Past projects 4
Help Build Our Library!
Funded Sep 19, 2013I cannot express how truly thankful I am that you donated to my classroom. With your help, our social skills library from the 80's has been updated to include over 25 new, colorful books that discuss relevant topics such as cyber bullying, dealing with anger, and making friends.
The students I work with have a range of disabilities from minor social difficulties to ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, and Cognitive Impairments. Many of them have negative attitudes toward books in general and will only participate in reading-focused activities if they are being read to. However, the first week I showed my students the books for them to look through and several of them put up a bit of a fight when it was time to go back to class. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Since then, I've been able to incorporate many of the books into a curriculum I use called "Superflex." It helps students better learn to put themselves into others' shoes by learning social cues, solving problems, and taking responsibility for their own actions. I've been so happy how easily these books help expand upon material from the curriculum each week. They provide a visual way for my students to learn these skills that are so crucial for their success beyond the classroom.
Thank you again for your generosity! I acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices you made in order to help my students. Not only have you helped provide a valuable lesson for them about giving to others, but the books you gave will be also used to help hundreds of students in the years to come. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Deal
Visual Learning for Kids with Autism
Funded Apr 5, 2013Thank you so much for your generous donation to my DonorsChoose project. The iPad that you donated has helped my students every single day. We use it to learn new emotions, develop personal visual schedules, make behavior videos, and play games designed to increase attending and focusing skills.
My students' lives are filled will technology and it helps me so much to be able to teach them in the way that they learn. Not only have I seen improvements in their ability to stay on-task, but they also are more excited about learning!
Without your help, my students and I would never have had this vital resource. It means so much to us that you would be willing to give of what you have to help us. As I've said before, I appreciate the sacrifices you made to help my students. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Deal
Our Kids Need to Move!
Funded Nov 8, 2012I cannot express how truly thankful I am that you donated to my classroom. I work with over 60 students each week, and I received 60 smiles last week when we got to try some new activities with the supplies that you helped to provide.
The kids absolutely love using the body balls as chairs. I've have seen HUGE increases in my students' abilities to focus and work while they are in my room. I have even had a few teachers ask to borrow them to try for some students in their classes as well, so instead of 60 kids, you've helped closer to 75!
My students also love playing Social Skills Jeopardy with the dry erase boards. I don't know exactly what it is about having a dry erase marker instead of a pencil, but complaining has drastically decreased on questions that require a written or drawn answer! Now, students that complained or were hesitant to write on paper have no problem at all writing their answers on the board.
And last but not least, the sensory balls and spot markers! I can't tell you how thankful I am to be able to provide a fidget toy and personal space marker for my students who struggle to stay on-task. Not only have the students felt more successful in my classroom, but the fidgets have allowed me to cover more information because I don't have to spend as much time redirecting off-task behavior or repeating myself. So for those, I personally thank you!!
As I've said before, I appreciate the sacrifices you made to help my students. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Deal
Hands-On Learning!
Funded Apr 25, 2012I cannot express how truly thankful I am that you donated to my classroom. I work with over 60 students each week, and I received 60 smiles last week when we got to try some new activities with the supplies that you helped to provide.
The kids absolutely love using the frog bean bags to score points when they answer problem-solving and friendship skill questions correctly. Several of the frogs already have names that the students have given them! Every once and awhile, I let students choose their activity for the day if they have had several weeks in a row of good behavior. This week, many groups actually CHOSE to use the frogs to work on "being good at school" and "not getting mad" instead of playing Candyland, Trouble, or another usual favorite game. I was shocked!
They also enjoy using the photo cards to play emotion matching games and discuss how their actions can make other people feel sad, mad, or happy like people in the photos.
And the tangles...oh my. Those were the toys that several of my students automatically picked up the first day I laid out all the new materials for them. I can't tell you how thankful I am to be able to provide a fidget toy for my students who struggle to pay attention and stay on-task. Not only have the students felt more successful in my classroom, but the fidgets have allowed me to cover more information because I don't have to spend as much time redirecting off-task behavior or repeating myself. So for those, I personally thank you!!
As I've said before, I appreciate the sacrifices you made to help my students. I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Deal