I am in need of your generosity. (The photos above show my classroom shelves my first day at work.) I am teaching in a Tier 1 NYC school serving families at or below the poverty line.

I teach in a kindergarten AIMS (Acquisition, Integrated Services, Meaningful Communication, and Social Skills) program that serves students with atypical, intellectual, language, and social-emotional development who are diagnosed with Autism. My students do not have typical language skills, although they can make vocalizations. They have a difficult time with self-regulation and meeting the social and emotional challenges of a kindergarten classroom.

The AIMS classroom has 6 students, 2 teachers, and one paraprofessional, providing instruction that focuses on language acquisition and social and emotional self-regulation. A speech therapist serves as the second teacher in the classroom, supporting language and communication goals.

The program hopes to move students from a 6:2:1 class (6 students, 2 teachers, 1 paraprofessional) to a 12:1:1 class and onward to a general education Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class in later years. AIMS started just before COVID and has a proven track record of helping students develop the skills necessary for successful inclusion in less restrictive educational settings.

Due to the costliness of the program with three adults in the classroom, supplies that are needed are often not provided or provided in insufficient quantities and/or poor unusable quality. Teachers frequently supplement classroom materials from their own funds to ensure students have access to the hands-on, sensory-rich learning tools essential for their success.

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Purchase Summary:

Sensory & Fidget Tools

Autism Sensory Fidget Balls ($6.52) - Essential for providing calming sensory input and self-regulation support for students with autism and sensory processing needs.

Pop Tubes Sensory Fidgets ($9.79) - Offers tactile and auditory stimulation to help students focus and manage anxiety during transitions or challenging tasks.

Marbled Unicorn Galaxy Slime (6 Pack) ($10.88) - Provides engaging tactile sensory experiences that support fine motor development and stress relief.

Fine Motor & Developmental Materials

Googly Eyes (764pcs, various sizes) ($5.00) - Critical craft supply for art projects that develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor precision through placing and adhering small objects.

Wooden Peg Puzzles (Numbers, Letters, Animals, Fruits) ($21.76) - Supports cognitive development, letter/number recognition, and fine motor skills through hands-on Montessori-style learning.

BONNYCO Wooden Puzzles (4-piece pack) ($4.78) - Builds problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination while providing appropriately-sized pieces for emerging learners.

Jacob's Ladder Wooden Puzzle ($8.38) - Develops spatial awareness, cause-and-effect understanding, and fine motor manipulation skills.

Construction & Building Toys

Dimple Building Blocks (300 pcs) ($32.40) - Encourages STEM learning, spatial reasoning, and collaborative play while strengthening fine motor skills and creativity.

MEGA BLOKS (80 pieces) ($18.77) - Large blocks perfect for toddler-sized hands to practice grasping, stacking, and early engineering concepts.

TOSY Magnet Pyramid Glow ($30.46) - Introduces magnetic concepts and 3D spatial thinking through hands-on exploration with glowing visual feedback.

Dramatic Play & Social-Emotional Development

Superhero Capes for Kids ($16.32) - Facilitates imaginative play, role-playing, and social interaction while building confidence and self-expression.

Butterfly Fairy Wings Set ($9.79) - Supports dramatic play and creative expression, helping students explore identities and engage in cooperative play.

Animal Figurines (Farm Animals, 8 pcs) ($17.57) - Enables vocabulary building, storytelling, and pretend play scenarios that develop language and social skills.

Construction Truck Toys ($19.59) - Promotes imaginative play and understanding of community helpers while developing hand manipulation through friction-powered movement.

Hot Wheels Police Station Playset ($18.50) - Encourages fine motor skills through track assembly and supports understanding of safety and community roles.

Visual & Sensory Exploration

Tin Kaleidoscopes (2 pack) ($14.13) - Provides mesmerizing visual sensory input and teaches cause-and-effect through rotating patterns.

Rain Drum (8 Notes Steel Tongue) ($14.14) - Introduces musical concepts, auditory sensory experiences, and self-soothing through rhythmic sound exploration.

Single-Sided Bi-Directional Floor Mirror, Toddler-Sized ($79.99) - Supports self-awareness, body recognition, and social-emotional development while providing visual feedback for movement and imitation activities.

Movement & Gross Motor Activities

Juggling Scarves (24 pcs, 6 colors) ($14.14) - Perfect for movement activities, color recognition, music and movement time, and developing tracking skills.

Classroom Organization & Management

IRIS Storage Bins with Lids (20-pack, 6 quart) ($35.92) - Essential for organizing manipulatives, toys, and materials to create a structured, visually clear learning environment.

IRIS Storage Bins (4-pack, 15 quart) ($21.76) - Larger bins for storing seasonal materials, keeping the classroom organized and reducing visual overwhelm.

Extra Large Zipper Storage Bags (10-pack) ($18.50) - Useful for sending home student work, storing art projects, or organizing materials by theme or student.

Accordion File Organizer ($8.70) - Helps maintain student documentation, IEP paperwork, and monthly communication in an accessible system.

Classroom Timers (2-pack, magnetic) ($6.47) - Provides visual time management support for transitions and activities, helping students understand time concepts.

Safety & Security

Master Lock Padlocks (3-pack) ($19.56) - Secures cabinets containing cleaning supplies or materials that must be kept away from students for safety.

Safety Hasps (3-pack) ($6.07) - Works with locks to ensure hazardous materials remain inaccessible to curious students.

Heavy-Duty Stapler & Staples ($5.63) - Essential tool for assembling classroom materials, creating books, and preparing hands-on learning resources.

Hygiene & Care

Huggies XL Baby Wipes (42 count) ($2.47) - Necessary for quick cleanups after messy art projects, snacks, or toileting accidents.

Mama Bear Toddler Toilet Wipes (336 count) ($10.88) - Supports bathroom independence and hygiene routines for students learning self-care skills.

Graham Crackers (multiple boxes) ($11.44) - Provides consistent, allergen-friendly snack option for students and can be used in cooking activities or rewards.

Literacy & Learning Materials

"Five Little Ducks" (Raffi Songs to Read) ($9.79) - Combines music and reading to support early literacy, counting skills, and participatory learning.

Classroom Books ($123.00) - Provides diverse literacy materials for read-alouds, independent exploration, and building vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Additional Classroom Supplies

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Supplies ($117.24) - Bulk classroom materials including art supplies, manipulatives, and educational resources at discounted prices.

Dollar Tree Supplies ($55.00) - Cost-effective classroom essentials such as craft materials, storage containers, seasonal decorations, and basic supplies.

Laminator ($69.00) - Critical tool for creating durable learning materials, visual schedules, communication cards, and reusable classroom resources.

Velcro ($13.00) - Essential for creating interactive learning boards, visual schedules, and adaptable materials that students can manipulate independently.

Total costs: $891.34 - (most of these supplies will be used for multiple years)