Ms. Jillian's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 5

• Teaching with Technology - An "Apple" for Autism

  Funded Dec 18, 2015

  Thank you for your generous gift towards improving the technology in our classroom for my students. We finally have access to a desktop computer for collaborative learning and research as a whole class! We are able to edit projects which include photos and videos. We are INCREDIBLY excited about our classroom printer! One student said it best "Mrs. Conigliaro - now you don't have to waste time going into the building all the time to print things for us. You just hit buttons and BOOM, its here!" And he is right - I used to have to ask my Principal to use her computer to print anything for the students by going into the main building (I teach in trailers in the back) - I estimate that having a printer saves me at least 2 hours each week to spend on more valuable planning time for my students and instructional time with them.

  I can't describe to you, how excited the children were, to receive the gift of a computer and a printer. Their little faces absolutely lit up with joy because they know how useful this technology is for them and for me. When we did research for our informational reading and writing unit, they were able to use search engines to find information to share with their groups. Its also big and bright and colorful and beautiful to look at! Language and cognitive ability no longer play a factor because once they have the technology - they are all on equal ground. Having a computer levels the playing field - they all feel a part of the team. And they LOVE to pull papers off the printer and hand them out.

  Thank you again for your generous gift to my students and your support of children in New York City public schools. You are an important resource for teachers and I thank you for your selfless contributions.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Jillian

  This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 6 other donors.

• Creating Communication Pathways for Children with Autism

  Funded Dec 1, 2015

  Thank you for your generous gift of communication technology for my students. Each day, my students have a block of time where I am expected to have them use computers or tablets to support their learning across all subject matter. Until now, I didn't have the technological support to have them do this! This is a key part of our day - having students with disabilities, many of whom also are only just beginning to learn the English language, use technology to support their learning. In addition to needing academic intervention to even access the curriculum, my students need iPads to help them communicate effectively - many of them use pictures to support their limited linguistic abilities.

  I can't describe to you, how excited the children were, to receive the gift of iPads. Their little faces absolutely lit up with joy because they know what it means - to be able to use tablets to communicate with adults and their peers. When we did research for their writing unit, they were able to use search engines to find information to share with their learning partners. Language and cognitive ability no longer played a factor because once they have the technology - they are all on equal ground. Having iPads has leveled the playing field - they all feel a part of the team in a way they didn't before.

  The iPads have also been a wonderful motivating tool for my students. Since the children feel so supported in their learning, they love to use them. As a result, I am able to support them during the rest of the lesson that is more challenging for them, using the iPads as a rewards. Once a child completes the rest of their work, they can use the iPad to support the lesson in the way that they'd like to use it - such as playing a phonics game after a difficult phonics lesson. Many times, the children don't even realize how much they're learning.

  Thank you again for your generous gift to my students and your support of children in New York City public schools. You are an important resource for teachers and I thank you for your selfless contributions.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Jillian

  This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 6 other donors.

• Teaching Using Technology - Laptops for Literate Learning!

  Funded Dec 17, 2012

  Your generous gift of computers has had a significant impact on our classroom in a very short time. The children were so excited when the box from Donors Choose came and they were able to help open it! The computers allow the kids to research information beyond the materials we have available through books or conversation in our classroom. Some of the students are unable to talk and they use the computers to gain access to a wealth of information and educational games that they need to help them begin to speak.

  When children have resources like these wonderful Samsung Google Chromebooks, they can enter a world of information way beyond what they could have imagined. The kids have been working in partnerships and doing research on animals in order to write their "All About" books for an informational writing unit this month. Without the laptops, we would have been so much more limited in what we could access and now the children know no limitations. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity to children in New York.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Jillian

• Materials for an Empty Space: Special Needs Literacy Corner!

  Funded Dec 18, 2012

  The materials that you've very generously donated to our classroom have allowed the children to engage in literacy activities in ways that weren't possible before! The children use the pillows to help them stay comfortable while needing to sit and retain attention for extended periods of time. The sensory balls and materials allow the children who have sensory challenges to remain engaged in instruction. The dictionaries allow them to look up words while they are doing research in groups during Literacy instruction. The easel allows small-group instruction and paired activities to occur. The word building activities allow them to build on their phonics and reading skills.

  All of these activities have improved the children's collaborative skills in our classroom. The children enjoy working together to play word games and complete tasks that allow them to improve their literacy skills. Without all of these wonderful materials, my students would be at much more of a disadvantage. Our school has very little money to provide rich materials like these to students due to budget cuts and shortage areas. You have given my students a really generous gift - much more than pillows, sensory fidgets, books, dictionaries, an easel and phonics building activities. You have given them a boost in becoming more fluent readers. This will stay them forever, and we will always be thankful for such generosity.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Jillian

• Materials for an Empty Space!

  Funded Jul 6, 2012

  Thank you for your generous gift of books! My students have been reading voraciously since our books arrived. My kinesthetic learners are enjoying the opportunity to put their hands on books instead of read-alouds or reading via pictures on a PowerPoint. My very visual learners have truly discovered what it means to have books that they can use to learn new words and vocabulary. In addition, the students have become more excited about changing their leveled books on Monday mornings because they actually have books to choose from in OUR room instead of visiting another classroom. Reading has taken on new meaning for the children and the books have opened many new opportunities for learning and growth. Thank you again for supporting the students on their journey to be amazing readers!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Jillian