Ms. Candela's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 6

• Mental Health is Wealth

  Funded Oct 23, 2024

  I cannot express enough gratitude for your generous donations. I’ve been a NYC educator for 19 years and have never experienced so much anxiety and depression. When students are able to put their phones away and engage in a creative activity it creates a sense of peace and connection. I’m so excited to begin painting and creating as a form of therapy.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

• Keeping Connected In 2020

  Funded Sep 17, 2020

  I cannot express enough gratitude for your donation to this project. At the time, I was remote teaching and I did not have the means to properly teach via zoom in an effective manner. My old computer kept crashing and lagging. It was essential that I get updated technology for a year of remote learning.

  Since I was able to receive a new laptop I was able to facilitate meaningful learning experiences while my students did remote learning to keep themselves safe during the height of the pandemic. I utilized various apps to further engage students. Students were able to have online debates and discourse and even annotate texts digitally.

  Even though distance learning seems long ago, I have carried the teaching strategies I was able to adopt into my classroom. I'm an avid user of Google Classroom. Students are able to access their learning and resources any time and any where. It makes scoring and providing feedback seamless. I also use interactive slide decks like PearDeck for formative assessment. Remote learning forced many of us into uncomfortable spaces, but it also provided opportunities to research and apply different technologies that enhance student learning. It would have been very challenging to do so without a new computer.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 19 other donors.

• Books for Brooklyn

  Funded Nov 29, 2016

  I cannot thank you all enough for your donations. It is no easy task to try and engage kids in reading, especially if they struggle with reading. With the new books I was able to add to my classroom library more kids were reading than ever before. Students who often complain that they hated reading have come to realize the genres that they enjoy and have since sought out new books to read.

  Everyday students have the opportunity to read a book of their choice for at least ten minutes. Your donations made independent reading a possibility in my classroom. Additionally, students were able to support one another in their reading by forming book clubs as we were able to get multiple copies of each book. There is nothing more amazing when students can lean upon other students instead of always leaning on the teacher. I often find that students are more engaged with their reading when they have a buddy reading the same book.

  At the start of the school year I have many students that come to me and declare, "I hate reading!" But now I have students that say, "I love graphic novels!" or "I love urban fiction!" And although some students may still struggle with reading, at least they now know a genre they do enjoy. Your donation not only had an impact this school year, but will impact these students in the years to come because they know that it's not that they don't like reading, they just haven't found that "just right" book, yet.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

• "Hello, 911? We Have an Emergency! We Need Books!"

  Funded Dec 2, 2014

  My classroom library has never looked so good! I wowed many students and other classroom visitors alike with the collection I was able to establish because of your donations. I even have former students coming to my classroom asking to borrow books! I cannot tell you how grateful we are for all of the new books.

  The impact this donation has made on the independent reading in my classroom has been astounding! Students have been able to start book clubs because I was able to order multiple copies of a book. My high school students were able to realize the joys of Judy Blume's works. They never knew she wrote books for a more mature audience. I have one student that comes to me every couple of days, already done with her last book and asks, "what's the next one? I need a new book!" Now, I can go to my library and give her multiple suggestions. This donation has helped both my struggling and advanced readers. Students who once said, "I don't read," now sit quietly for an entire class period absorbed in a book.

  I have worked as a literacy teacher in impoverished settings for over ten years and I cannot explain how much your contribution means to these students. A lot of my students have negative sentiment towards reading. It's imperative that I have an engaging library to pique the interest of even the most reluctant reader. I can proudly say that I have accomplished that this year with your donations.

  Thank you!!!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kia and 7 other donors.

• The NEED to Read

  Funded Dec 30, 2013

  I cannot express enough gratitude for your donations. Obtaining books of high interest in a classroom is always a must and some how the last thing thought of in a school's budget. I was actually out on maternity leave when my students received the books, but upon my return all of the books had been devoured!

  Although it was a bit frustrating tracking down the books, it's always a good sign when the library has become empty. You begin to hear students discussing books, who has this book and who is going to read it next. As an ELA teacher for nearly a decade I understand the importance in getting books into the hands of students. Many of my students have a reluctance to read because they are struggling readers. I emphasize to all of my students that it's not that they don't LIKE to read it's just the matter of finding the perfect book.

  Your donations made it possible for many of my reluctant readers to get their hands on those more engaging books. I had students reading with fervor the "Divergent" series so that they could go see the movie. Having these high interest books made it possible for students to see that reading is not just a boring task done in school. In fact, reading is something we WANT to do for FUN! Again, I thank you for your donations and your commitment to supporting reading with our youth.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

• 5th Graders Love Reading

  Funded Nov 21, 2012

  I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your donations. My students and myself are so grateful for our new classroom library. I cannot explain to you how excited I was when I got the news that my project was funded! My students were equally as excited when I shared the news.

  Upon receiving the package the students' faces lit up with joy. Everyone knew the books were coming and couldn't wait to tear into the box. Students took on the responsibility of labeling and categorizing the books to create our classroom library and have diligently maintained the order of the library. The sense of responsibility the students have shown is just an added bonus of the classroom library that I wasn't expecting.

  My students are devouring the books and take any extra moment to read independently. They even read while walking down the hallway! It's such an exciting change to see in my students who were unable to sit for 10 minutes to read a book in September. This classroom library has given my students the opportunity to see themselves as readers beyond the classroom. Again, I thank you for your generosity and regard for the learning of my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Candela

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Pumpkin Foundation/Joe and Carol Reich and 2 other donors.