Past projects 14
Empowering Future Leaders: Charging Towards Success!
Funded Oct 11, 2023Thank you so much for this charging cart!
All of our students' textbooks are now online, so it really is essential for them to have access to laptops throughout the day. In an ideal world, our middle schoolers would charge their laptops at home every evening, but that doesn't always happen, so we really need to have charging facilities plugged in and ready to go here at school.
Your generosity has ensured that 32 students have continuous access to their textbooks all day long. We really appreciate your help!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and one other donor.A Yoga Elective for Middle School
Funded Nov 29, 2022Thank you for outfitting our yoga class with these essential supplies. They look, feel and smell great!
This year, our middle schoolers have moved from a three-period day, based on 'core' subjects, to a four-period day, with time for electives. The kids get to relax a little.
And no class teaches relaxation better than yoga, of course!
As the kids' studies become more complex, more high stakes, in line with high school, it's wonderful that they have the chance to learn some relaxation techniques in yoga class!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 3 other donors."Markers Down. Raise Your Paddles 3-2-1 NOW!"
Funded Dec 9, 2018We use your paddles in Math class all the time.
When I ask the whole class a question, I give the kids a little time to think it over, and then they all write their answers on the paddles. This lets me see at a glance who has understood the lesson and who still needs help.
The paddles also inject a little competition into Math class. I wasn't expecting that to happen. This helps to motivate the children.
Sometimes the children use the paddles when I split the class into small groups. Each group has to agree on the answer before they write it on their paddle.
Your gift has been very useful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
This classroom project was brought to life by Someone Who Cares and 2 other donors.TIME to Learn English.
Funded Sep 27, 2018Thank you for the TIME magazines! We are using them with 7th and 8th graders, specifically with the intermediate level students of English as a Second Language. The students love reading about current events in TIME. The articles interest them: they are brief, to the point and have excellent graphics. They students can connect the issues to their own lives. After reading the magazines, we frequently go into class discussions. The students like to express their opinions / take a stand on issues. Your gift has proved to be an excellent classroom resource.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
Middle School Robotics!
Funded Nov 28, 2016Thank you for the kits! They have really livened up Math and Science. The students have learned a lot about robotics and one or two have even expressed an interest in taking engineering courses farther down the road. It has been interesting to see the students learn to cooperate when they build the kits. Some want to follow instructions meticulously. Others like to 'wing it'. The instruction-followers win out in the end, but the negotiations are fun to watch - and a good process for the students to go through, of course.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
Middle School Yoga Club
Funded Sep 26, 2016Thank you for supporting our Yoga Club! It is a wonderful way to relax after a long day at school. That is true not only for the students but also for the teachers. Additionally, Yoga Club gives the students an opportunity to exercise and helps them work on their flexibility. Of course, the club is a chance to make new friends. The members are from different classes and different grades, and I love the way the students bond together. Thank you for helping us enrich the children's lives after school!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
When Your Feet Just Can't Keep Still
Funded Apr 22, 2016Thank you so much! These balls are such a common-sense solution to kids getting antsy in class. We really hold the children to impossible standards, sometimes. WE couldn't remain still, working hard, all the hours of the day, yet we somehow expect our students to. The amazing thing is, when the students are free to rock to and fro and fidget on the chair balls, they remain much more focused on the lesson. These chair balls are a very practical gift for our math classroom - for any classroom, in fact!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
Reading is Fundamental
Funded Oct 27, 2015Thank you so much for funding this project! 'Renaissance Place' is a very useful resource, but it doesn't come cheap. Without the generosity of Chevron every year, it would be difficult to offer this website to our students, teachers and parents - so well done!!! We are so thankful for your help each year. Now that you have purchased an extension to our 'Renaissance Place' subscription, we can continue to motivate our young readers. 'Renaissance Place' is also a very good tool for parents and teachers, as it allows us to track our students' reading. From all of us, many thanks!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
Pump Up Sixth Grade Math
Funded Jun 17, 2015Thank you so much for donating these math games to my students. They make a big difference to the classroom. Children (and adults too, for that matter) only learn what they find interesting and necessary, so your games are exactly what we needed. Now I think about it, what really taught me multiplication as a child was acting as score-keeper in family card games and - of course - as the banker in Monopoly. The children find your games fun and they love to compete. That means that they are soaking up those math lessons without even realizing that they are studying!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell
DynaMath: Livening Up Sixth-Grade Math Lessons
Funded Mar 7, 2015Thank you for these math magazines. We bought them to make my sixth graders' lessons more interesting and more relevant to their daily lives. The first magazines arrived two weeks ago. Here is what is in the latest issue:
How many licks does it take to get to a lollipop's center? How can you measure the world's tallest sandcastle? The life story of a fourteen year old Olympic athlete. How do you upgrade a movie theater to make it high tech and luxurious, and how much does that cost? What makes a perfect pizza?
The articles are suffused with math. For example, the pizza article talks about the different cheeses that go into the pizza, their melting points and what temperature the oven should be at to cook it just right.
As you can guess, these magazines are much better than the textbook. Thank you for making my kids' math lessons so much more interesting!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Saumell