"Fun-Raising" Event Provides Analog Classroom Supplies for New Teachers Thursday, May 28, 2026

For teachers, finding new ways to engage with students, encourage interaction with others and reduce screentime is an important goal of the classroom experience. A “fun-raising” event this month at Point Park helped the newest crop of teachers meet this goal.

Following the School of Education's Student Teacher Celebration, education graduates were invited to fill a large bag with free books, games and puzzles to use in their classrooms, called the "Classroom Kickstart."

This event marks the first-of-its-kind collaboration with organizations such as The Education Partnership, PA Unplugged, Mothers Against Media Addiction, Analog Sunday and Point Park's Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and is aimed at encouraging future educators to think creatively about reducing screen dependence and fostering hands-on interpersonal learning experiences.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate our student teachers as they transition into their professional roles, while also emphasizing the importance of balanced, intentional engagement in the classroom,” said Kelly Pascarella, Ed.D., director of student teaching and assistant professor in the School of Education. “By providing non-digital books, games and other materials, we hope to empower them to build classroom environments that support focus, connection and overall student well-being.”

Removing the Financial Burden From New Teachers

Support from the community came from people like Colette Walsh, who co-founded the Pittsburgh Mothers Against Media Addiction chapter and founded multiple Unplugged chapters around Pittsburgh. 

Though Walsh had been advocating for purposeful technology use in homes and classrooms for years, she recently learned that classroom teachers have to pay for non-digital alternatives out of their own pockets.

"This past January, my niece came over asking for all of my kids' old toys for her classroom," Walsh said. "She had just finished student teaching and saw significant fine motor delays in her students and wanted to make sure she had these supplies available to her students. I was shocked to learn that teachers are expected to supply these materials themselves."

Walsh continued, "I've been asking schools to limit tech use to instructional time only (for example, not during recess), yet we aren't giving teachers the hands-on alternatives they need to make that possible."

Help From Community Members and Current Students

Walsh confirmed the need with lifelong friend and Dean of the School of Education, Virginia Chambers, Ed.D., and the idea of creating a Classroom Kickstart at the student teaching celebration took shape. The collaborative effort included Walsh, Katie Talarico of PA Unplugged, Julian Cisneros of Analog Sunday and Abbie Lindsey of The Education Partnership. 

Current Point Park student further supported the efforts. 

Lindsey Hoffman is the chapter president of the Point Park Student PSEA and a dual major in PK–4 and Special Education. Hoffman felt compelled to help with the effort, knowing that the financial burden of filling a classroom with good books and activities falls on the teacher themself. 

"The average teacher will spend $1,000 on just basic classroom supplies," Hoffman said. "For many teachers, this is not feasible. Having the opportunity to collect items for future teachers is exciting, knowing that they will have a decorated classroom to help them create a space that is inviting and fun for the students. 

 

Kianna Fisher, also a dual major in PK–4 and Special Education, is especially excited about providing new teachers with books.

"As someone who loves collecting children’s books whenever I get the chance, this project is very personal to me," Fisher said. "We thought it would be meaningful to organize a way for libraries and teachers — especially those who may no longer need certain materials — to donate new or gently used books to support incoming educators."

At the event, the future teachers filled their bags with everything from posters to books to games, all with the goal of making their classroom as enriching and engaging as possible — while also making learning fun.

More About: M.Ed. in PreK-4th Grade Certification, secondary education, School of Education, special education, elementary education