Past projects 8
Fun and Flexible Seating
Funded Aug 31, 2019Wow! The students were soo excited to see the giant box come into the classroom right before lunch. They hardly wanted to go to lunch before opening the box! When we opened the box together, they were thrilled to see the new lap desks. They use the lap desks every day when they are working on the carpet.
Adding the Bouncy Bands to the legs of the chairs has made such a difference for some of the students. They now have a place for their legs to rest and bounce. I have found that for certain students, when their legs are moving, they are better able to focus and get work done.
The most exciting thing they found inside the giant box was the Soccer Ball Bean Bag chair!!! Originally, I had wanted to order some new stools for the room, but we weren't able to order them. I had to replace the stools with the bean bag chair and the students couldn't be more excited. They love taking turns sitting in the bean bag and reading or doing other work.
Having these new materials has made the classroom more enjoyable for my students. They all feel comfortable and at home here, which helps them feel secure in trying new things and learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
Starting Off on the Right Foot
Funded Aug 13, 2019The new materials this project funded has made such a difference in my classroom this year! We use the Dry Erase Table every day. I write on it all the time and it is projected for the students to see on the SmartBoard. The students love getting the chance to come up and write a message or answer a math problem on the table. They love being able to have the rest of the class see their work and explain what they did.
The bulletin board paper helped me to decorate the room before the students came in the first day. When they came in, the room felt warm and inviting. They were excited to see their work go up on the boards.
The students use the nameplates every day! They find their name every morning and put their nameplate in the spot they want to sit each day. It has been very helpful with helping the students learn to spell and write both their first and last names.
The new name tags will be used when we go on our first trip! The students are excited to get to use them.
Thank you again so much for all you have done to help our my class this year in the future classes. We truly appreciate everything.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Flexible Storage for Organization in the Classroom!
Funded Aug 23, 2018The Flex-Space Storage Cart and Bins have made such a difference in our classroom. The students are able to keep all of their materials in one place and no matter what we are doing, they know where to find everything. The students are learning good organization skills and practicing keeping all of their materials neat.
Whenever we are ready to start a new subject, the students know where they need to go to get all of their materials. It saves us time when changing subjects because I no longer have to pass out materials, they are able to keep all their materials in one place. The students are all excited to have a bin of their own and a special place for all of their materials.
The Storage Bins and Cart have helped to keep our classroom neat and organized. The students are enjoying getting to use them everyday. Thank you so much for helping to keep our classroom neat and organized!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.Wiggle and Wobble as You Work!
Funded Aug 23, 2018Every time packages got delivered to our classroom, the student's eyes lit up. They couldn't wait for me to open the boxes so they could see what was inside. The first day I blew up the green flex-space balls, the students were so excited! They all wanted to sit on them and bounce up and down. Now that they learned how to use them correctly, they love them. They sit on the balls when they are ready to write, read, or do math. They love that they have the freedom to bounce and move a little bit as they get their work done.
The blue wobble stools are another awesome addition to our classroom. The students love to sit on the stools and be able to rock back and forth a bit as they work. I have noticed that the students are able to focus better on their work when they are given the freedom to choose their own seats and move a little as they work. The stools wobble back and forth as the students work but do not interfere with their work.
As a whole, both the students and I are loving the new seating we have in the classroom. The students in my room seem so much happier and free. They love having ownership of their seating arrangement. I am loving the work that is getting done and also love to choose my own different seating when I can!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Comfy Seating to Inspire Great Readers!
Funded Aug 18, 2018I can not begin to thank you enough for all of your support and donations!! My students love the couch and the flex-space chairs. The couch is the perfect size for 6 and 7 year olds. They sit on the couch any chance they have to do their work. Some students love going over and reading on the couch, and others will take their laptop and do their work. It is such a comfortable and cozy spot for the students to have. The couch really gives such a warm, homey vibe to my classroom. I love to sit on the couch and have conferences with the students. I feel that they are so much more relaxed and feel more comfortable to talk about their work when we sit there.
The green flex-space chairs are another hue hit with the students. The students have the freedom to take the chairs and move them anywhere in the classroom they would like to sit. They have quickly learned how to adjust the back too, so they can either recline or sit straight up. When they are reading, they love to recline the back and curl up on the chair. When they are writing, they take a lap desk and sit the back straight up so they can write correctly. It has been wonderful to see them experiment and learn how to use the chair on their own, depending on what they are doing.
Everyone who enters my room loves the vibe and how comfortable the students feel in the room. There has been such a change in the classroom with the new furniture this year. When i send the students off to work and look around, they are all engaged in their learning. There is work getting done, and so much less talking and distractions.
Thank you so much for supporting me and my students. We are enjoying learning and are looking forward to the rest of the year.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
Practice Makes Perfect Mathematicians!
Funded Mar 20, 2018My students are so excited for all the new centers and materials! When the boxes arrived in our classroom, the students began asking what was in them. When I explained that we were getting new materials to use because wonderful people donated money so we could get new things, they all started cheering. As I took each item out of the box and explained what it was, they wanted to tear them all open and start using them then and there!
Of course, I hung up the Calendar Math Center right away. For the first few days, I was in charge of the calendar as showed the students how to use it. Now, the students have taken over ownership of the calendar routine in the morning. Every day, a different student teaches the rest of the students about the days of the week, practices counting how many days we have been in school, solves the math problem of the day, and asks the students the problem of the week. I have seen such a difference in my students during the calendar routine part of the day. They are much more confident when speaking in class and really know about the days of the week, months of the year, and especially, how to count using hundreds, tens, and ones.
The Math in a Flash Centers are such a hit as well! The students love being able to take a can and work independently when they have finished their work. I am finding the students be more focused on their work so they can finish and have the opportunity to get a Math in a Flash Can and work independently. Since they are so driven, and enjoying the cans, I have seen their math skills improve. They found telling time very confusing, but after practicing with a "game" they are now able to tell time!
We are truly so appreciative for every donation. The materials have given the students a renewed excitement for learning, when at the end of the year they tend to lose interest. Thank you for being such wonderful people and helping out my class!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
Learning Centers and Classroom Materials
Funded Oct 5, 2012Thank you so much for your generosity to my students. The centers that were purchased with the money you donated are used almost every day. The children love playing the different games. They have become excellent readers this year, in part due to the centers. The centers help reinforce the skills that I am teaching them.
While using the centers, the students are learning reading and writing skills, as well as how to work together in groups. The centers are so important to their learning but so expensive. Unfortunately the schools budget keeps getting cut and my principal is unable to purchase the different centers and games for the children. Luckily for them, you are there to support them and their learning.
We are all so extremely grateful to you for your generosity. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham
Class Library
Funded Oct 4, 2012I can not thank you enough for your donations. The bins that were purchased with your donations have changed our classroom. Our old book bins were falling apart and breaking. The new bins make the classroom so much more neat and organized. It is now easy for the children to know which bins they should be choosing books from. The bins are clearly labeled and the books are put away neatly (usually).
When children are learning to read it is so important for them to have a neat and organized library. The books are clearly labeled and placed in the bins where they belong. My children have already made such great progress in reading. They look forward to going into the library and exchanging books when they have finished them.
Thank you again so much for your generosity. The children all say "Thank you!" as well.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Becker & Ms. Cunningham