Past projects 7
Make Learning Virtual
Funded Aug 18, 2020The impact of this grant is immeasurable. As we've all seen in the news and on social media, teaching virtually during a pandemic is an experience like no other. What I have discovered is that there are truths to kids and education that remain no matter the situation in the world. Kids want to learn. Kids want to connect to teachers and other students. And kids naturally care for each other much more than we give them credit for. Many times over the past 8 months while watching chaos unfold in our world, I've wondered how much better off we'd all be if we simply let the kids run everything.
Your gift has allowed me to stay connected to my students virtually despite a global pandemic that brings fear, anxiety and uncertainty to myself and my students. Our school has remained virtual this entire time, which means that I have not got the chance to see the kids I love in person since March. Many students that I currently teach I have yet to meet face-to-face. While technology makes these connections as strong as possible, I'm not sure anything can truly replace a hug and an in-person conversation. This pandemic that has taken so much from so many has also taken those moments from our kids and our teachers.
I am thankful though that, because of your gift, I have been able to create a virtual classroom that is as engaging and community-driven as possible. While connections are difficult to foster virtually, they are even harder with a mic that doesn't successfully take my voice to the students and with lighting that is less-than-ideal. Your gifts have allowed me to be as present with my kids as one can possibly be during virtual learning. The project idea I had was a little last minute which meant that I started the year without these supplies. I was struck by the speed with which this project got funded, and am so appreciative of the materials that were delivered to me to use immediately in my virtual classroom.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of educators everywhere - thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
Creating a Great Learning Environment!
Funded Apr 25, 2015Have you ever had a feeling that you just didn't want to be where you currently were at the time? You just felt anxious, but you knew that you had a task that needed completing. Entering my sixth year of teaching, I find that there are a lot of students who feel that way often. They tight student desks that the school provides, while very nice, can also feel like a tiny little jail cell from which there is no reprieve! The bean bag chairs that you have helped provide for my classroom can totally change the way in which a student views school. Small changes make all the difference.
As you will see in the pictures that come your way in the Thank-You Package, our students are better able to think deeply about big issues when they are physically comfortable. I challenge my students every single day to think hard about the world that they live in. Having a safe and comfortable place in which to think is so very important.
Thank you again for your donation to my project!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
Patching the Holes in a Successful Ship!
Funded Aug 20, 2015This is a unique project in that it is not for flashy, large items. My last project provided several bean-bag chairs for students who thrive in alternative seating. This project has no such items - rather it is for the school supplies that really make a classroom run. The unfortunate thing is that the students will not notice these supplies when they show up! However, they will notice the wonderful field-trip to the National World War One Museum at Liberty Memorial that we will take in March.
I will tell the kids about this project and your donation, and how without these donations we would have to buy these supplies with that budget rather than a bus downtown. I will explain how unique your gifts are. Some will understand that budgets are shrinking and tight, but other of the teenagers will not understand the importance of what you have given. One day they will, though.
That is what education is all about. We plant seeds that may not grow into flowers for years and years, yet we plant away each year anyways. You have helped us to plant more seeds this school year, and while there will a picture of a student using a pen when his mom didn't have the time to go to the store to by him a pack, you should be very proud of what you have provided to our students.
Thank you so much for what you have given!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
Headphones for Learning
Funded Oct 13, 2014Thank you again for your donation to this project. The headphones and the bean-bag chair have both been big hits with my students. We don't often receive big boxes in our classroom. When the two boxes arrived the other day, they drew plenty of attention!
The bean-bag chair has been great for helping improve the atmosphere of the classroom. I have had the chair for just under a week now. Every single morning I have had a student come in during the 10-15 minutes before classes begin and plop themselves on the chair to relax and talk about how things are going. For many of our kids, there are not enough opportunities in the day to connect, talk and release stress from whatever else is going on in their lives. The bean-bag chair isn't big, but it makes a huge difference. It is an invitation to be one's self in my class. I pride myself as do many teachers at our school on connecting with our students - this bean-bag chair has helped to make this even easier!
The headphones have been less popular in a wow-factor sense, but they are incredibly useful. I have lent them out to several students each day. Most use them to watch a video for class. Some use them to listen to some music while they work on something individually. The obvious benefit is that students are able to gain instruction through audio and visual means, and this is very important. This has been and will continue to be the main use of the headphones. High school students love to forget things and they love to come up with reasons why they cannot complete work! These headphones take away a very common excuse used by the students. That helps them learn and helps me stay sane!
From a grateful educator with grateful and passionate students, thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
Jumping For Journals
Funded Aug 27, 2013Thank you so much for your support of the education of our students. In our test-frenzied system of education, a commonly lost skill is that of reflection. As I teacher, I try to do this often to help see what I did well and what I did poorly. As professionals, this is also a large part of your daily cycle of growth. Unfortunately, our students too often are not asked to reflect on what they have learned and apply it to their own lives. These journals provide something physical for the students to call their own and be proud of.
Through the first unit of school, I have asked the students to journal on several topics. Some have been very general, such as providing me with feedback on activities that they enjoyed or did not want to repeat from the first unit. Some have been topical, such as asking the US Government class to reflect on the purposes of government that we had learned about and think about how these purposes affect their daily lives.
While good reflection can occur verbally or be written on any piece of paper, these journals will become a source of pride as the students take ownership of their own ideas. Too many young people do not have the appropriate materials needed. Through your support, you have helped some of our students have those much-needed materials. Thank you so very much.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 6 other donors.Creating a Tech-Savvy Classroom
Funded Aug 27, 2013What a great gift you have given this group of students! With the iPad technology that you have provided for me, I have been better able to excite the minds of my students. The iPad unleashes incredible creativity in the kids, but without proper planning, it is simply a glorified version of internet explorer that looks and feels 'cool'. Now that I have my own iPad, I can...
- Model how to use various educational apps
- Better communicate with students instantaneously through organizational apps like Evernote and Twitter
- Monitor and organize student progress through an app like Penultimate
- Take video, picture and audio clips of the students working to show off through my blog, The History Teacher 2.0
https://sites.google.com/site/chambersmwh/home/the-history-teacher-2-0
- Take better notes at meetings with parents and share those notes with other teachers and parents
Your donation to this project will help me unleash the creativity of students studying the history of our world and of our country. I can't wait to show you awesome pictures of the great work that we are doing in class. Again, thank you so much for your support of these children!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 5 other donors.Completing a Tech-Savvy Classroom
Funded Sep 19, 2013Thank you so much for your donation to my project. In a previous project, an iPad was funded that has allowed me to better plan lessons for my students who have access to an iPad cart. The addition of these materials will continue to allow me to unleash the power of this technology in my classroom.
Just a week ago, my class hosted an interview with a college professor of Political Science via Skype. Before the interview was conducted with the class, I connected with the professor on my own time to brainstorm ideas and talk about how the interview would go. I had to be creative and find the tools that I needed to make the interview work. Now that I have earphones with a mic, I have all the materials I need for the next interview to run even more smoothly.
The cable that you have helped provide will allow me to plug my iPad directly into the Smart Board! This is an incredibly powerful tool to have access to. This tool will allow me to model the use of the iPad and specific apps to my students before they work on their own or in groups. In teaching, modeling is so important to successful and on-task student work sessions.
Finally, and possibly most important, your donation has provided a carrying case and keyboard that will help to protect my iPad! The iPad is no good if it breaks in a month! Your donation will help me to keep the iPad safe and useful for my students for years to come.
I am so grateful for your support of this project. I look forward to sharing cool pictures and stories of the projects and activities that you have helped to make possible.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chambers
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 4 other donors.