Mrs. Ruthven's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 15

• Keep Us Safe - Keep Us Healthy

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  Thank you so much for the storage bins and circle spots. They have been incredibly helpful this year. The students use the bins to store their belongings during the day. We have even found that when stored under their desks, they act like a foot rest for some of our shorter students. :)

  When our students came in the first day of school, they were so excited for their "lockers" as one of our students called them. They don't use the inside of their desks this year, so the storage bins have been invaluable to keeping our classroom organized as well as safe. They are so responsible with them and they are still in great shape!

  The circle spots have been used in so many ways already and it has only been about 2 months of school. So far we have used them as a spot to put our lunch boxes and waters next to our desks, a location outside to stay 6 ft apart during mask breaks as well as during math games!

  We have been so fortunate to be able to continue our in person learning but just in case we have to transition home, the students will have a way to bring their materials home and a place to store them while at home. This way they always have what they need for learning, virtually or in person.

  Thank you again for your generous donations! We are all so appreciative!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.

• Adventures Stored Here

  Funded Aug 4, 2017

  Thank you all so much for your donation to our class library project. My students are finding the books they are interested in so quickly and some are reading books that they never thought they would like. In September, my students and I categorized all of the books I have been collecting over the years. This was a great lesson in genres! Then we created the bins and placed them on the shelves. We are going to make labels for them next.

  My students were so excited when they saw the big boxes from Lakeshore come in! You would have thought they all got puppies. :)

  Our next step is to make the labels and continue to organize the books throughout the year. I still have 3 bins waiting to be sorted.

  Thank you again for your generosity! It is much appreciated by all of us.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

  This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 5 other donors.

• Creating Future Scientists!

  Funded Mar 30, 2017

  Thank you all so much for your generosity! My students were thrilled when they saw the big boxes delivered! It's not every day a classroom gets a delivery from the UPS person! My students wanted to immediately jump right in but I reminded them that first we need to go to recess. :) Once they returned I had the materials out and let them explore. We even completed the magnet experiment. The projects are very kid centered and they were able to complete the entire experiment by themselves.

  Thank you again for your donation. Please know that the materials you donated will be used for years to come and many, many students will enjoy using these experiments. Who knows, maybe you helped create a future scientist...”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

  This classroom project was brought to life by Aspect Ventures and 8 other donors.

• Language Arts - Filling in the Gaps

  Funded Mar 29, 2017

  Thank you so much for your generosity. My students and I are really enjoying the new materials and I am no longer scrambling to find fun and engaging games for them in grammar, writing, and language arts. When my students saw the boxes, which were HUGE, they couldn't contain their excitement. They asked if they could use them right away. After discussing manner and rules of the new materials the students dove in. They loved them all.

  The students really enjoyed playing the games with their classmates. When they were done playing "the directions way" they then made up their own games and rules using the materials. Their creativity never ceases to amaze me. We want to all thank you so much for your donations and know that the materials will be used for many years to come.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

  This classroom project was brought to life by Anna Kendrick and 11 other donors.

• A Place to Meet

  Funded Sep 4, 2015

  Every time I enter my classroom I am excited to see the bright colored rug that now covers my old floor. I have found as a teacher that it is the little things that change the atmosphere of a classroom. In the past I had a small, old carpet that was covered in stains and definitely had the old carpet "smell" :) . As you can see from the pictures, we now have a huge, bright carpet that has plenty of room for my 26 students.

  Donors Choose is such an amazing organization that supports teachers and students in the exact way they need to be supported. After we received our funding, I had the students look through the website and we chose a classroom to support. It was wonderful to show my students why and how we received the carpet and how to pay it forward.

  Thank you again for your generosity!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

• As Simple As A Pencil

  Funded Sep 3, 2015

  Thank you so much for your very generous donation of pencils and a pencil sharpener for my students. I wish you could have heard the cheers of excitement when my students and I opened the box. I don't think I could ever fully explain how Donors Choose has changed my life and the lives of my students. I am proud and excited that you share my vision for reaching children.

  Even though pencils might seem like a little thing, they are the beginning of every child's work. Whether they are exploring during science experiments, writing a story or poem, or solving a math problem, my students start with sharpening a pencil. I am so overjoyed that I will no longer have to worry if my students have this basic necessity.

  I hope you will think of the difference you have made in my student's lives every time you pick up a pencil. :)”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

• Tablets for our Techies

  Funded Feb 28, 2015

  Thank you so much for your donation to our classroom. As I am writing this, I am surrounded by books created by the "writing clubs" my students have started (on their own) in my classroom. They love to research new ideas, information, and write sequels to stories they have read on the Kindle.

  I have started to integrate blended learning into my classroom. This is when you use technology to enhance learning. Sometimes the students will use the Kindle to go onto learning games that are at their exact learning level and other times they watch informational videos. I am currently arranging to have Skype interviews with authors. I am also looking into Skyping with professionals of various careers so students can see some possibilities outside of our school.

  Thank you again for your generosity. My students and I are very appreciative.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

• As Simple As A Pencil

  Funded Jan 17, 2015

  Imagine opening your favorite gift you ever received. The excitement you felt. The thrill of using that gift. The imagination of what you could do next. That is what my students felt last week when our big box of pencils came in. You would have thought I had just given each child one hundred dollars! :)

  When a child comes to school, they should not be worried that they don't have a pencil. They shouldn't be worried that their older sibling took their pencil. Now, my focus and their focus could be on learning and not pencils! The type of pencil I ordered has the best eraser! It lasts just as long as the pencil itself. The lead is great and very rarely breaks. Overall they are the Cadillac of pencils and my students are already treating them like gold.

  Thanks again for supporting my writers, scientists, mathematicians, and geographers. We are so appreciative!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

• Technology for Our Future Techies!

  Funded Nov 19, 2014

  It has been three weeks since we received our new tablet for the classroom and the students are loving it! Not only are we able to have more students on technology, but I am able to use apps that I can't access on the base computer. A few that the kids really enjoy are Plickers and Class Dojo. The week before Thanksgiving the students used a book maker app that allowed them to take a picture of their artwork and then record their own voice explaining what they are grateful for. I was then able to send this to our parents through an email. It was so amazing!!!

  My students have always loved technology but this allows them to have access right at their seats, on the bean bag chairs, or even laying on the floor! We are trying to be more of a blended classroom and this tablet helps a ton. I am also rotating students through a learn how to type app that they love.

  Next week we are going on a field trip to see a ballet. I was able to bring up ballet YouTube videos for students to watch that have never seen this type of dance. Their jaws hit the floor!

  We are so appreciative and grateful for your support. I teach my students that it is important to pay forward. Next week we will be choosing a Donors Choose project to donate to. This way my students can see how the process works and pay your kindness forward.

  Thanks again and I hope you have a great holiday.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven

• A Clear Desk Is A Clear Mind

  Funded Dec 18, 2013

  Thank you again for your very generous donations. The seat sacks are working out beautifully and the kids love having a space of their own. They are very durable and I can even put them in the washing machine to clean them. The tables in our classroom allow for students to work together easily and share a work space. At the same time, the students didn't have anywhere to put their folders, pencil cases and books. The seat sacks have solved the problem! They also look great in the room. Students can now take out their materials quickly and there is less time wasted during these transitions. My students are very thankful and so am I!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruthven