Past projects 18
Let It Rot!
Funded Nov 19, 2019Thank you so much for contributing to this project. We now have 15 classrooms in our school composting and sometimes all it takes is a small convenience, like a compostable liner, to get the reluctant would-be composter fully on board. In our classroom, we not only compost paper towels but also serve as compost collectors, going around to other rooms to collect bags of food and paper waste to send off the the compost pile.
Ultimately, we hope that, in time, our school district will make environmental sustainability a priority and that our custodial staff will be given the time, training and support to be leaders in the proper disposal of compostable waste. Until then, the students are learning a wonderful lesson in environmental stewardship that they can take home with them.
If you are able, I would encourage you to browse other projects on DonorsChoose and help educators make their dreams for their students into reality.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and 4 other donors.Cursive Lives on With These Students!
Funded Feb 28, 2019Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our classroom. The students have loved learning how to write like "grown ups". Not only did I see a remarkable improvement in the students' handwriting, I also saw them able to write more and longer during writers workshop since cursive allows for more fluid writing.
My hope is that next year, students will take these skills with them into future grades so that they can continue to apply their new cursive abilities in their next endeavors.
I would encourage you to consider taking a look through the many projects up on DonorsChoose to see if there is another classroom in need of help.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 6 other donors.Keep Those Kiddos Movin'!
Funded Sep 1, 2018Thank you all so much for your generous contribution to our classroom. The students love the wobble chairs to the point where our main problem is the occasional verbal tussle over who grabbed the preferred seating choice first. It brings me such joy to see, in particular, my more active students move their bodies while they listen and engage in the work we are doing together. These stools help us as a class find a balance between being kids who need to move and being students who need to learn how to listen and show respectful attention.
If you are able, I would suggest browsing through DonorsChoose to see which other projects are in need of that final push to reach completion. Thanks again for thinking of us and for taking that extra step to make this project a reality.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Learning in Comfort
Funded Dec 11, 2017Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom. On the day the boxes arrived, it was as though everyone's birthday had been collapsed into one morning. The kids couldn't wait to get their hands on the wobble stools, unwrap the carpets, and put together the lamps.
One bonus of getting the materials is that the students then get to take ownership over them from the start. I assigned carpet and lamp captains who were in charge of opening up the packaging, assembling the lamps and choosing just the right spots for the carpets. In those small acts of leadership the students better appreciate their classroom and your generosity. I predict many hours of comfortable reading thanks to you.
Thank you again for supporting our classroom. I hope you will take the time to browse DonorsChoose to see what other classrooms could use your help.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Keep It Moving, People!
Funded Dec 23, 2016We did it! We now have an active seating option for every student in class. Now the kiddos can keep their bodies moving while they listen, learn, work in groups, or work on their own. Increasingly, the students are taking ownership over the classroom by making the choices that will help them be their best including smart choices around seating.
For those of you who have sponsored my classrooms before, I thank you for your continued support. For those of you new to DonorsChoose, I would encourage you to browse the website and see what other teachers are seeking donors to help their classrooms fly.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Wiggle, Wobble, Learn
Funded Nov 21, 2017Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom. On the day the boxes arrived, it was as though everyone's birthday had been collapsed into one morning. The kids couldn't wait to get their hands on the wobble stools and "test drive" them.
Now that the stools are integrated into the classroom geography, the students absolutely love them. I have noticed that my "wiggly" kids are able to better engage in their work when they can move their bodies organically. I have delighted in watching kids in a book club all wobble in theirs stools, tracing circles with their bodies, while they very intensely discuss the themes of their text or the motivations of the main character. By tending to their physical needs I find that the kids are better able to engage academically which makes school more fun for everyone.
Thank you again for supporting our classroom. I hope you will take the time to browse DonorsChoose to see what other classrooms could use your help.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Strengthening our CORE and Curriculum
Funded Oct 3, 2016One by one, the enormous, over-sized Amazon boxes arrived and the kids cheered every time our school custodian wheeled another one into the room. With each opened box and each new wobble stool, I could feel the kids growing excitement and sense of relief. Having more active seating options and fidget toys available would allow more students to sit with their bodies awake, hands busy and minds engaged, and they were just as excited as I was.
With these new stools, the kiddos are able to get our their wiggles in a way that is respectful of their needs as young people and also mindful of their peers who have their own learning to do and who can find more success in a room where the wigglers wiggle quietly.
Please consider taking some time to check out other projects on DonorsChoose and thanks again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Flexible Furniture For Flexible Thinkers
Funded Aug 31, 2016Dear Donors,
Thank you all so much for contributing to our classroom through this project. The stools and tables have been an absolute hit. Allowing the students to sit where they choose and how they choose has made a big difference in terms of the students' physical comfort. Now the classroom feels more like a workspace which was exactly what I was hoping for. I have posted another project requesting more stools so that even more students can make use of these active seating options and I hope you might consider helping us in our final push to get rid of our traditional chairs. (Maybe we'll keep a few for old times' sake.)
Be sure to check out some of the other projects on DonorsChoose. There are many classrooms and teachers across the country who could use your help in making their big dreams come true.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
A Chromebook and Some BOOK Books
Funded Jan 25, 2015My thanks to you for your contributions to our latest classroom project. The Chromebook has arrived and is being put to good and regular use by the kiddos. They have already logged several hours of practicing their math fact fluency and working on language arts skills through online programs. I have also tipped them off that we will start another round of Book Club meetings once the new texts arrive and the excitement in the air is palpable. I hope that you will take a look around the DonorsChoose website and consider helping out other teachers seeking resources to help their kids be more awesome.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina
Open Books Chicago Field Trip
Funded May 5, 2014What a fabulous field trip! I cannot say enough what a wonderful time the students had at Open Books. I was so impressed with the students' focus and, as a result, their final products. They were able to work in small groups with volunteers to practice drafting short pieces using setting as a way to bring out character traits. It was an approach to narrative writing I had never used before but will be sure to incorporate into my instruction this year.
I was most touched when the kids returned to school, eager to write thank you notes to all of the adults who had helped them have such a wonderful trip. Those adults, of course, include you. We teachers could not do our jobs without community support from generous individuals such as yourselves. Thank you all for thinking of us and please be sure to browse DonorsChoose for other teachers in need of a boost to make their teaching dreams become realities.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Albina