Past projects 65
Visual Learners Unite and Excel!
Funded Oct 1, 2018Thank you so much for coming through with these awesome supplies for my kiddos! We are about to start an election-themed project and I am really excited for the campaign posters and advertisements that my students will now be able to create. These supplies are vitally important, since many of my kids aren't able to afford the kinds of supplies that can really bring this learning to life.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Arts Funder and 11 other donors.Critical Thinking for Critical Times
Funded Aug 23, 2018Gratitude plus excitement is a tremendous way to start the school year! Thank you for sending my kids a message that people really do care about their future. These books are a dramatic and engaging foot into the door of Civics and literacy and I couldn’t be more excited to re-start my class library with them. You are the best!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 11 other donors.This Could Totally Transform a Generation!!!
Funded Feb 13, 2013It is really hard to fully summarize the impact that this project has had on our school. First, there is the immediate impact in my room. Then, there is the impact on the vision of our school. Also, there is the impact on the creativity of our teachers, and finally, the increase of awareness that this project provided our students.
I have had nearly seventy projects fulfilled by Donorschoose and this on has provided the biggest boost to student learning, by FAR!!! Not only did the laptops allow me to deliver my content in a a very engaging way, but it also allowed us to start developing the technological fluency our students will need to be truly competitive in the future. I was consistently amazed at the new levels of academic development that these computers provided: typing, spelling, technical reading, problem solving, grammar, collaboration....the list goes on and on!
Another cool perk from this project is that it has forced us to really re-evaluate the way we teach our kids. With so much concrete data that pointed to excellent student achievement on the Chromebooks, it showed that all of our students need to be on these computers regularly and we are working to make that happen for our students as I write this. Your gift provided us with the evidence that we needed to successfully advocate for enormous change at our school!
I also noticed a marked change in the creativity of our staff when the Chromebooks arrived. Teachers saw what our students were producing in a very independent way and it empowered them to think outside of the box in their own class. The shift was very exciting to see, and bodes well for the future of our students!
Finally, our students gained a huge reality check. First, there was the excitement of getting the computers and all the possibilities they provided. Next was the realization that the work was even harder on the computers and that not growing up with this technology made things quite difficult. Then, they started to figure out that kids that have had this technology their whole life had a huge advantage and that they are behind in the race to college. I am confident that our students will respond to this challenge like they always do, with a ton of zest and grit and that they will ultimately turn this disadvantage into opportunity!
Thank you so much for making this happen. This letter is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact this gift has had and I am forever humbled and grateful.
PS - I know Donorschoose usually sends hand-written notes, but I thought it was appropriate to have typed ones for this project. Hope you like them, typos and all!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
Mystery Solved! Teaching World History Through Inquiry!
Funded Oct 31, 2012You should see what happens when students get to do engaging activities as they rigorously dig into the literature involved in a robust ancient history unit. I am consistently amazed at how the zest they have for the activities spills over into the reading and writing that is a foundation for college prep level work.
With the books that you helped our class get, we have been able to successfully integrate a rigorous literacy program and exciting activities while encouraging our students to read content based books at home. It has almost made my job too easy!
In addition to these wonderful academic gifts is the more spiritual side of things. Our students have once again received the message that they are not alone as they climb the mountain to college; their is, in fact, a huge number of people out there that believe in them and that are willing to throw down and help them. This is truly the part of the gift that is priceless.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
The Road to AP Class (and College) is Paved with DBQs
Funded Sep 9, 2012High-flying 6th graders prepping an AP-level essay while I teach the rest of the class their grade level lesson? Is this a dream come true? The height of differentiation is happening in my class due to your generous gift and I could not be more grateful!
We have successfully completed two DBQ's (Document Based Questions) from the binder you provided for us and the results have been amazing. There has been incredible projects completed by our highest students, independently, which frees me up to spend more time with the students who need more guidance.
So, though this project directly benefited the highest of our students, the ripples from the drop in our pond continue to ripple out. I cannot wait for DBQ number three!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 3 other donors.Books Make Our World Go 'Round!
Funded Nov 27, 2012Do you have any idea how difficult it is for 6th graders to grasp the concept of 5000 years time? How hard it is to explain how there were people before the year "0"? It is quite a difficult undertaking and it is an aim that can only be achieved by repeated exposure to really meaningful materials.
That is where you came in for us and we are so grateful! With the (relatively) little time we have to cover so much material, the books you provided us with have allowed our students to explore their curiosity and interests at their own pace.
Those who say that kids that aren't curious and creative these days surely haven't met my students! What I see is that they are only limited by the influences and experiences that we can provide them. Thank you so much for your help!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
Roses Grow From Concrete In Jax!
Funded Nov 27, 2012Though it was far from conventional, one of the greatest parts of my education was the hip-hop of Public Enemy, KRS-1, and others like them. These talented musicians and critical thinkers introduced me to a perspective that I could not find in any textbook and I will be forever grateful.
It is this same perspective that I am trying to show my students with Roses That Grew From Concrete. Though my students live a similar reality every day, it is rare for them to see their lives so accurately and honestly represented in the classroom.
Because of your generous gift, I now have the task of providing the transformative lessons that my students need. I humbly accept this responsibility and gratefully look forward to the results.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This New, Magical Combination I Have Found!!!
Funded Mar 22, 2012First of all, let me apologize for my thank you package being late! I did a terrible job of lining up my dates to get the cards done and I could not be sorrier. The fantastic books you have given us are already in heavy rotation and are being deeply enjoyed by our students, and you deserve the thanks you are due.
Thank you so much for these books! You can't imagine how much easier you have made my life. When I start the year off with such engaging books, it sets a great tone for the year and truly gets our scholars excited about learning! They can't believe they get to read books like this, and they don't even stop to think that they have just spent an hour straight reading!
Again, I apologize and I am deeply grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
Malcolm vs. Martin? Debate!!!
Funded Jan 11, 2012You often hear teachers complain that they don't get to do much critical thinking in their classes. Don't tell my secret, but I have found it to be pretty easy by incorporating some vigorous debate into my class. Students read eagerly, think deeply, write freely, and push themselves intellectually when they engage in debate.
With the books you donated to our class, I am able to take this to an even higher level by engaging our students with two of their civil rights heroes and their opposing view points. It is great to see students challenged in views that they had previously been comfortable with.
So next time that you hear that no critical thinking is going on, please make sure you let them know that our KIPPsters in Jacksonville are tearing it up!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This classroom project was brought to life by PricewaterhouseCoopers and 16 other donors.All Schools Need to be Bully Free Zones
Funded Feb 2, 2012Everyone knows what a huge problem bullying can be, that is no secret. What seems to be the secret is making students aware of what bullying actually is and the potential impact it can have on students. The book Bullying in Schools has been a tremendous resource for our school as we tackle bullying head on through our advisory program.
We have found that a lot of kids really do not understand that what they do in social interactions is actually bullying and it has been very interesting to see how they are open to changing when they really realize what they have been doing.
The pictures you see are from a lacrosse tournament that our bullying prevention poster contest winners attended. Needless to say, they were very excited by the trip and put the books to amazingly good use!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Buck
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 2 other donors.