Past projects 165
My Journey to Becoming an Exceptional Needs Specialist Part 3!
Funded Sep 17, 2019Thank you for funding my professional development project. Thanks to your assistance, I am one step closer to becoming an Exceptional Needs Specialist with the National Board. I couldn't have made it this far if it weren't for your kindness and generosity.
I am pursuing this 4 step endeavor not only for myself, but for my students. I have been teaching for over 10 years. and 8 of those years have been devoted to teaching students with disabilities. During this time, I have been able to expand my knowledge of teaching students with learning disabilities and best practices needed to implement instruction. While there is still much to learn, I wanted to demonstrate my knowledge of teaching in this field. With laws ever changing regarding special education, I feel that it is important to be on the pulse of latest trends regarding special education law and classroom education. By completing this component and earning the certificate, I am able to meet this goal.
I am always surprised when my professional development projects come to life. While there are several projects that I have written with students in mind, I rarely take the time to pursue personal requests relating to teaching. In my mind, this was a long shot but you've proved me wrong. For that, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to further develop my craft as a Special Education teacher. I know that fulfilling the requirements of this component will require much effort and time. However, you have taken my heaviest burden, which was the payment, and made it go away. The next few months will be spent compiling and editing videos and creating written documents as I near the February deadline. By December of 2020, I will know the results of this work. Should all go well as I anticipate, I will have one last step before earning my certificate!
I do all of this for my students. When I am able, I want to advocate or assist in their advocacy as they navigate through the special education process. Funding this project lets me know that you also believe in the work that I am doing for students with disabilities. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and one other donor.The Return of Healthy Snacks!
Funded Sep 27, 2019Thank you so much for bringing healthy snacks to my classroom! Once the packages arrived, students readily assisted with creating a space to secure and store items. I can't tell you how much of a change that I am already seeing in student endurance throughout the work day. This couldn't have been done if it weren't for your efforts!
At times, my students can be very selective with their eating. I don't know too many children who feel differently. Once they become accustomed to a specific snack or food choice, it can be very difficult to get them to appreciate something else. This project was written for that "something else" kind of snack. A healthier, and tastier food choice that will not only satisfy their hunger, but one that won't have harmful effects on their bodies.
Two of my top choices in this project are the cereal boxes and breakfast bars. I believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With my students taking the school bus to school, traffic can prevent them from arriving on time. Once they grab a carton of milk from the cafeteria, they can easily have a bowl of cereal or a Belvita breakfast cookie. Now, they know longer have to wait until lunch time to be able to eat. I also have a student who is allergic to a variety of foods. When he saw the fruit snacks and Fig Newtons, he was excited. He didn't think that we would have snacks for him because he is the only student with an allergy that severe. Now, when asking for a snack, he says in a very happy tone, "Do you have my favorite bar today"?
If it's one thing that my students can't get enough of, it's the Pirate's Cheese Puffs and the Cheese-It crackers. I was very apprehensive about choosing Cheese Puffs for them because I know how much they love eating Cheetos. However, after sampling the Cheese Puffs, students are beginning to fully appreciate the benefit of this healthy snack. Thank you for nourishing my students in a way that will allow for learning to continue to take place! With my class size being small, the snacks that you have provided are certain to last until the holiday season. Because of you, each and every one of my students are provided with healthier options for eating during the school day!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and 8 other donors.Welcome Back to School!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Thank you for providing a financial blessing to the families of my students. Due to financial constraints, many of them did not have the means to purchase classroom supply list items. But thanks to you, my students have all been provided with materials that are guaranteed to last until the second semester! Additionally, I believe these resources have also assisted with building positive self-esteem, especially during their first year of the new school year. I didn't want students who were unable to purchase items to feel left out, even if that meant me having to make the purchase. Now, those worries have been put aside as everyone was able to have items to choose from!
We have almost reached the end of the first quarter of our new school year!
When students entered the classroom for the first time, they were excited to know that all of their classroom supply list items had been provided to them. The resources from this project were used immediately. We have already designated the purple folders for parent communication and homework! Students have already been using the spiral notebooks for interactive reading and writing lessons. There is also the writing journals which house student responses to their daily writing prompts. Trust me when I say that these items have great utility. My guilty pleasure are the flair pens! So far, I have been able to have a color coded system that assists me with tracking student information and academic data! It also helps me to become better organized when scheduling with my planner.
We had an amazing photo backdrop during the first week of school. We hope you enjoy a few of our favorite pictures from the event. Additionally, we have provided some pretty good moments in learning with the resources you provided. Without your support, this would not have been able to happen. I cannot thank you enough for thinking about the needs of public school teachers and their students.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and one other donor.It's Getting Hot In Here!
Funded May 24, 2019Thank you so much for cooling down our classroom! When I created this project, it was during the spring of the previous school year. The weather was getting warmer and we had a few more months of school to endure for the school year. Now that it has arrived in the summer months, as students begin a new school year, it was just what we needed. This was a resource that everyone was excited to receive and immediately used on the first day!
My students benefit greatly from the ice maker after recess and before dismissal. Organized games and typical running around cause the students to get a bit overheated during this time. When the filtered water fountain is producing lukewarm temperatures and they want something cooler, they can easily fill their water bottles with ice and water to make things cooler. With the consistency of the ice being softer than most household refrigerators, many of my students request a small cup of ice to take home and enjoy on the school bus. According to my student Khari, "I wish I had this type of ice at home". She's absolutely right because my colleagues and I have also enjoyed having a cold cup of water or juice throughout the school day.
Collectively, my students and I have realized another benefit to having an ice maker in the classroom. There have been times in which the nurse has run out of ice packs to provide for students who are in need. Now that we have an ice maker in the classroom, if she runs out of ice, we are still well suited for minor incidents and accidents. It's happened twice this school year and if it weren't for the ice maker, we would have been without assistance!
This is a resource that is easily able to be used by students. After providing directions on how to use the ice maker, which is roughly three steps, they are now able to produce the ice on their own. An added bonus is that the ice maker does not interrupt the flow of instruction with it's noise.
Thank you for cooling us down in the classroom and thinking of the needs of my students. I hope you enjoy the pictures of us learning together!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 3 other donors.For the Love of Reading!
Funded Apr 17, 2019Thank you so much for providing literature gift bags to my students for their graduation! Coupled with a few more of their favorite things, these gift bags were the best send off for my students as they journeyed into middle school. The smiles on their faces when they received the gift bags let me know that this was indeed a special project!
It was important for me to continue to stress the importance of reading beyond the classroom. While they will no longer be in my classroom, they are always going to be my "forever students". That said, I wanted them to continue in their newly developed love for reading. During the past school year, several of my girls were interested in poetry. After reading several poetry books from the school library, they wanted to read more. By providing them with copies of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming, they are able to read an anthology of poems from an individual with similar experiences.
One of my students, Kenneth, is a huge fan of Michael Jackson. He has been my student for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade and has always managed to incorporate Michael Jackson through school presentations, costumes, and dancing! At the same time, he has a high interest in graphic novels. When he received the Michael Jackson graphic novel, his jaw dropped! He didn't know this book existed and began reading it immediately (after graduating of course)! His smile and many "thank yous" was all that was needed to let me know that I chose the right book for him.
In each book, I left a personalized note for each of my students. It is my hope that they will remember their graduation day and reference their keepsakes from time to time. The books that you provided not only promote literacy, but they also promote empowerment and inspiration. Thank you so much for making graduation day special for my students!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 9 other donors.One. Two. Three....SPLASH!
Funded Apr 17, 2019Thank you so much for providing my classroom with the resources needed to have a successful, and safe, end of the year field trip! Having to alter our original plans due to days needed for graduation practice, we were a bit worried that the field trip would be cancelled. In the end, everything worked out and a good time was had by all who attended. Thanks to you, this would not have been possible.
We were able to go to my students favorite place for roller coasters and swimming, which is Six Flags America. While our initial plan was to attend a Splash Park not too far away, Six Flags had all of the water adventures that the kids needed. Between an enormous wave pool to several water parks embedded in the amusement park, students were completely satisfied with the decision that was made. Roughly 30 minutes away from our school, we were able to spend 10 hours at the amusement park. This allowed my students an opportunity to map out all of the rides that were of interest while planning their theme park experience.
Being able to have round trip transportation as well as enough resources for students and their families made this field trip experience run smoothly. While the trip was for everyone in my class, I wanted to make sure that our graduating students had a memorable middle school sendoff. One of the coolest experiences was seeing students from our school district, specifically students that my students knew, or may have been related to at the theme park.
Despite the changes, I am so grateful that you provided the resources for my students. Without your assistance, we would have been limited to a gathering at the neighborhood park for students and families. An extra advantage was that the weather was more than accommodating. Students weren't in danger of dehydration due to excessive heat and they surely didn't tire out until it was time to go back to the school at the end of the day. This was truly a sign that things went well.
I cannot express my gratitude to you for providing us with the means to have this field trip. The feedback provided from parents and students put a smile on my face. For me, that was the best gift ever!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 3 other donors.Jumping For Joy Part 1!
Funded Mar 21, 2019Thank you so much for providing a fabulous end of the year field trip for my graduating students. While our original plan was to attend Sky Zone, students decided that a field trip to Six Flags was a bit more ideal. We were so excited to be able to spend the entire day doing something that everyone enjoyed. Without your assistance, none of this would have been possible.
I wanted to be able to provide my students with an end of the year experience that they would never forget. Being at the amusement park and seeing my students in a much different element than the classroom was absolutely amazing. Students who are normally shy turned into thrill seekers by getting on roller coasters. Also, students who indicated that they were afraid to swim were splashing around on water rides and the water park.
One of my students was worried about attending the field trip. He is a bit shorter than the rest of his classmates and thought that he wouldn't be able to get on any roller coasters. I assured him that there was an option for everyone at Six Flags and he was able to see that there were rides and games for everyone, including him! It's safe to say that everyone had a great time on this field trip.
The best part about the field trip, for many students and their families, was their encounter with funnel cakes and seeing me get on a few roller coasters. Even better is the fact that students were able to socially interact with many of their peers from our school district!
We hope that you enjoy our pictures and we cannot thank you enough for helping us to get to Six Flags!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
Three Cheers For Creative Arts!
Funded Apr 16, 2019Thank you so much for funding our creative arts project! Thanks to you, we were able to have a classroom pottery studio experience with Color Me Mine! Based on student feedback, this was one of the best projects of the school year. If it weren't for your generous efforts, we wouldn't have been able to make any of this happen.
What started out as an end of the year celebration turned into a two fold learning experience for my students. As mentioned in my project, I wanted to be able to celebrate my students accomplishments in reading and math. I also wanted to do it in a creative way. Throughout the year, many of my students have expressed an interest in art. This experience allowed them to create masterpieces using a different art medium while learning about pottery. Also, some students were able to use this experience as a form of art therapy.
My students were also able to benefit from this experience from an occupational therapy perspective. With my students being in a specialized classroom, they have demonstrated some weaknesses with fine motor skills. Through this activity, students were able to strengthen their fine motor skills while manipulating their paintbrushes of different sizes. Believe me when I say that this experience was an overall win for everyone involved, myself included!
We had a really GOOD time with our pottery studio experience! Now that we have finished painting our pieces, the studio will glaze them and return them back to us. My students were already excited about their creations, but once they see the final product, the excitement will continue. Best of all, it's something they can keep forever!
Thank you so much for putting smiles on the faces of my students. This was an experience that they will not forget. Also, thank you so much for thinking about the needs of classroom teachers!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and one other donor.Color Me Crayola!
Funded Dec 31, 2018Thank you so much for funding our Crayola project! We immediately began using the materials as soon as they arrived and there has been no turning back. You have really helped us with making our classroom "pop" with colors!
I can't tell you how many times I hear, "Are we going to be able to color this?" whenever a worksheet is introduced. You'd also be surprised at the creative ways in which students attempt to use crayons or markers on worksheets where no art is required. Hands down, my students and some of the other teachers on our floor, are in love with the Mr. Sketch markers! We all agree that it's pretty cool to associate a scent to a color. It's a pretty great sensory activity as well.
Two of my students recently entered the Doodle for Google contest. This was an opportunity for them to create an artful image surrounding a theme of hopes and dreams as well as showcase their artistic skills. For these two students, they competed in a national contest for the first time! With your assistance, they were able to have several mediums of art at their disposal.
Thank you so much for bringing a little more color into our classroom! The Crayola products that you have provided are sure to last of for the remainder of this school year and the next!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Someone Who Cares and 3 other donors.A Little Bit of This..a Little Bit of That!
Funded Dec 31, 2018Thank you so much for funding our project! We were in need of a few additional items to get us through the remainder of the school year and thanks to you, we completed this mission! Students immediately began using the new folders as soon as the package arrived. While they may not have been too excited to fill the folders with homework papers, I was excited to have new folders to replace the damaged ones that students were using!
I enjoy watching my students overcome tasks that were once difficult. One of those challenges was the use of a stapler. With our electric stapler, students only need to stack their papers evenly and simply put it in the stapler. Next thing you know, their papers are in order! Easy and quick so as to not interrupt the flow of learning. It helps that it produces less frustration among students who were feeling defeated with the traditional stapler.
We engage in quite a few activities that require students to cut and paste. Students no longer have to worry about purchasing glue for quite a long time. For students, the best thing about the Elmer's glue is that it can be used to make slime during our down time. Making slime just so happens to be the best activity in the world, according to my students. They are now trying to sell me on an edible version, that doesn't require glue of course!
I have yet to meet a teacher who didn't enjoy using AstroBrights paper in their classroom. It serves many purposes for me and my students. When posting work outside of our classroom, peers are immediately drawn to the color and are able to take a glimpse of great learning that happens for us daily. Students are also able to use the papers to provide an alternative to traditional worksheets on copy paper.
We couldn't have thought of a better title for this project. Having a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, has made our classroom learning experiences go smoother. For that, we are grateful. Thank you so much for supporting our classroom needs!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Woods
This classroom project was brought to life by Someone Who Cares and 2 other donors.