Ms. Dobkin's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 31

• Setting Sail on the Waves of History!

  Funded Sep 19, 2014

  Thank you so much for funding our atlases! We have already used the atlases several times this year. It is amazing how much knowledge is contained in each atlas. We have used them to compare the different types of world maps that exist. This was a great opportunity for the children to learn that maps are used for more than simply to show where things are or give directions. We subsequently used the atlases to learn the definition of continent and ocean, and to identify all of the continents and oceans of the world. This week we are returning to the atlases to begin our investigation of Holland during the time of the founding of New Amsterdam. Thanks so much for funding these great resources, which my students are excited to take home at the end of the year!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

• Make Great Literature Accessible To All Students

  Funded Oct 11, 2014

  Thanks so much for contributing to this project! Last week we plugged in the listening center for the first time, and the kids were completely wowed by it. It was great to watch them react while listening to Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one of the books on cd that was funded by this grant). With so much technology at their fingertips at home, including video games and social media, I worried that they might have a cynical reaction to something as simple as listening to a story on tape. I was wrong to have those concerns. They laughed along with the funny parts of the story, widened their eyes at the surprising parts, and generally had a ball. Thank you so much for allowing them to have another way to access great literature. Right now I am planning all of the ways that we will be able to utilize the listening center during our next book club unit.

  Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

• History Gets Crafty

  Funded Sep 17, 2013

  Thank you so much for contributing to this grant! This very week we have been working on sewing moccasins using the awls, felt, needles and thread that you contributed. It has been challenging for the kids to measure and sew their own shoes, but it has been very meaningful in terms of giving them a small glimpse into the world of the Lenape. Each child now has a better understanding of what it was like for the Lenape to make every item of clothing.

  The class has done a great job of reflecting on their own moccasin making experience, and contrasting it with the shoemaking process of the Lenape.

  This work has been very multilayered, and multidisciplinary. I am so grateful to you for providing us (and the other 3rd grade class in our school) with the ability to embark on this moccasin making journey!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 9 other donors.

• Put the Focus on the Work, Not on the Wobbly Furniture!

  Funded Nov 20, 2013

  Thanks so much for contributing to buying our new easel. The kids are so excited to see it finally assembled and in use. Having the easel, and its storage space, has really made a difference in our room. It has helped us to organize the myriad materials needed for our daily work, from dry erase markers to books to math worksheets. In addition, it is exciting to know that we have such a solid, sturdy work station for the class to use. We no longer have to worry that our dry erase board will fold up or collapse!

  Thanks again.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

• Weaving A Message

  Funded Sep 14, 2013

  Thank you so much for funding our wampum belt project. My students have seen photos of 'wampum belts' made by previous classes, and they are so excited for this upcoming project. I try very hard to make sure that all of the Lenape crafts that we do reflect our respect for the Northeast Woodland Native American tribes. Before weaving these belts, the children research historic belts, and see actual belts during social-studies based field trips. Weaving the belts is the culmination of this work. Doing projects likes this gives the children an understanding of the cultural traditions of woodland nations. It also allows them a small taste of what it was like for the Lenape and Iroquois to create all of their possessions from natural materials. This is quite an eye opening experience for modern, city-dwelling kids.

  This is the first year that our classes have had our weaving materials paid for by a grant. I truly appreciate your generosity, which has paid for the weaving materials for two 3rd grade classes!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.

• Be Your Own Spell Check

  Funded Oct 3, 2013

  Thank you so much for donating the spelling dictionaries! My students use them every day in school, and for homework. This year, having a class of all 3rd graders, I have really noticed that using the spelling dictionaries has given the children more ownership of their writing work, and imbued them with a sense of responsibility that they otherwise may not have felt. I see them trying in earnest to look up words when editing their writing work. It is gratifying to hear them asking each other what letters a word begins with. They don't just skip looking up words by asking each other how to spell the whole word. Instead, they really want to feel that sense of accomplishment that comes with successfully finding and correcting a word. I see them bonding over this work. Because each one of them owns the same dictionary, they can better help each other to use the dictionaries.

  Thanks again for supplying my class with spelling dictionaries for their 3rd and 4th grade years!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

• A Lovely Place to Read

  Funded Sep 14, 2013

  Thank you so much for the all of the wonderful books, plus the beanbag chairs. As a public school teacher, it is not easy to come by quality new books. At my school, we are reliant on the PTA to pay for books, or we teachers buy the books ourselves. For this reason, it is so wonderful to be able to have donors supply books to our class. Without you, we would never be able to come by such a large and diverse assortment of books for our classroom library. The best part is, the children are able to take these books home to read for homework, which adds further depth to the great reading experience that they are having at school. The beanbag chairs have also contributed a lot to our room, helping to create a fun, relaxed environment in which to read. Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and one other donor.

• Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Social Studies Craft Projects - Nothing Cutesy About It!

  Funded Nov 19, 2012

  Thank you so much for the many art supplies. I have taught social studies for 8 years, and I have noticed that hands-on social studies projects make the greatest impact on my students. We tie these plays, games, crafts and other projects in with the curriculum, in order for them to be intellectually meaningful for the students. Most recently, we made clay pots with the clay that was paid for by this grant. We made the pots after reading the portion of The Indians of New Jersey in which the main character, Dickon, first learns to make pots in the Lenape fashion. We then adapted his method for pot making to suit our materials and modern purposes. Finally, we analyzed illustrations in order to understand Lenape designs, which we used as inspiration for our own pot decorations. We try to use a similarly thoughtful approach with all of the craft projects that you have funded, including wampum-weaving and moccasin sewing. Thank you again for allowing my students to have these meaningful social studies experiences.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kaplan2013 and 2 other donors.

• Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Enliven Our Library!

  Funded Nov 19, 2012

  Thank you so much for the wonderful books! It is very important for the classroom to be a happy and safe environment for my students. Having the classroom as a safe haven was even more important in the wake of the Hurricane Sandy, which displaced many students from their homes. Having a well-stocked class library has really contributed to my students' sense that their classroom is a welcoming, vibrant learning environment. It has also been great for my students to know that they can check out any of the classroom library books to read at home, especially because many of my kids come from home environments where book are uncommon. I can not stress enough how excited my students were by the books that you bought for us. This is particularly so because the books spanned a variety of genres and reading levels. Almost every child in my class knows what everyone else is reading. They keep tabs on their classmates' reading choices so that they may discuss the books in informal book groups. Another motive, though, is to keep track of who has the book that each of them wants to read next! Again, thank you so much for your generosity!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

• Kids Should Be Able to Spell Without Spell Check!

  Funded Sep 7, 2012

  Thank you so much for your generous donation! Our spelling dictionary program has been integral to teaching my fourth graders to spell for the past several years. Owning the dictionaries has been especially helpful to my students. Because they are able to take their dictionaries home each night to use for homework editing, they become much more familiar with the process of looking up words than they would if they just used the dictionaries at school. Using the dictionaries daily also helps my students to become more familiar with many forms of each word. For example, they become acquainted with how to spell 'complete,' but they also learn how to spell 'completed' and 'completely.' This helps them when we study past tense verbs and adjectives. For reasons like this, the dictionaries are an essential aid in my students' word study, rather than just helping them with their spelling. Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Dobkin

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 2 other donors.