Past projects 20
Start 2015 on the Right Foot!
Funded Feb 26, 2015I am thrilled to give my thanks to you! Because of your generosity, my students have benefited from the many materials supplied by your donations. My students work hard everyday and often our hard work is made even harder by the lack of sufficient learning tools. The materials I requested in this project have allowed my students to have access to more resources and, in many cases, enough supplies so that each student can have her or his own and did not have to waste precious time "waiting" for shared supplies. I cannot truly express just how precious the gift of time in a classroom is, and through your donations, we were able to work more effectively and efficiently in school thanks to all of you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
It's Great to Laminate!
Funded Dec 29, 2014I am writing to send a big thank you your way! As an ESL teacher who works with over 70 students daily, there is a tremendous need for various and plentiful resources. By being able to laminate my materials, I am able to use them for several years with literally hundreds of students being able to benefit from these materials.
As well, the students love seeing the materials we use laminated. It makes them feel that extra care was given to their creation and they, in turn, are extra careful when using them. It has been a wonderful experience being able to show them that there are kind and generous people in the world.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
Speakaboos For 1st Grade English Language Learners
Funded Mar 17, 2014Words cannot express just how grateful our school is for your generous donations! Our school is located in a struggling urban environment and many of our students come to our elementary school lacking basic foundational skills that really hinder them. We are always looking for new ways to challenge and engage them academically. When I read about Speakaboos I knew that this would be a wonderful resource for us.
We have decided to activate our account for the 2014-2015 school year so that we can get the maximum benefit from the program. I have already told the administration, including our Literacy Supervisor, and they are thrilled!
Speakaboos will be used in the classrooms during the Literacy blocks and as part of their centers-based instruction. We are hoping to increase engagement and interest through Speakaboos! You are so kind and generous for helping make our dreams come true!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
This classroom project was brought to life by AKJ Books and 3 other donors.Materials for Grade 1 Centers!
Funded Dec 19, 2013My first grade students are awesome! When they saw their new learning center games they could not control their excitement! In our school, learning centers are an important part of the day and is the class period during which I am in their classrooms providing support. The activities I selected match the Grade 1 Common Core standards that need to be learned. This is critical because the students need to be deeply engaged in what they need to be taught.
Our students are very accustomed to seeing well-worn school materials so when something new arrives, they are thrilled. Then, when this is compounded by the fact that the items were donated, it adds a whole new level of appreciation from the students. Because they are so young and English Language Learners, words like "donor" are usually unknown to them. When they understand the concept, you can just see the joy in their faces.
Not only are the materials a wonderful gift, the bigger gift is the life lesson they learn that there are kind and generous people in the world so willing to help those that are far away from them. Thank you for being part of this life lesson.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 7 other donors.Teacher Technology
Funded Oct 10, 2013Thank you so much for your generous donations. The main reason why I needed these technology resources is because I am a floating teacher. When traveling from room to room I need to have access to as many portable materials as possible to keep my lessons rigorous and interesting.
I am able to create so many PDF versions of files that I can use with my kids. Being able to create resources that are tailor made for my ESL students makes my lessons so much more meaningful and the students love seeing teacher made resources. Currently my first graders are writing narratives and learning about proper sequencing when creating stories. The differentiated materials I have been making have really helped them stay interested in their work and show impressive improvements in a short time.
We are so grateful! Thank you again so much for your kindness and generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 2 other donors.Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Elmo for the 21st Century
Funded Jan 28, 2013I cannot thank you enough for your overwhelmingly generous donation toward the purchase of an Elmo document reader for my class. It was an incredible surprise and truly appreciated!
As a teacher of English Language Learners, I know that my students need as much motivation to feel excited when learning in English, a language that is challenging and at times frustrating for children. I have been lucky to always have children who are excited to learn but benefit from new and varied modes of delivery. As well, whereas most ESL teachers work with small groups of students, I spend the majority of my day working with groups of up to 20 students. This makes the benefit of small group instruction very difficult. An Elmo lets larger groups of students see small details, the teacher's hands, manipulatives and small text that can not normally be seen unless working in a small group! It even makes "following along" during group writing and independent activities much more effective when there is a large image they can view while working! Thank you so much for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
Hurricane Sandy Recovery: It's Great to Laminate!
Funded Jan 18, 2013I cannot thank you enough for donating toward my project to receive laminating film and materials! As a teacher who frequently works with close to 100 students per day, the materials I use can become worn out very quickly. Making sure that my materials have been laminated prior to being in the hands of children definitely makes them last longer!
My students also feel a great sense of pride when they see that extra care has gone into the preparation of the materials. They see that I have taken this extra step and they often comment on how "nice" the materials look. This film has allowed me to laminate mini posters, vocabulary cards, writing prompts and so much more!
Thank you so much for your generosity! You have truly helped improve my class and the students' experience!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
This classroom project was brought to life by Tony and Nanar Yoseloff and 15 other donors.The Green Team Needs Help!
Funded Nov 2, 2012Environmental issues have been important to me since I myself was a child. So when I began teaching at my current school and I noticed that recycling and environmental awareness efforts did not exist, I sprang into action.
Since receiving the recycling materials purchased through your donations, we have been able to make the presence of the Green Team much more visible within the school. Recycling efforts have noticeably increased and students as young as Kindergarten are showing an interest in environmental awareness and respect. How wonderful is that?!
Your donations are very warmly appreciated! You have really made an impact!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
21st Century Reading (Hurricane Sandy Recovery)
Funded Nov 29, 2012Technology rocks! That's what my students tell me and prove to me every time I see their reaction to using anything technological. Attention spans increase. Interest increases. And, specifically for ELLs, I notice that their fear or trepidation when it comes to using English decreases. ESL teachers refer to this as lowering the affective filter and making the English Language Learners feel comfortable using English.
Whenever I use Nooks, for example, the children come alive. They are engaged, excited and willing to learn about anything! Up to now, I have only had two, but thanks to your donations, I now have a set of four. This allows me to share a Nook with every student now in class. As well, now they can easily participate in a guided reading group using the Nooks. This has meant that now students can read books specifically geared toward their own English reading level as well as visit student-friendly websites and feel comfortable exploring and completing activities that are on their level.
I am thrilled to have these Nooks and simply cannot thank you all enough! I am extremely grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Express Yourself
Funded Dec 26, 2012I cannot tell you just how thrilled I am to receive the materials from this project! There were several basic items that were sorely needed like the glue sticks and tape. So many of our projects rely on us having constant access to these basic materials that we are only given in limited supply. I now no longer have to pick and choose which projects are "better" than others!
Also included in this project were several language folder games and books on differentiated instruction. I cannot overstate just how critical these materials are for our students. Every student I teach is an English Language Learner and represent a wide range of language proficiency levels. This means assigning work and teaching content is not a simple task because we have to address all these differences. These resources are already making a difference in the learning of our students! Thank you so very much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pereira
This classroom project was brought to life by Ham Rove and 4 other donors.