Past projects 10
Once in a Lifetime Trip to Washington D.C.! (Part 3)
Funded Nov 28, 2016How can I possibly put such a transformative trip into words? Our four days in Washington D.C. were, to quote one of my students, Donnell : "The best four days ever." From the moment we arrived at the airport, my students were experiencing brand new experiences. We took a Red Eye, got soft drinks on the plane, ("They're bringing us drinks on the plane,Ms. Spitz?!?!" ) and arrived to D.C. ready to take on the world!!! We didn't stop moving and exploring for the 4 magical days we were there. And we were so lucky because the cherry blossoms came out just in time for our visit!!! Students couldn't believe how different D.C. was from their own neighborhood. At one point a student asked: "So Ms. Spitz, how do I tell my mom I'm moving to D.C.?" Here are some of the highlights from each day:
Day one included a visit to Mount Vernon, the National Mall, and a trip to the brand new Smithsonian African American Museum of History And Culture Museum. This truly blew all of us away and we felt so lucky we got to go!! We had a ghost tour of Alexandria. We laughed and walked a lot during this time! :)
Day Two we headed to Arlington National Cemetery and were able to get front row seats to the Changing of the Guard. After that, we headed to the Holocaust Museum. This was extremely heavy and students were moved and engaged with every inch of the museum. They drew several connections to today's political climate and the importance of being upstanders, not bystanders, when confronted with injustice and inhumanity. We checked out the historic Willard Hotel (where the last attempt of peace before the Civil War meeting was held),and then...An incredible walking tour of the monuments at nightfall! We met Albert Einstein (his statue!), honored soldiers at the Vietnam, Korean and World War 2 memorials, and came face to face with Lincoln's memorial! It was quite the magical evening and I will never forget the looks on their faces when we walked up the steps to Lincoln and looked out at the same iconic view that MLK had during his I Have a Dream Speech.
Day three began with Supreme Court, where we got to go inside an ACTUAL SUPREME COURTHOUSE (where the Justices sit and decide Supreme Court Cases!) and hear a lecture about the history of the Supreme Court! Then, we headed to Capitol Hill for a guided tour of the Capitol Building. We learned all about Congress, the history of the beautiful building that makes the city skyline, and learned some more fun facts about the branches of government! After that, it was off the Library of Congress where we saw the reading room, Thomas Jefferson's personal library, and the beautiful architecture that houses the largest collection of documents in the world. That's right--we got to visit the largest library in the world!!! Our hearts were so full being surrounded by our students and so many books! Then, we spent time exploring the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We touched a rock from the moon, saw the very first airplane of the Wright Brothers, Astronaut helmets and suits from the Apollo Museum, and got to the bottom of why Pluto is no longer a planet!! :) After that, we visited the NATIONAL ARCHIVES--home to the ORIGINAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, AND BILL OF RIGHTS. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear up. :) The fun didn't stop there---we headed for a quick visit of Kennedy Center and checked out the view and Hall of Nations (some kids are experts at identifying country's flags!), and drove by Embassy Row and took a quick stop at the Washington National Cathedral!
Day four included the Zoo to check out the pandas, the tidal basin monuments (Jefferson and FDR), and the incredibly moving MLK memorial. We ended our time in DC at the American History Museum where we got to see Dorothy's ruby slippers, First Lady Inaugural gowns, the diner from the first sit-ins in Greensboro, and the giant American flag that inspired the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.
And then just like that, our trip was over. When I asked students their favorite part, each had different answers. This made me so happy that our trip was so action packed because had we slowed down, we may have missed one of their favorites! :)
It's hard to articulate just how impactful this trip was for my students. I think it is best summed up by the fact that even though we returned from our trip super late on Sunday and had permission to miss school on Monday, all 23 kids showed up to school bright and early that Monday morning because they just couldn't wait to talk about the trip. One student told me that D.C. made him want to go to college, and another said she wants to be a Supreme Court Justice. Students are enlivened, invigorated, and you can tell are holding their heads held high with this new found perspective and power. I really can't say enough of how much your support means to me and my students. At the risk of sounding overdramatic, you have helped changed their lives for the better!!! I truly believe and know this to be true!! Thank you so much for making this amazing experience possible. Should you care to see any more pictures or testimonials from the trip, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Once in a Lifetime Trip to Washington D.C.! (Part 2)
Funded Nov 9, 2016How can I possibly put such a transformative trip into words? Our four days in Washington D.C. were, to quote one of my students, Donnell : "The best four days ever." From the moment we arrived at the airport, my students were experiencing brand new experiences. We took a Red Eye, got soft drinks on the plane, ("They're bringing us drinks on the plane,Ms. Spitz?!?!" ) and arrived to D.C. ready to take on the world!!! We didn't stop moving and exploring for the 4 magical days we were there. And we were so lucky because the cherry blossoms came out just in time for our visit!!! Students couldn't believe how different D.C. was from their own neighborhood. At one point a student asked: "So Ms. Spitz, how do I tell my mom I'm moving to D.C.?" Here are some of the highlights from each day:
Day one included a visit to Mount Vernon, the National Mall, and a trip to the brand new Smithsonian African American Museum of History And Culture Museum. This truly blew all of us away and we felt so lucky we got to go!! We had a ghost tour of Alexandria. We laughed and walked a lot during this time! :)
Day Two we headed to Arlington National Cemetery and were able to get front row seats to the Changing of the Guard. After that, we headed to the Holocaust Museum. This was extremely heavy and students were moved and engaged with every inch of the museum. They drew several connections to today's political climate and the importance of being upstanders, not bystanders, when confronted with injustice and inhumanity. We checked out the historic Willard Hotel (where the last attempt of peace before the Civil War meeting was held),and then...An incredible walking tour of the monuments at nightfall! We met Albert Einstein (his statue!), honored soldiers at the Vietnam, Korean and World War 2 memorials, and came face to face with Lincoln's memorial! It was quite the magical evening and I will never forget the looks on their faces when we walked up the steps to Lincoln and looked out at the same iconic view that MLK had during his I Have a Dream Speech.
Day three began with Supreme Court, where we got to go inside an ACTUAL SUPREME COURTHOUSE (where the Justices sit and decide Supreme Court Cases!) and hear a lecture about the history of the Supreme Court! Then, we headed to Capitol Hill for a guided tour of the Capitol Building. We learned all about Congress, the history of the beautiful building that makes the city skyline, and learned some more fun facts about the branches of government! After that, it was off the Library of Congress where we saw the reading room, Thomas Jefferson's personal library, and the beautiful architecture that houses the largest collection of documents in the world. That's right--we got to visit the largest library in the world!!! Our hearts were so full being surrounded by our students and so many books! Then, we spent time exploring the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We touched a rock from the moon, saw the very first airplane of the Wright Brothers, Astronaut helmets and suits from the Apollo Museum, and got to the bottom of why Pluto is no longer a planet!! :) After that, we visited the NATIONAL ARCHIVES--home to the ORIGINAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, AND BILL OF RIGHTS. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear up. :) The fun didn't stop there---we headed for a quick visit of Kennedy Center and checked out the view and Hall of Nations (some kids are experts at identifying country's flags!), and drove by Embassy Row and took a quick stop at the Washington National Cathedral!
Day four included the Zoo to check out the pandas, the tidal basin monuments (Jefferson and FDR), and the incredibly moving MLK memorial. We ended our time in DC at the American History Museum where we got to see Dorothy's ruby slippers, First Lady Inaugural gowns, the diner from the first sit-ins in Greensboro, and the giant American flag that inspired the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.
And then just like that, our trip was over. When I asked students their favorite part, each had different answers. This made me so happy that our trip was so action packed because had we slowed down, we may have missed one of their favorites! :)
It's hard to articulate just how impactful this trip was for my students. I think it is best summed up by the fact that even though we returned from our trip super late on Sunday and had permission to miss school on Monday, all 23 kids showed up to school bright and early that Monday morning because they just couldn't wait to talk about the trip. One student told me that D.C. made him want to go to college, and another said she wants to be a Supreme Court Justice. Students are enlivened, invigorated, and you can tell are holding their heads held high with this new found perspective and power. I really can't say enough of how much your support means to me and my students. At the risk of sounding overdramatic, you have helped changed their lives for the better!!! I truly believe and know this to be true!! Thank you so much for making this amazing experience possible. Should you care to see any more pictures or testimonials from the trip, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Once in a Lifetime Trip to Washington D.C.! (PART 1)
Funded Nov 4, 2016How can I possibly put such a transformative trip into words? Our four days in Washington D.C. were, to quote one of my students, Donnell : "The best four days ever." From the moment we arrived at the airport, my students were experiencing brand new experiences. We took a Red Eye, got soft drinks on the plane, ("They're bringing us drinks on the plane,Ms. Spitz?!?!" ) and arrived to D.C. ready to take on the world!!! We didn't stop moving and exploring for the 4 magical days we were there. And we were so lucky because the cherry blossoms came out just in time for our visit!!! Students couldn't believe how different D.C. was from their own neighborhood. At one point a student asked: "So Ms. Spitz, how do I tell my mom I'm moving to D.C.?" Here are some of the highlights from each day:
Day one included a visit to Mount Vernon, the National Mall, and a trip to the brand new Smithsonian African American Museum of History And Culture Museum. This truly blew all of us away and we felt so lucky we got to go!! We had a ghost tour of Alexandria. We laughed and walked a lot during this time! :)
Day Two we headed to Arlington National Cemetery and were able to get front row seats to the Changing of the Guard. After that, we headed to the Holocaust Museum. This was extremely heavy and students were moved and engaged with every inch of the museum. They drew several connections to today's political climate and the importance of being upstanders, not bystanders, when confronted with injustice and inhumanity. We checked out the historic Willard Hotel (where the last attempt of peace before the Civil War meeting was held),and then...An incredible walking tour of the monuments at nightfall! We met Albert Einstein (his statue!), honored soldiers at the Vietnam, Korean and World War 2 memorials, and came face to face with Lincoln's memorial! It was quite the magical evening and I will never forget the looks on their faces when we walked up the steps to Lincoln and looked out at the same iconic view that MLK had during his I Have a Dream Speech.
Day three began with Supreme Court, where we got to go inside an ACTUAL SUPREME COURTHOUSE (where the Justices sit and decide Supreme Court Cases!) and hear a lecture about the history of the Supreme Court! Then, we headed to Capitol Hill for a guided tour of the Capitol Building. We learned all about Congress, the history of the beautiful building that makes the city skyline, and learned some more fun facts about the branches of government! After that, it was off the Library of Congress where we saw the reading room, Thomas Jefferson's personal library, and the beautiful architecture that houses the largest collection of documents in the world. That's right--we got to visit the largest library in the world!!! Our hearts were so full being surrounded by our students and so many books! Then, we spent time exploring the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We touched a rock from the moon, saw the very first airplane of the Wright Brothers, Astronaut helmets and suits from the Apollo Museum, and got to the bottom of why Pluto is no longer a planet!! :) After that, we visited the NATIONAL ARCHIVES--home to the ORIGINAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, AND BILL OF RIGHTS. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear up. :) The fun didn't stop there---we headed for a quick visit of Kennedy Center and checked out the view and Hall of Nations (some kids are experts at identifying country's flags!), and drove by Embassy Row and took a quick stop at the Washington National Cathedral!
Day four included the Zoo to check out the pandas, the tidal basin monuments (Jefferson and FDR), and the incredibly moving MLK memorial. We ended our time in DC at the American History Museum where we got to see Dorothy's ruby slippers, First Lady Inaugural gowns, the diner from the first sit-ins in Greensboro, and the giant American flag that inspired the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.
And then just like that, our trip was over. When I asked students their favorite part, each had different answers. This made me so happy that our trip was so action packed because had we slowed down, we may have missed one of their favorites! :)
It's hard to articulate just how impactful this trip was for my students. I think it is best summed up by the fact that even though we returned from our trip super late on Sunday and had permission to miss school on Monday, all 23 kids showed up to school bright and early that Monday morning because they just couldn't wait to talk about the trip. One student told me that D.C. made him want to go to college, and another said she wants to be a Supreme Court Justice. Students are enlivened, invigorated, and you can tell are holding their heads held high with this new found perspective and power. I really can't say enough of how much your support means to me and my students. At the risk of sounding overdramatic, you have helped changed their lives for the better!!! I truly believe and know this to be true!! Thank you so much for making this amazing experience possible. Should you care to see any more pictures or testimonials from the trip, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Once in a Lifetime Trip to Washington, D.C.! (Part 4)
Funded Jan 1, 2017How can I possibly put such a transformative trip into words? Our four days in Washington D.C. were, to quote one of my students, Donnell : "The best four days ever." From the moment we arrived at the airport, my students were experiencing brand new experiences. We took a Red Eye, got soft drinks on the plane, ("They're bringing us drinks on the plane,Ms. Spitz?!?!" ) and arrived to D.C. ready to take on the world!!! We didn't stop moving and exploring for the 4 magical days we were there. We were so lucky because the cherry blossoms came out just in time for our visit!!! Students couldn't believe how different D.C. was from their own neighborhood. At one point a student asked: "So Ms. Spitz, how do I tell my mom I'm moving to D.C.?" Here are some of the highlights from each day:
Day one included a visit to Mount Vernon, the National Mall, and a trip to the brand new Smithsonian African American Museum of History And Culture Museum. This truly blew all of us away and we felt so lucky we got to go!! We had a ghost tour of Alexandria. We laughed and walked a lot during this time! :)
Day Two we headed to Arlington National Cemetery and were able to get front row seats to the Changing of the Guard. After that, we headed to the Holocaust Museum. This was extremely heavy and students were moved and engaged with every inch of the museum. They drew several connections to today's political climate and the importance of being upstanders, not bystanders, when confronted with injustice and inhumanity. We checked out the historic Willard Hotel (where the last attempt of peace before the Civil War meeting was held),and then...An incredible walking tour of the monuments at nightfall! We met Albert Einstein (his statue!), honored soldiers at the Vietnam, Korean and World War 2 memorials, and came face to face with Lincoln's memorial! It was quite the magical evening and I will never forget the looks on their faces when we walked up the steps to Lincoln and looked out at the same iconic view that MLK had during his I Have a Dream Speech.
Day three began with Supreme Court, where we got to go inside an ACTUAL SUPREME COURTHOUSE (where the Justices sit and decide Supreme Court Cases!) and hear a lecture about its history. Then, we headed to Capitol Hill for a guided tour of the Capitol Building. We learned all about Congress, the history of the beautiful building that makes the city skyline, and learned some more fun facts about the branches of government. After that, it was off the Library of Congress where we saw the reading room, Thomas Jefferson's personal library, and the beautiful architecture that houses the largest collection of documents in the world. That's right--we got to visit the largest library in the world!!! Our hearts were so full being surrounded by our students and so many books! Then, we spent time exploring the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We touched a rock from the moon, saw the very first airplane of the Wright Brothers, Astronaut helmets and suits from the Apollo Museum, and got to the bottom of why Pluto is no longer a planet!! :) After that, we visited the NATIONAL ARCHIVES--home to the ORIGINAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, AND BILL OF RIGHTS. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear. :) The fun didn't stop there---we headed for a quick visit of Kennedy Center and checked out the view and Hall of Nations (some kids are experts at identifying country's flags!), and drove by Embassy Row and took a quick stop at the Washington National Cathedral! Day four included the Zoo to check out the pandas, the Tidal Basin monuments (Jefferson and FDR), and the incredibly moving MLK memorial. We ended our time in DC at the American History Museum where we got to see Dorothy's ruby slippers, First Lady Inaugural gowns, the diner from the first sit-ins in Greensboro, and the giant American flag that inspired the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.
And then just like that, our trip was over. When I asked students their favorite part, each had different answers. This made me so happy that our trip was so action packed because had we slowed down, we may have missed one of their favorites! :)
It's hard to articulate just how impactful this trip was for my students (and for me!). I think it is best summed up by the fact that even though we returned from our trip super late on Sunday and had permission to miss school on Monday, all 23 kids showed up to school bright and early that Monday morning because they just couldn't wait to talk about the trip. One student told me that D.C. made him want to go to college, and another said she wants to be a Supreme Court Justice. Students are enlivened, invigorated, and you can tell are holding their heads held high with this new found perspective and power. I really can't say enough of how much your support means to me and my students. You genuinely you have helped change their lives for the better! I truly believe and know this to be true!! Thank you so much for making this amazing experience possible. Should you care to see any more pictures or testimonials from the trip, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I will send them along. Again, thank you for your generosity and kindness. I know I speak for all my students when I say we are forever grateful for your support and will have the memories of this trip to last a lifetime. We are so lucky to have you all in our corner.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Reading Our Way to Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness!
Funded Jul 30, 2014Words truly can't express how much you've helped create a literacy-based learning environment rich with enthusiasm and focus. As a self-proclaimed and unashamed book nerd, I was determined to have my students claim the same title. :) The only problem was, we had no books. (Or at leas we had no books that made kids say: "Oh wow!! I want to read THAT one!") Nevertheless, in walked your generosity and I now have the beginnings of what is sure to be the best classroom library ever! Once your books arrived, the most beautiful thing happened. Not only is reading and discussion a staple of our classroom culture, but my students are reading AT HOME, they are discussing their books during LUNCH, they are even reluctant to put the book AWAY during Sustained Silent Reading! They are LOVING LOVING LOVING their books! I am absolutely floored by how much progress my students have made in just these past few months since having access to such great reads. I have also noticed such a positive difference in their approach to reading in general as well as their performance on content specific assessments.
We have YOU to thank for all of this! Your generosity and support has made my dream of turning my kids into fellow self-proclaimed "book nerds" a reality and has helped instill a love of reading and a love of learning that has transcended far beyond the classroom. A few snapshots of the impact you've had:
A group of students who read "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" demanding the sequel...
A student who read "People's History Of the United States" conducting her own research on Howard Zinn and bringing in his revisionist history to our class discussions
During lunch, students insisting that I keep my door unlocked so they can check out another book....
I could go on and on but please know that these examples of deep connections and unabashed reading love is in large part due to the success they each had with their book-the very books you so wonderfully provided. Your donation created a powerful and positive reading experience for my students and has built an entire cohort of lifelong readers! Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers build engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Becoming Readers and Global Citizens through Current Events!
Funded Jul 30, 2012THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your amazing contribution to help my students become informed, engaged, and inquisitive global citizens!!!! I can't even begin to describe what a treasure the UpFront magazines are to my class. They have become my "secret weapon" in promoting a genuine enthusiasm for reading and for caring about what's going on in the world. Usually, words like "current events" and "news" can scare teenagers (especially reluctant readers) away, but all of my students (high-level and low-level readers alike), feel engaged, challenged and motivated by the articles and political cartoons of each month's edition. Some students have taken the magazines home to speak with their families about an article they read, and others have been inspired to learn more about a certain topic. I'm sure it will come as no surprise that a recent article regarding Facebook and our right to privacy caused WAVES and was a huge hit and hot-button issue both inside and outside our classroom. :)
The images, debates, questions and articles masterfully engage teenage learners while simultaneously tackle high profile and important world issues. Students have loved finding connections between our units and the information in the magazines. From a teaching standpoint, the text itself is a dream for any literacy educator's agenda. :)
What began as a resource for my students to skim through after tests and/or when they finished assignments early has become a living, routinized and BELOVED activity in our classroom. I can honestly say UpFront Fridays have become my students absolute favorite classroom ritual. I really can't express how incredibly lucky we are to have a brand new set of UpFront magazines waiting for us each month.
Please know that your donation has created such a powerful and positive reading experience for my students and they all get so excited to see what the newest edition of UpFront Magazine has to offer. All of this enthusiasm was made possible by your gracious donation!! I am eternally grateful for your generosity and your support of my students and my classroom. Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers build engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough. As they say, it takes a village...Thank you for being our village.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Be the Help We Need to read "The Help" in Book Clubs!
Funded Jan 1, 2011This school year, I made it my number one priority to create powerful opportunities for my students to build literacy and a love of reading. Although I had wanted to incorporate book clubs in the past, I always seemed to talk myself out of it because my school lacked the proper resources. We did not have many books, and the books we did have certainly did not fit the wide range of reading levels I have in my classroom.
When a friend of mine suggested I check out DonorsChoose, I had no idea just how instrumental this organization would be in facilitating a literacy-based learning environment rich with enthusiasm and focus. Although there was hesitance at first, ("You're going to make us read this entire thing Ms. S?!?!?"), book clubs have made reading and discussion a staple of our classroom culture. My students are reading AT HOME, they are discussing their books during LUNCH, they are even reluctant to put the book AWAY during Sustained Silent Reading! They are LOVING LOVING LOVING their books! I am absolutely floored by how much progress my students have made in just these past few months since incorporating book clubs into my classroom. I have also noticed such a positive difference in their approach to reading in general as well as their performance on content specific assessments.
We have YOU to thank for all of this! Your generosity and support has made book clubs a reality and has helped instill a love of reading and a love of learning in my students that I have yet seen in all my years of teaching. The Help was loved by all my students who read it. They were absolutely captivated by the story and each developed such deep connections and allegiances to the various characters-a true testament to the powerful reading experience that you so generously made possible. I noticed this same group of students thrive in other activities related to the unit and approach their assignments in a meaningful and assertive way. I have no doubt this heightened level of enthusiasm is in large part due to the success they each had with their book-the very books you so wonderfully provided. Your donation created a powerful and positive reading experience for my students and they are all so excited for our next round of book clubs. Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers build engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
This classroom project was brought to life by American Express Members Project and one other donor.Historical Perspective: Opening Minds through Opening Books!
Funded Dec 10, 2010This school year, I made it my number one priority to create powerful opportunities for my students to build literacy and a love of reading. Although I had wanted to incorporate book clubs in the past, I always seemed to talk myself out of it because my school lacked the proper resources. We did not have many books, and the books we did have certainly did not fit the wide range of reading levels I have in my classroom.
When a friend of mine suggested I check out DonorsChoose, I had no idea just how instrumental this organization would be in facilitating a literacy-based learning environment rich with enthusiasm and focus. Although there was hesitance at first, ("You're going to make us read this entire thing Ms. S?!?!?"), book clubs have made reading and discussion a staple of our classroom culture. My students are reading AT HOME, they are discussing their books during LUNCH, they are even reluctant to put the book AWAY during Sustained Silent Reading! They are LOVING LOVING LOVING their books! I am absolutely floored by how much progress my students have made in just these past few months since incorporating book clubs into my classroom. I have also noticed such a positive difference in their approach to reading in general as well as their performance on content specific assessments.
We have YOU to thank for all of this! Your generosity and support has made book clubs a reality and has helped instill a love of reading and a love of learning in my students that I have yet seen in all my years of teaching. The Kite Runner was loved by all my students who read it. They were absolutely captivated by the story and each developed such deep connections and allegiances to the various characters-a true testament to the powerful reading experience that you so generously made possible. I noticed this same group of students thrive in other activities related to the unit and approach their assignments in a meaningful and assertive way. I have no doubt this heightened level of enthusiasm is in large part due to the success they each had with their book-the very books you so wonderfully provided. Your donation created a powerful and positive reading experience for my students and they are all so excited for our next round of book clubs. Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers build engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 2 other donors.Reading Our Way Through History!
Funded Aug 25, 2010This school year, I made it my number one priority to create powerful opportunities for my students to build literacy and a love of reading. Although I had wanted to incorporate book clubs in the past, I always seemed to talk myself out of it because my school lacked the proper resources. We did not have many books, and the books we did have certainly did not fit the wide range of reading levels I have in my classroom.
When a friend of mine suggested I check out DonorsChoose, I had no idea just how instrumental this organization would be in facilitating a literacy-based learning environment rich with enthusiasm and focus. Although there was hesitance at first, ("You're going to make us read this entire thing Ms. S?!?!?"), book clubs have made reading and discussion a staple of our classroom culture. My students are reading AT HOME, they are discussing their books during LUNCH, they are even reluctant to put the book AWAY during Sustained Silent Reading! They are LOVING LOVING LOVING their books! I am absolutely floored by how much progress my students have made in just these past few months since incorporating book clubs into my classroom. I have also noticed such a positive difference in their approach to reading in general as well as their performance on content specific assessments.
We have YOU to thank for all of this! Your generosity and support has made book clubs a reality and has helped instill a love of reading and a love of learning in my students that I have yet seen in all my years of teaching. One Thousand White Women was loved by all my students who read it. They were fascinated by the portrayal of Native Americans in the story and several were inspired to pursue additional research regarding this transformative and tragic time in our nation's past. I noticed this same group of students thrive in other activities related to the unit and approach their assignments in a meaningful and assertive way. I have no doubt this heightened level of enthusiasm is in large part due to the success they each had with their book-the very books you so generously provided. Your donation created a powerful and positive reading experience for my students and they are all so excited for our next round of book clubs. Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers build engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough.
”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz
Reading Our Way Through History: The Sequel!
Funded Sep 1, 2010This school year, I made it my number one priority to create powerful opportunities for my students to build literacy and a love of reading. Although I had wanted to incorporate book clubs in the past, I always seemed to talk myself out of it because my school lacked the proper resources. We did not have many books, and the books we did have certainly did not fit the wide range of reading levels I have in my classroom.
When a friend of mine suggested I check out DonorsChoose, I had no idea just how instrumental this organization would be in facilitating a literacy-based learning environment rich with enthusiasm and focus. Although there was hesitance at first, ("You're going to make us read this entire thing Ms. S?!?!?"), book clubs have made reading and discussion a staple of our classroom culture. My students are reading AT HOME, they are discussing their books during LUNCH, they are even reluctant to put the book AWAY during Sustained Silent Reading! They are LOVING LOVING LOVING their books! I am absolutely floored by how much progress my students have made in just these past few months since incorporating book clubs into my classroom. I have also noticed such a positive difference in their approach to reading in general as well as their performance on content specific assessments.
We have YOU to thank for all of this! Your generosity and support has made book clubs a reality and has helped instill a love of reading and a love of learning in my students that I have yet seen in all my years of teaching. Fallen Angels was loved by all my students who read it, most of whom are struggling and reluctant readers. I now see this same group of students excited for the next round of book clubs, and actively engaged in class reading activities. Your donation provided a powerful and positive reading experience for my students. Thank you so much for your belief in us and for your dedication to help me and other teachers create engaging and nurturing learning environments. We truly cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spitz