Past projects 11
Enhance My Learning With Technology
Funded Dec 12, 2011I really can't thank you enough for bringing additional technology to our classroom. My second grade students' learning has really been enhanced with the use of our new document camera, projector and screen. My students are able to follow every lesson as I teach it with ease because they can see exactly what I am showing them.
The use of our document camera and projector continue to impact the learning of my students in all academic areas. My students enjoy having books projected on the screen while I read to them. One of the biggest impacts I have seen is that students are able to easily identify spelling and vocabulary words within the text and are paying closer attention to spelling patterns. We have also used our document camera during writing lessons, science, English language development (ELD), and art. During math I have been able to model concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using hands-on learning tools. My students problem solving skills have improved because they can apply the concepts modeled while working independently.
Making a difference in a child's education is a wonderful gift and enhancing their learning with technology is only one way in which we can help prepare children for the future. The possibilities are endless and I will continue explore ways in which to incorporate this new technology to enhance my students' learning. Once more, thank you for helping me make a positive impacting on my students' learning I can't imagine not having a document camera and projector in our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
Captivate My Imagination With a Set of Good Books
Funded Aug 30, 2010Thank you for the set of books you provided for our classroom library. My students were excited from the moment we received the books. They were looking forward to finally having Spanish language and bilingual books for them to enjoy reading!
I have labeled each book according to their Accelerated Reading Level. This has made it easier for my students to choose books that are at their individual reading level. Students are also motivated to read any book they choose and look forward to choosing books that will captivate their imagination while taking them in on a wonderful adventure.
In addition to that, I have noticed that because many of the books are both in Spanish and in English my students are choosing to read both in Spanish and later in English. The Junie B. Jones and the Magic Tree House series have quickly become one of their favorite books. Through these books my second grade students have gone through many adventures and have been delighted by Junie B's ideas and adventures in school. The rest of the books have helped build a connection to their Hispanic culture.
Thank you once more for helping my students increase their love of reading. Books are always a great vehicle to spark a child's imagination while taking them to great academic heights!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
We Want to Get Our Hands-On Math!
Funded Aug 30, 2010My students were delighted to receive all the wonderful hands-on learning MATH games from day one! I can't thank the Claire Giannini Fund enough for providing my students with a venue in which they can manipulate the learning that is taking place during whole group lessons.
Students are able to choose a game based on what has been previously taught and then turn it into a fun lesson that can be played with a small group, a partner, or on their own. In addition to that I have noticed an increase in students' overall engagement during center time. Best of all students are applying and using math concepts, vocabulary as well as the language that is so crucial in math.
Once again thank you for providing the hand-on learning materials that my second grade students needed to make math more meaningful and engaging for them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
We Have a Bad Case of Stripes!
Funded May 20, 2010I really can't thank you enough for making this project a reality for my former Kindergarten students. The book you provided was always a classroom favorite amongst all my students. I have my classroom paper-back copies of the book as proof of the many hands who have handled them.
The look in my students' faces was priceless when I handed them their very own copy of "A Bad Case of Stripes"! They could not believe that it was theirs to keep forever. One of my students came back and asked if he had really heard correctly, because he wanted to make sure. When I reassured him that he had heard correctly he gave me a huge hug, said I was the best teacher ever and then he added, "Please make sure you let those nice people know that I love this book and it will always be my favorite." Another student let me know that she will be practicing because she wants to read it to her dad when he returns from him current.
This sentiment of gratitude has been shared not only by students, but by parents as well. Some parents had heard about the book from what their child had shared with them, but had not had the opportunity to read it themselves until their child brought the book home. They reported being amazed at the level of the vocabulary used in the book, the length of the story and how well their child listened attentively and was able to retell with detail.
Thank you again for giving my students a venue in which they can carry out their love of reading. I know that reading will take them to amazing places.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
This classroom project was brought to life by Barnes & Noble and 7 other donors.Bring Music to My Ears
Funded Mar 12, 2010I can't thank you enough for Bringing Music to my students ears! The CDs that you provided through this project have provided countless hours of fun, entertainment and educational music to my students.
My students were excited every time I introduced them to a new song. They listened attentively to the words and were quick to add a bit of movement after learning the lyrics. We picked a few songs from our brand new CDs for our Kindergarten Graduation. The World is a Rainbow, I Am a Pizza, La Bamba, and It's a Beautiful Day are songs that my students and their parents will remember for years to come.
Thank you for making my students' end of the year celebration memorable. I am sure that music will continue to be a joyous part of their lives and that of my future students.
Everyone deserves to have music in their ears.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
We Are Capturing Learning and Getting Organized
Funded Oct 8, 2009We can't thank you enough for your generous donations. The materials you provided have helped keep our classroom much more organized and within my students' reach. I have also been able to capture their learning as it is taking place!
The classroom posters, the vocabulary pocket chart and the help your self center have helped make our classroom materials and centers more accessible for my students. The bean bags have provided my students with a comfortable place to sit and read to themselves or to reading buddies. The Alphabet Mystery Box quickly became one of my students' favorite centers
My students enjoy working at their centers and workstations. With the Canon Camera you provided I have been able to capture my students enjoyment as they learn and play. Not only is the camera useful for capturing their learning, it is also a great tool for sharing classroom events with parents, grandparents, and loved ones. It has become much easier for my students to verbalize what they are learning or celebrating in class when their parents ask. Parents and their children can visit our classroom web page and browse at the pictures I have posted, this i believe helps to bring families a little closer. Having a camera that is readily available has made it much easier for this to happen. I can easily say that a picture is worth a thousand words!
Once again thank you for your generosity. My kids are lucky to have donors like you that care about their education.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
Students Get Their Hands On Science
Funded May 22, 2009I would like to thank you once more for your kind donations to our project. It is nice to Know that there are people like you who are ready to put enrichment materials in the hands of our students. The materials from this project will give my current and future students countless hours of science exploration and investigation time.
My students have been more than thrilled and look forward to going to the science center. They sure look like little scientist with their bright colored goggles and magnifying glasses in hand! My students have been in awe looking at the different geodes. I must add that the plant and bug specimens are currently one of their favorite items available at the science center. My students will learn new and "amazing" facts about bugs and plants while using the talking microscope. I am sure my students will love learning about life cycles first hand when we plant seeds and witness the life cycle of the butterfly this spring.
I can't thank you enough for allowing my students to explore, discover, learn and have fun through science. I know that these hands-on experiences will be meaningful for my young kindergarten students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
For the LOVE of Reading
Funded Oct 2, 2009The books you provided have found a great home in our classroom library and even a better place when they are in my students' hands. From the pictures you will be able to see that my students, even though they are only four and five years olds, are fully engaged in the stories and pictures within the books.
These books are currently my students favorites. It has been great to hear my students exclaim: "these books are awesome, they are cool, wow, look at this picture, it has real pictures, or even an occasional yuck look at this creature!" Having a set of non-fiction books in our library adds to the richness in literature that my students are being exposed to at this early age.
The set of classic books are an all time favorite, my students know these stories and are ready to "read" them. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" has been a favorite for many years and finally having a copy in our own library for students to use has provided my students with the security of "reading" a book they are familiar with. They choral read, they read to their partner, and they also listen to themselves read it. The books by Dr. Seuss, "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham" are also stories that my students already know and feel comfortable reading as well. My students have also enjoyed reading and acting out the books "The Three Little Kittens" and "Five Little Monkeys" since they include props they can manipulate as they act out the stories.
The Multicultural set is rich in text and vocabulary. They cover a variety of cultural backgrounds that meet the diversity of our students. The books also offer eye catching illustrations for my students to experience.
Once more thank you for all of the amazing books you have provided for my students to develop a LOVE for reading at this early age. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
Ready, Set, Imagine!
Funded Sep 6, 2009Your generosity in funding this project has filled both my students and I with great joy. Imagination and creativity are important for all of us and it is most important in the lives of our little ones.
Having a variety of props and costumes inside the Grandma and Grandpa Trunks that my students can use in so many ways has been fantastic. I have seen and heard even my most shy and quietest students expressing themselves in ways that promote language development. I have also heard my students problem solving as they make decisions and compromise on the costume they will get to wear and how it would look best. a student "fixed" a pretend leaky faucet in the dramatic play area with the tools provided inside Grandpa's dress-up trunk. Girls have dressed in the most impressive ways as they head out for a stroll with their babies.
The dollhouse center is one of our most popular centers. Students take turn playing with a partner. Each pair of students has enjoyed redecorating and has made the interior design of the house unique, which makes it even more interesting and appealing for students. Students have conversations about the way in which students have decorated, what they liked and how they will decorate the house when it's their turn. This center has also sparked my students into using their imagination, creativity and language skills.
The Lincoln logs have provided many hours of building time for my students. My students have built houses, forts, cabins, sky scrapers, and even jets with them. Talk about imagination!! The dinosaur theme box is filled with many great activities for my students to enjoy. They say that the best thing is everything in it from the BIG dinosaur, the little dinosaurs' tub, to the set of twelve dinosaur fossils.
The puppet stage is so sturdy and provides more than enough room for two or even three students to act out stories and plays for their peers. Now they LOVE using the many puppets we have in our classroom. They are eager to invite our classroom friends Q-Bear, Bono the Monkey, Mr. Seal to witness an amazing show.
Once more thank you for providing my current students and future students with this great assortment of costumes and props, the fully furnished dollhouse, the puppet stage, Lincoln logs and Dinosaur theme box. My students are now more than ready and set to imagine!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero
Mom and Dad, Lets Engage in More Reading!
Funded Apr 10, 2009I would like to thank you for the amazing literacy kits
that you have provided for my current and future students. They are amazing indeed.
My
students look forward to Tuesdays when they get to choose a new literacy kit to
take home. The quality of the
books, props and the bag they are stored in makes the literacy kits appealing
to my young kindergarten students.
After the first Tuesday my students came back excited to share how much
they enjoyed reading the books with their mom or dad, they recommended the
books to their friends and they also shared what they wrote in the journals
that I provided for them.
Parents
have shared that they have always enjoyed reading books, but the addition of story
props have made reading time a more engaging activity. Parent also look forward to Tuesdays
for: a new book to read; new story props to make the story come alive; and playing
the extension activities on the cards.
Thank
you again for making the "Mom and Dad, Lets Engage in More Reading! Literacy Program"
a reality for my current and future students. The love of learning starts with a book, but becomes a fully
engaging activity when you add quality time with a parent and amazing story
props.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Guerrero