Past projects 8
Leaping into Literacy for Our Tubman Toads!
Funded Oct 1, 2024Thanks to your generosity and support I have better access to technology to support our Tubman teachers and students. This new computer has allowed me to lead weekly data meetings with teachers to analyze student work, record teacher lessons to reflect on together and access curricular materials to plan and adapt instruction!
I cannot express enough how your donations have improved my ability to teach, lead and support educators in their work with students. The greatest feature this new computer has given us access to the recording of teacher lessons! There is not better way to reflect on our teaching and develop plans for improvement then being able to see ourselves in action. I'm excited to continue exploring all the ways to bring new technology into the school and classroom thanks to all of you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
Music on a Cart - Moving Music Around the School!
Funded Oct 15, 2022Thank you for your generosity in donating to this project to provide a new cart for our Harriet Tubman Elementary School music teacher Ms. Walker. The new cart is being used to bring more instruments around to classes, such as box drums like a cajon, as well as being able to have space for all drumsticks and drum pads and technology such as speakers. Additionally, the new cart is large enough to have a piano on top of it, which is going to help students work on their pitch matching skills while singing. This has allowed to students to have more materials to work with during their rhythm unit. The noise cancelling headphones have allowed me to provide an adaptive learning experience to students who have a difficult time participating safely with loud noises.
When the students saw the new cart they were very excited, and when they were putting all their materials away at the end of class it was much easier for them to fit everything on the cart. The larger cart also gave them more space to hand in their papers from class. They were also very happy for their teacher, because they were excited that their teacher did not need to push multiple rolling carts around anymore.
The next steps for our students with the new cart, is that they are beginning their instrument families lesson cycle, and so will be able to see many more instruments in person and up close as the teacher can actually transport them around now. They are very excited to see all of the new instruments up close and in person, and are going to be using materials brought to them on the cart to create their own instrument which they will then make a recording with that will be mixed with other beats in the SoundTrap software. Additionally, they will be using boomwhackers to work on pitch and learning a song to perform for the school assembly.
Thank you for your support in our mission to enhance our music classroom experience here at Tubman. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 13 other donors.School Wide Behavioral Support!
Funded Aug 11, 2016This project has changed the way we track and respond to behavior at our school. The Educator's Handbook program allows teachers to input major and minor incidents into an online system that is accessible by our administration. This program has allowed for more consistent response and consequences for off task behavior. The program also breaks down where and when the incidents occurs, helping us better target and respond to situations.
We are most excited to help students and teachers identify difficult situations or scenarios that may cause off task behavior. We hope that by having a more effective tracking system we can better communicate with parents, other teachers and across classrooms. We know this referral system allows us to follow our own school data and hopefully lessen the number of referrals or suspensions.
All students are benefiting from this program. It allows us to track everything from no-uniform to number of days a child may be upset. With these features the students are getting more individualized support and responses from all staff here at Tubman. We are very grateful to everyone who made this project possible!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
Cozy Carpet for Learning!
Funded Oct 15, 2015We are loving our new classroom carpet! The students have their own spaces to sit and enjoy read alouds, whole group instruction and all sorts of fun activities. We are no longer squished on top of one another, with some students at desks and some sitting in chairs. What a difference it makes to have all the students be able to sit together on the carpet and talk/learn together.
When we first received the carpet the class cheered and screamed in excitement. They love the colors and the squares that indicate their specific space to sit during carpet time.
As we roll into January the kids are quickly growing and preparing themselves to become 3rd graders. We are currently studying fairytales and fables. As we read different pieces of traditional literature we are examining the lessons learned from these texts. The students are working towards writing their own fairytales. Thanks to your generosity we are able to learn, think and explore together on our new classroom carpet!
Thank you all again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
The Power of Technology
Funded Nov 28, 2013My students were beyond delighted to receive this new technology into our classroom! The shouts of excitement were clear indicators to the joy they felt when our package arrived. Having new ways to interact with reading, writing, math games, science and social studies has helped increase student engagement in learning. The students constantly ask to use the iPads and are faster on them than I am!
Each morning we use the iPads as a literacy station during our reading block. Students take turns in rotation of 20 minutes utilizing two great programs to enhance their reading. One of the programs is called RAZ kids where children are linked with books on their appropriate reading level, can take comprehension quizzes, listen to the books be read to them and then practice reading the book on their own. Additionally, the students use a program called MYON, which has an extensive library selection for students to choose from! Students read and listen to books in a genre of their choice and rate the books based on their content. It is so exciting to see the kids dive into reading through technology. Finally, in the afternoons, the students play various math games including time, counting money, fast addition and subtraction using the iPads.
Thanks to all your generosity the little minds of 2nd grade Tubman students in Washington, DC continue to flourish! The excitement for reading is increasing, and the student's dedication to learning continues to grow. Technology is a great engagement asset to our room and motivator for all students! We are so grateful for the benefits that this donation has brought to our classroom and look forward to continuing to explore the various components that technology has to offer in the classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
A Room for Readers!
Funded Jul 29, 2013We are enjoying our new reading table! What an impact it is making on our small group reading instruction. The students have been able to read in small groups with teacher support. This allows for us, as teachers, to provide greater support for readers as we see, listen and interject as they read grade appropriate texts. The table allows for the teacher to see and work with all students at the same time!
My students and I are utilizing this table daily. We have three guided reading groups (or small reading groups) a day. Each group comes to the table and reads a book on their level. I am able to provide feedback to each student based on their reading abilities and support them with common errors.
Thanks to your generosity, this project has transformed our literacy block in my classroom! The organized groups and ease of running a small group have increased greatly in our room. The students and I are grateful to have this wonderful addition to our room. Thank you all again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
Help Us Listen To Our Favorite Stories So We Can Read Too!
Funded Jul 19, 2012Thank you for your generous donation to my classroom. The students are so happy to have a working listening station with six headphones and a CD player. Each day the students get to engage in listening to books on CD during their literacy stations. They are developing their reading skills and learning what fluent reading sounds like. For many of the students this is also helping them read with expressions.
Our school is a Title one school with a budget that often does not accommodate such resources. My students would not get to listen to stories during literacy if it was not for you. For our many Hispanic students it also helps them learn english, develop vocabulary and listen to fluent reading.
Without donors like you, this would not have been possible. Our room and students are so grateful for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz
We Have the Station, Now We Need the Books!
Funded Aug 1, 2012I just wanted to again thank you for your generous donation to my classroom. The books that you donated have helped my students every single day. We use them during our literacy work stations. The students get to listen to the books on CD twice, and then they read the book independently. This really helps build their fluency!
Our school is a Title one school in the District of Columbia and often the budget is limited. We have a high number of Hispanic students where english is their second language. The listening station helps the students develop their reading skills and fluency.
Without donors like you, classrooms across the United States would not be providing students with all the support they need.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schantz