Past projects 165
A Little Bit of This & That!
Funded Oct 7, 2020Thank you so much for helping me to create a learning space for my students in my home! When we were given the news that the majority of our school year would be virtual, I was unsure of how to create an at home classroom environment for my students. With a family of my own, having to find additional space can be tricky. Thanks to you, I was able to create a mini office while having classroom resources to assist with organization.
I believe that every resource in this project has been useful, however, some have had great utility already! The office chair mat has helped to prevent unnecessary scratches and wear and tear on the floor in my home. I was able to secure an office chair and once assembled, I worried that constant movement would damage the floors. The office mat worked perfectly as it allows me to pivot and move effortlessly, without creating a lot of noise and scratches.
Teachers are responsible for many documents. As a special education teacher, I accumulate many documents on planning, meetings, etc. The file folders have helped tremendously with being able to keep things in order. These have worked so well that I will probably replace the file bins in the classroom with the plastic storage and linen storage set. The mouse pad and rechargeable mouse have also helped with easier navigation during instruction. I have to say that these items are used on a daily basis!
Thank you so much for assisting me with creating an at home learning environment for my students. The materials that you have purchased will not be limited to home use as I am sure that we will all be in person, as a whole class, soon. With this being an interesting year for everyone, I am thankful that you were able to help my students with adjusting to their new learning environment.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 7 other donors.The Start of Something New!!
Funded Aug 11, 2020Thank you so much for funding our project! During the time that it was written, we were beginning our new experience with distance learning. At the time, everyone was unsure of what to expect. We are now eight months in and the once new territory is now much easier to navigate!
Having a monitor has made a world of difference for these teacher eyes! Even if I didn't wear glasses, looking at the computer for extended periods of time can cause eye strain. With the monitor, my experience has been a bit enlarged, making the time devoted to online instruction go a bit smoother. When using two computers, I can connect the monitor and engage in presentations while monitoring student discussions in our chat or breakout rooms. This has also helped me to manage behaviors that may occur in our virtual space. I truly don't know why I am just now learning about the goodness of this resource.
Quite possibly another game changer with this project has been the wireless earbuds. I was accustomed to still using the headphones that came with my cell phone from years ago. However, the ease of the wireless buds and the sound quality exceeded my expectations. I was surely late to the blue tooth pairing party!
There is nothing like being in the classroom but these resources have assisted me with implementing instruction to my students as I would in the classroom. It's so different not being able to open packages in front of my students at school. But I can assure you that we all share the same excitement and sentiment with our gratitude. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and one other donor.I Can See Clearly Now!
Funded Sep 16, 2020We are almost at the end of our "not so regular" school year and it has been very interesting to say the least. While we have had our ups and downs, one thing has always remained consistent. We can count on individuals such as yourselves to provide resources to our classroom, whether in-person or virtual. For this, we are truly thankful that you were able to provide us with a document camera that was needed for learning, especially reading. This one resource has helped to keep costs down when getting items to students as well as keeping costs down when paying for literature resources for students online. It's the gift that keeps on giving!
In school, we have an entire closet dedicated to guided reading books. With these books, we are able to expose students to texts based on various reading levels. These books assist us with tracking and improving reading lessons and further assist students with reading and reading comprehension. Virtual learning looks a bit different. Subscriptions are required and books have to be downloaded or purchased to be able to provide students with similar texts. The document camera has changed it all. I no longer have to worry about free memberships running out as I am able to use actual books to continue to expose students to a variety of texts.
I also appreciate the real time experiences that we are able to have with the document camera. Students are still becoming used to technology and are not always able to access PDFs or attachments that we send during our lessons. With the document camera, they don't have to worry about these challenges and can easily view content. Even better is that I am able to take pictures of the resource being used with the document camera to upload to our classroom chat area. Finally, we are able to incorporate fun activities such as bingo, scavenger hunts, and math challenges. The more we learn about technology together, the more opportunities we will be able to have!
Thank you so much for bringing a classroom feel to or virtual learning experience!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 2 other donors.Operation Save Our Learning!
Funded May 28, 2020Thank you so much for funding the office supply resources needed for distance learning. When the items arrived, we were at the beginning of our distance learning experience. Teachers had limited time to grab items from our classrooms that would assist us with teaching from home. In the midst of the rush, I neglected a few essential items. Thanks to you, I was able to begin the process of virtual learning a bit smoother.
It was a bit difficult to adjust to our various at-home classroom settings. Prior to creating an office space in my home, I was accustomed to having my computer on the dining room table or placing it on my lap. The laptop stand has helped to balance things out tremendously. I also found it helpful that it came with compartments to be used for distance learning. Items such as finger space resources to remind students about spacing letters, to letters that could be used during language arts have assisted with instruction.
I am an educator who loves a good pen! With the pens you provided, I've been able to section notes by color as well as take notes during meetings that are held almost daily. Just like in the classroom, there never seems to be a dull moment even in virtual learning. The Rocketbook Notebook has helped me with jotting down thoughts and ideas on the go. Once done, I am able to upload them into files to be saved for later. I had never heard of this resource prior to distance learning but now that I have, it's been really helpful during important meetings. I also underestimated the use of the stylus with this project. While I do have a mouse, I have found that using the stylus allows me to be quicker with virtual annotations.
I needed a bit of office space to give some semblance of a classroom and the items that you purchased assisted me with this task. This has been a new experience for everyone involved and I am thankful that you were able to help my class along the way. Thank you for thinking of myself and my students!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Picture Perfect Packets Are on the Way!
Funded May 9, 2020Thank you so much for providing our classroom with resources for distance learning. It's been quite a year, but we are still able to find happiness through it all. So naturally, when I visited my students with pictures and packets to get them started, they were very excited. I must admit, I was very excited to see them as well!
My students require quite a bit to be able to get through the school day. Yes, they have access to technology and that's great! But sometimes, they require an alternative to technology when the steps become too cumbersome. So, with your assistance, I was able to provide them with accommodations that I would have been able to provide if we were in the classroom. Quite possibly the best part was taking on the spot photos to be used as keepsakes until we get back into the classroom.
Included in our pictures are last moments in the classroom before everything closed as well as pictures from seeing my students outside of school! I had a great time with this project and it wouldn't have been able to happen if it weren't for you. When we get back to school, I'll be able to take more pictures of our learning together. Thank you so much for providing us with the tools to get us through distance learning this school year.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 4 other donors.I Am Finally Becoming A Exceptional Needs Specialist!
Funded Oct 17, 2019Thank you so much for funding my Exceptional Needs Specialist project! This has been a two year journey in the making and I have reached the very last step. Upon completion and approval, I will become an Exceptional Needs Specialist. This last step would not have been achievable if it weren't for you!
What a school year! Due to the shift from classroom learning to distance learning, my students have had to become more resilient than they would have been in the classroom. They also had to take on tasks such as accessing and implementing technology as well as getting used to communicating using multiple platforms. Distance learning has also been a learning experience for me, in terms of resilience. Based on the knowledge that I have acquired while preparing to become an Exceptional Needs Specialist, I have been able to ensure that my students are continuing to learn based on their needs. The presence of COVID-19 has delayed my last submission of materials until the fall of this year. With this in mind, I am able to continue to gather and prepare my final documents and proofread my written reports needed to become an Exceptional Needs Specialist. Since we are transitioning to summer break, I will be able to devote more time into making sure that my final checklist is complete.
Again, many thanks for funding my Exceptional Needs Specialist project. I hope that you enjoy our captured moments of learning. I look forward to being able to engage in a professional learning community whose interest regarding special education are the same as myself. That way, we can make a greater impact in advocating for students with disabilities.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.For the Love of STEM!
Funded Oct 14, 2019Thank you so much for funding our STEM project! Usually I wait until my students open the boxes before telling them of the contents. But I was so excited about these items that I couldn't help myself, and told them as soon as it was funded. Hopefully you'll be able to get a glimpse of their excitement as they opened the packages.
I welcome any and every method needed to expose my students to learning. I am a special education teacher and I love it. However, I know that part of my students learning means that they will have to use a variety of learning styles to get the job done. I also know that there is great value in providing students with hands on learning opportunities. Thanks to you, you have provided all of these things for my students and I couldn't be more grateful.
With STEM being such a huge influence in schools, I wanted my students to be exposed to the many facets and applications of STEM. I was fortunate enough to have several of my students participate in the science fair at my school last year. It is my hope that exposure to these projects will not only develop a further interest in STEM related opportunities, but that it will also open the door for project ideas for the science fair.
When we received the box with the legos, one of my students was quick to yell out, "Ooooh Legos. Legos!" The lego plates that I requested will help us to save student work. Now, when I advise them on cleaning up from playing with the legos, they won't have to deconstruct their projects. They can save them and continue to work on them when they are provided with the time. Currently, I am working on building one of the robots with one of my students. She has a huge interest in STEM and wants to be a scientist when she gets older. In a few weeks, we are going to begin working on the robot can projects! I am so excited for my students to engage in this activity.
It's almost spring which means that we can take some of our projects outdoors! The kids have been talking about the drag race cars and I thought that would be a perfect opportunity to talk about forces of energy. An added bonus for my students is that they are going to be able to paint their cars any way that they choose while assembling and becoming familiar with parts of a car. We couldn't have asked for
a better project to be funded. Thank you so much for thinking about the needs of my students!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Volkswagen.Did Someone Say Splash Park?
Funded May 17, 2019Thank you so much for providing an out of the classroom experience for my students. While we are able to take amazing field trips to support our educational content frequently, it's not too often that my students are able to choose their own field trip based on personal interests! With your help, that's exactly what they were able to do. Although we had a last minute switch, I am pleased to say that next month we are having a class bowling trip, with a paid lunch, at Lucky Strike DC!
This field trip will be bittersweet for me albeit fun for all of my students. My class consists of 3rd-5th grade students. Many of them started with me in 3rd grade and will continue with me until they graduate in 5th grade. Out of my 11 students, 5 will not return in the fall because they will graduate and enter their next educational journey in middle school. Anytime that I am able to spend with all of my students, especially the upcoming graduates, is going to be fun and memorable. I can't wait to experience this moment with them.
I also created this project to celebrate my students growth in academics. As a special education teacher, I am able to see the effort and resilience that my students possess, especially when working in the classroom. It is not easy, when presented with cognitive and health impairments, to achieve the same goals as their same aged peers. Yet my students manage to do this, with a little bit of time and a lot of hard work. For that, they should be rewarded!
I am looking forward to our bowling trip next month! My students are now at that point where they are asking, "Is the field trip coming up?" and "When is March"? We appreciate you providing us with an opportunity to be able to have fun as a classroom family. Thank you so much for thinking about my students!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
One Apple Spoiled the Whole Bunch!
Funded Sep 29, 2019Thank you so much for providing me with a brand new computer for my professional use. When my computer crashed over the summer, I wasn't sure what resources I would be able to use to start the school year. Thanks to you, I no longer have those concerns. Previously, the computers that I have used have been refurbished. It's sometimes a hit or miss as to how long they will last. It feels great to know that it is brand new and that problems should not arise as it did with previous computers. Talk about a sigh of relief!
There are so many ways that this one resource is beneficial in my role as a teacher. The fact that it is lightweight is extremely helpful. While I'm no stranger to teaching, having to carry items that are heavy have not been so kind to my back over the years. With the MacBook Air, I am able to eliminate those concerns. Additionally, I am currently taking the steps to become an Exceptional Needs Specialist. When my previous computer crashed, I lost all of my documents and videos required for completion of upcoming components. Thanks to the immediate funding of this project, I still have time to create new videos and documents needed for the submission date! This certainly would not have happened if it weren't for your rapid response to the needs of myself and my students. Donors such as yourselves have not only helped me along with this process, but are continuing to see that I have everything needed in order to become an Exceptional Needs Specialist.
In the classroom, the benefits of technology are endless. Through this platform, students are able to view lessons from a perspective that allows them another way of thinking. I can create and print activities and worksheets for completion as well as send communication home to parents. The best part is that I no longer have to worry about seeing the colorful little ball on my screen indicating slow processing. I can immediately tie my direct instruction into a technology moment to support student learning.
I cannot express my gratitude for funding this project so quickly. I have attached pictures of the kids who you provided the resource for to get a glimpse of our learning taking place. Thank you so much for quickly addressing the needs of myself and my students.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and 9 other donors.Help Us To Make A Connection!
Funded Oct 14, 2019Thank you so much for bringing educational technology to our classroom. When we received the package, my students were a bit unsure as to how something so small could have a big impact. Thanks to you, I am able to demonstrate the benefits of this resource and show how it will help us with our academics.
There are many ways that my classroom is able to benefit from educational technology such as the Apple TV. As I mentioned in my project letter, my students learn a bit differently than their same aged peers. By having this resource in the classroom, students are able to interact with information in a way that suits their needs.
There is a lot to be said about clear graphics, images, and videos. This is what Apple TV provides for my students. While many people would see this as a resource to be used at home, it has many abilities in the classroom. For example, when we show educational videos from sites such as BrainPop Jr.com or Flocabulary.com, students are able to see the lyrics and videos clearer which could lead to further understanding of the material being presented to them. This is helpful for my students with visual deficits.
The Apple TV serves as a dual purpose for us in the classroom. We are provided with an educational experience and entertainment experience. In terms of entertainment, there are days in which we celebrate the academic achievements of students. During this time, we are able to watch movies or shows for kids. We are also able to utilize existing accounts for apps such as Netflix, Nickelodeon, and even Amazon Prime. All we need to add are the snacks that we already have in the classroom for the kids and the next thing you know, we have a in-classroom movie experience.
Thank you so much for thinking about the needs of public school teachers like myself. It's great to know that there are individuals rooting for the success of my students.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 3 other donors.