My Nonprofit Reviews

EPAK is an wonderful organization that provides funds to public educators in East Palo Alto to purchase items and/or materials for learning.



I felt like a kid at Christmas time opening presents when I began to receive the items I was able to purchase through EPAK. The anticipation of using these items to help the students I work with learn to initiate and interact in cooperative play with their peers had building up the moment I found out I have been awarded the EPAK grant. Year after year, EPAK provides the opportunity to the students I work with to have an enriched and multifaceted learning experience through materials and items I am able to purchase.



I work as an early childhood special education teacher in a full inclusion setting. This means I work with children with and without special needs in general education placement. I work with children between the ages of 3 and 5.



For many of the students I work with), one of their greatest challenges lies in their ability to participate in cooperative play. Many students have difficulty initiating cooperative play or understanding how to sustain cooperative play with peers. I also have students that do not show a great interested in play with peers and it can take a lot of motivation from both peers and adults to have them engage.



The main idea of my project proposed to EPAK was to try and encourage cooperative play and learning through movement and gross motor activities. Preschoolers naturally love music, to move around constantly and are constantly learning through tactile and kinesthetic activities. For most preschoolers anything that involves being outside and/or moving around is a high interest for them. I thought this was a natural way to try and encourage peer interaction. Some of the items I I purchased included items for relay races, music and props for dancing, balls, and a large bubble kit.



I can’t even begin to describe how it feels to see a child that usually prefers to play by themselves being drawn into the activity and interacting with his peers. A few days ago we organized a relay race outside using a egg and spoon race kit I had purchased. Children try to balance the egg on the spoon while walking; if the egg drops it cracks open to reveal a yolk. One of students that tends to play by himself outside, came over to the game of his own accord and participated in the relay. Later that day when his mother picked him up, she asked him what he had done today and he replied “eggs”. I was ecstatic to see a group cooperative game had made such an impression on him.



Each year, as budget cuts increase, the more and more EPAK becomes a valuable resource to the public school system and educators. I can not put into words how invaluable their organization is. Their generosity and passion to help the children in this community to become capable learners.

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