education will help by sharing or supporting our featured projects.
The Inoculation Project is an ongoing, volunteer effort to crowdfund science, math, and literacy projects for public schools in low-income neighborhoods. As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that facilitates tax-deductible donations to specific, vetted projects in public schools.
Both of our projects this week are literacy projects for students whose path is becoming even more difficult in these worrisome times.
This is a new project for us. Mrs. Ables teaches 5th-grade special education in a mid-Mississippi town. She needs an extensive list of supplies to support her efforts to help her students with reading.
PROJECT #1
Resources: Help me give my students a classroom laminator and essential reading supplies to support their growth as confident, skilled readers.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Kosciusko Upper Elementary School, Kosciusko, Mississippi
Total: $463.56
Still Needed: $196.07 $116.66
Project description by Mrs. Ables: My 5th-grade special education students are bright, eager learners who face unique challenges in reading. Many struggle with decoding, fluency, and comprehension, making it difficult to keep up with their peers in the general education classroom. Despite these challenges, they are determined to grow as readers, and I want to provide them with the tools to succeed. With the right resources, my students can build confidence, stay engaged, and develop the skills they need to become independent readers.
I am requesting essential classroom supplies such as a classroom laminating machine, highlighters, red pens, folders, pencil grips, and reading trackers to help students make meaningful notes, follow along, and actively engage with reading materials.
The goal of this project is to create a structured and supportive environment where my students can thrive. By providing them with the right tools, I can foster their independence, improve their comprehension, and make reading an enjoyable experience. My students are special because they work incredibly hard to overcome their learning difficulties, and they never give up. With your support, I can give them the resources they need to feel confident and capable on their reading journey. Thank you for helping my students unlock the power of literacy!
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
In case you wondered, here’s how highlighter pens are made.
We did good work on this project last week! Mrs. Mikovich teaches elementary school in Erie, in the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania. She needs materials to help her English language learners.
PROJECT #2
Resources: Help me give my students books and picture cards that will promote their understanding and use of the English language.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Harding Elementary School, Erie, Pennsylvania
Total: $398.81
Still Needed: $299.40 $244.99
Project description by Mrs. Mikovich: My students come to me from all over the world. They are from Syria, Afghanistan, Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, China, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Bangladesh. Although they are all unique, the thing they all have in common is a strong desire to learn English so they can make new friends, learn math, social studies and science, learn to read and write, and navigate their new surroundings in the United States. Most of my students are so new to our country that they speak no English at all. I begin by teaching them survival words like bathroom and water, and then move on to more complex words and phrases.
Having realistic pictures and books they can relate to will help my students make connections between spoken and written words and the world around them.
I plan to use the picture cards as a way to prompt my students to ask and answer questions using English words and phrases. I have found that using accurate and interesting pictures helps my students to make real connections between the words that I am teaching them and the things we are talking about. Once they have the connection we are able to expand their use of the words. Pictures are a useful tool when teaching the components of language, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Picture books with stories my students can relate to also help me to create opportunities for my students to engage with the English language. They can use their English listening skills to understand the story being read to them. They can use their English speaking skills to answer my questions about the story or to ask me questions about what is happening in the book. My more advanced English learners can practice reading in English.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
This lovely story is among those requested.
Our project #1 from last week was completed on its third week with us, largely through the efforts of our readers. Many thanks to everyone!
Project #1, Dinosaur STEM and Reading Materials for Urban Education Students: Mr. Aronson wanted his Pennsylvania fourth graders to get an immersive dinosaur experience including Lego dinosaur-building sets and dinosaur books.
He writes: Thank you so very much for your generosity. Books and Lego sets about dinosaurs will have a profound impact on low-income 4th-grade students by sparking their curiosity and imagination. Many of these students do not have access to engaging resources at home, so a dinosaur book can open a world of exploration and learning. Reading about dinosaurs can expand their vocabulary, improve their reading skills, and ignite an interest in science. The stories, facts, and illustrations of these creatures transport students to ancient times, allowing them to learn about history, biology, and paleontology in a fun and engaging way. It is a topic that this group engages very heavily into which will only strengthen their abilities.
In addition to books, Lego sets themed around dinosaurs provide a hands-on learning experience that reinforces concepts in a tactile and creative manner. Building models of dinosaurs with Lego helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. These activities also encourage teamwork and collaboration, which are important life skills, especially in a classroom setting where students learn to work together. The tangible nature of Lego pieces lets students physically connect with the subject matter, making it more real and memorable.
For many low-income students, these resources offer not only educational value but also a sense of accomplishment and pride. The act of creating something with their hands, whether it's reading about a dinosaur or constructing one out of Lego pieces, can build confidence and foster a love for learning. These experiences can inspire students to dream bigger, explore new interests, and see themselves as capable learners, all while providing an opportunity to engage in activities that might otherwise be inaccessible due to financial constraints. Thank you again so very much for allowing my students this incredible experience within the classroom!
| DonorsChoose has developed the designation Equity Focus Schools to describe some schools that submit projects. They meet two criteria: at least 50% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander, or multiracial, and at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, the standard measure for school economic need. You can read more at the link about their efforts to address the longstanding inequity in education. |
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project seeks to fund science, math, and literacy projects in public school classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose, a crowdfunding charity founded in 2000 and highly rated by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.
Every Sunday, we focus on helping to fund projects in neighborhood public schools where the overwhelming majority of students come from low-income households. We welcome everyone who supports public school education — no money is required!
Finally, here’s our list of successfully funded projects — our series total is 1161! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.
