Past projects 9
Bring Robotics to Inquiring Minds!
Funded Oct 4, 2017Wow! You have brought robotics to Hiawatha School! Our students have been exploring with the books, kits and robots that you have donated and they just LOVE it! The look on their faces when the "light" goes off is just incredible. I wish I could bring that to life for you. They older kids are especially excited by the robotic hand kits. They keep building and re-building them when their class comes to the STEAM Lab.
You have given us a great start to the robotics program here at Hiawatha and we are excited to continue deepening our instruction and explorations with robots thanks to you! Thank you to the moon and back!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and 14 other donors.STEM Toys for Little Explorers
Funded Sep 13, 2016Dear Donors,
Thank you for your generous donation to our school! Our students are engaged, excited and motivated when they are working with the robotics, circuits, and Makey Makey that you have provided us with. Last week, our school hosted the first ever STEM night where students were able to come to school and explore robotics, building, engineering, and technology with their families. The students lit up during their time at the STEM night and the principal was thrilled! Thank you for bringing some excitement to our learning space and opening the doors of science, technology, engineering and expanding math for our students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.Wobble With Me - Alternative Seating for Kinders!
Funded Mar 11, 2016Dear generous donors,
We are beyond grateful for the impact you have made in our classroom. Our 20 kindergarteners are in LOVE with their new wobble chairs! All students have access to the wobble chairs each and every day and love when it is their turn to sit on a chair that moves!
The wobble chairs help to keep us engaged in learning so we can move as we are working. I have noticed when I am working one-on-one with a student who is sitting on one of the wobble chairs that they are move attentive and less squirmy. We have also incorporated physical fitness into using the chairs. We are teaching our kiddos to use tummy muscles to hold up their bodies and balance.
Our new wobble chairs are the BEST! They have been a fantastic addition to our classroom as we near flexible seating as a whole room. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 5 other donors.Beyond the Screen: Osmo for Learning!
Funded Dec 26, 2015In our classroom, many of my students do not have access to technology outside the school day. Exploring technology in our classroom innovates their education and provides opportunities for creativity!
Our new Osmos provide experiences for our students to explore concepts of math, literacy, and art. They can manipulate words with letter tiles, create art from tangrams, and draw courses for bouncing balls. Students work in small groups with the Osmo technology. The Osmo is an iPad setup with a stand and a mirror. It allows students to interact with the iPad rather than just playing on iPad apps. They have something to touch and move - which Kindergarteners need!
Not only do iPads come to life with the help of Osmo, but it is also a tool for language development as students work together to solve puzzles!
Your gift has revolutionized our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
Real-Life Reading - A Need for Non-Fiction Texts!
Funded Feb 6, 2015We were walking back from recess when the Assistant Principal walked out of the office saying he had a surprise for us. He asked one of my rambunctious lil' guys to carry the brown box to our room. All the kids got into the room before me (I wait at the door for all to enter safely) and when I turned the corner, I saw something magical. The lil' guy carrying the surprise box had placed it on my chair and every single other student was circled around it. He had his hand on top saying, "Wait everyone, wait, we have to wait for Mrs. McGinnis to open it!"
Friends, it was like Christmas!
Like something was going to pop out of this box that they had never seen before, and had been waiting a lifetime for. Here's the catch. The day before, we had made cards for, "The books we were getting in the mail soon." So they KNEW, the kids KNEW these were books and they were still that excited!
Anyways, I sat down and started to open the box and someone shouts, "I hope its the books, eeeee, I hope it is! I LOVE BOOKS!!!" Cheers went around as I took out the first 5 pack of leveled non-fiction readers, "It is, it is, it is the books!!"
There were cheers as we unpacked all the books and one lil' guy even tried to claim that, "I get the 'G' pack, yep that's for me!" I wish lil' man, I wish, but we are going to share these. :o)
Long story short, you have given us the gift of literacy - one of the most empowering and life-changing gifts you can give. You have may literacy exciting by giving us new material, on relevant topics, so that my lil' men and women can challenge themselves and get excited about reading. You have made education exciting and placed resources in little hands that are already putting their stamp on the world.
So THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts and from every word we read. :o)”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
Rockstar Readers in Need of More!
Funded Dec 30, 2014The kids were overjoyed to see new books coming into the classroom, "Look what Mrs. McGinnis got us," "Yes! New books for our book boxes," and "I love this one!!" were a few of the comments I heard as we unwrapped the books. It was just an ordinary day, made a little extra special by our surprise package. Our active little readers could not wait to get their hands on our new books!
Each week, students are able to "book shop" and pick books from our classroom library to put in their own leveled book boxes. I was struggling to find more challenging options for my higher level readers - but no longer! My kids can choose the books that you provided as part of their choices on level or based on interest.
Since we are able to meet all of our students now, each and every one of my readers can read on level by themselves and with me in small group. These books are of high interest and engage my little readers on many levels. How fun is it to read books that you picked out and are a good fit for you?!
We greatly appreciate the gift that you have given us and use our leveled books each and every day. Thank you!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
iPad Please! We Need Some "Tech" in our "Teach."
Funded Apr 6, 2014The gift you have given our classroom in the form of iPads has had an amazing impact on our classroom.
When I told the students that we had been given iPads, we were sitting in a circle guessing what our "new center" could be. No one guessed an iPad, so I revealed what it was and everyone jumped up and cheered. It was one of the most amazing moments of this year. We have set up an iPad center rotation and use the iPads in our centers everyday. We don't only use them there though, but also to write and illustrate stories.
And the impact goes further than that, two of my students who struggle with the pace and rigor of the curriculum have worked with iPads daily on their personalized sight word lists as well as with math concepts. They are intrigued and active when working with the iPad instead of being disengaged and overcome by concepts which are difficult for them.
The iPads that you have provided us with will be used for years to come, engaging and exiting students about learning. Thank you for giving the gift of intrigue, education, and technology. We greatly appreciate your love and support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
Read, Read, Read! I Can Read!
Funded Jan 2, 2013Words cannot express our gratitude for your foundation's kind donation to our classroom. You have given us the leveled readers and non-fiction readers that we have been lacking. My students have a renewed excitement to read and have shown such by taking pride in using the books and asking me to read with them. We have used the books to read to each other, to take home and read to our family, and to help us learn math and science concepts.
As only a third year teacher, I am still building my classroom library, guided reading sets, center games and more. Without your assistance, I would not have been able to purchase colorful, engaging books for my students and they would have to be reading copies of books which I have acquired.
Your foundation has helped give one of the most empowering gifts: literacy. Thank you for promoting literacy in a high-needs, low-income area, where it is truly a gift.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis
The Magic of Dry Erase Markers!
Funded Jan 31, 2012I cannot thank you enough for the impact you have made on my students. They were ecstatic when I gave them the news that we would be getting more dry erase markers and "hands-up" boards, as we call them. Each one of my 27 Kindergarteners now has an opportunity to participate in daily phonemic practice, sight word games, and more. You have opened the doors or reading for my students, as whole group learning is now so much more interactive for them. We do not have much technology at my school, so something as simple as dry-erase markers, boards, and pocket protectors, has made a world of a difference! They absolutely love the materials.
When we were discussing the arrival of our gifts, each student expressed how careful we needed to be and how we should be so thankful. They know you as, "the special people" who gave special gifts. I only wish you could see the joy on their faces.
Although seemingly small, you have given us a gift that is allowing my students to soar. Learning is fun because of you. We are grateful there are people like you in the world that have faith in even the smallest of people. That when we work together, we can all achieve, no matter what.
Thank you!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McGinnis