Past projects 5
Our New School Library Needs Books
Funded Feb 11, 2015When the students walked into the new library and saw all the brand new books they were excited beyond words! It was like they were getting presents on their birthday and it was hard to get them to calm down. The ohs and the aahs that were heard as the students perused the new collection brought a smile to my face. My students LOVE to read and this was the best possible gift they could have been given!
Each day, some of our new books are being checked out. Some of the most popular titles include "El Deafo" and "The Unwanteds." I have also enjoyed reading many of the titles that arrived. Over the spring break, almost all of the new books were checked out to keep students and staff reading over the week off from school.
High quality literature is an integral component to any successful language arts program. Add that to student choice and your have recipe for developing a lifelong love of reading. The first step to getting a reluctant reader to actually pick up a book is to have great books available for them and then provide the opportunities to enjoy and devour them. That is what these books from this grant has allowed me to do for the students in grades 4-8 at our school. We are all so grateful to have the good fortune of great books and generous people who make our reading lives full!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Thom
MakerSpace Menagerie
Funded Jul 6, 2014Students who have had the opportunity to 'play' with some of the wonderful resources that were obtained through the grant have been over the moon with enthusiasm. Currently, 15 students in grades 4-6 are participating in a weekly enrichment cluster called "Makerspaces" and have had an opportunity to tinker with the Makey Makey kits, Little Bits Kits, and scratch.
The Apple TV has changed the way I, as the teacher, utilize my projector and smartboard. It has added an important layer to the interactivity of the classroom ipad as well!
Future uses of the materials will include regularly planned Makerspace activities that will include the entire school community! I am excited to add to this beginning toolkit in our new library media center and makerspace!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Thom
Summer Reading and Battle of the Books with Nutmeg Nominees
Funded May 8, 2014Thank you so much for your generosity last spring in helping me obtain copies of the 2015 Nutmeg Nominees, some beanbags, and a book cart. Students in grades 4-8 have benefited from your donations! One particular 5th grader brought 6 of the 10 intermediate nominee books home for the summer and came back pumped to read the remaining 4 titles!
When students saw the new beanbags in our classroom library this fall, they couldn't wait for their day to use them during our independent reading time! And our library assistants were ecstatic when we received the brand new red book cart that they had seen in their local public libraries. One student told me that she feels like a 'real librarian' each time she uses it!
In our community of readers, students continue to grow their reading lives through the 30 titles of the high quality literature that this grant has provided. They see themselves as part of something important--readers who will vote for the best book in Connecticut according to the Nutmeg committee. In addition, their heightened awareness of this award and the types of books that make the list has inspired some of our students to want to apply to be a member of the selection committee! Being able to bring in high interest and high quality books allows my students to grow as readers and maintain a very high level of enthusiasm.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Thom
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 13 other donors.Talking Buildings: A Unit On Historic Preservation
Funded Sep 26, 2013Thank you for your generous donation! With the materials I received, students have been working in our enrichment cluster entitled, "Engineering and Architecture." There are a variety of activities going on including students building a 3-D puzzle of the Eiffel Tower, a 3-D puzzle of the Tower Bridge in London, researching and creating a blueprint of our school building, researching interesting buildings in our city and creating models of those buildings using legos, wood blocks, or clay.
When I previewed all the materials with both my 4th grade Social Studies class and the Enrichment Cluster, they were very excited to begin creating works of art with the legos and architecture materials. I shared all of the books with my 6th grade reading class and they 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at all the interesting titles involving engineering and architecture.
The materials have allowed me to supplement the curriculum I currently use in Social Studies to create a more hands-on approach! Students are able to learn about the topics of engineering and architecture through the reading of print sources, and then they are able to practice or apply their new knowledge by using the materials. Instead of learning about the theory or facts behind the fields of architecture and engineering, they are able to act as practitioners!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Thom
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 10 other donors.How to Become a World Traveler Without Going Anywhere
Funded Nov 14, 2008Thank you so much for choosing to fund my Geography Project! The group of students I am working with will be so excited to use the resources that I have chosen. The National Geography Bee is fast approaching and the materials that will be purchased because of your generosity will help them to further prepare. It is very encouraging to know that others value the importance of geography education in today's classrooms. Thank you again for your donation!
Sincerely,
Melissa - 5th Grad”
With gratitude,
Ms. Thom