Past projects 2
Bringing Life To Reading
Funded Oct 18, 2013"You asked for this stuff for us?" The students in my intervention groups were surprised, to say the least. As I began to unpack the boxes, we both got really excited. I went through my little speech, "these are tools, not toys." But, I knew these were really cool tools. They knew they were really cool tools. So wonderful, that the next question I got was, "Can we take them home?"
This year when I submitted my request for materials from Donor's Choose, I was looking for something that would take my students to the next level of learning by empowering them to be independent risk takers. The tool I fell in love with first was the whisper phone. I walked around my whole school with one, the first day I got it in the mail. My student's love it just as much as I do. It allows them to read to themselves and helps them really hear their own voice while reading, as opposed to only my voice. The Wizcom Reading Pens and Franklin Spelling Corrector do just that. The Reading Pens release my students from feeling like they have to guess what a word is, because sometimes guessing is not the best avenue for them. The Spelling Corrector encourages my students to try to spell words, that are often challenging to them. The Spelling Corrector has boosted their confidence and allowed them to take risks to spell words, they would not have tried in the past. I ordered more Talkboardtm's this year, because of the success I had with them last year. They are engaging and they allow me to individualize for all of my students that I service.
I am a better teacher, because of these tools. My students have become more independent risk takers, because of these tools. It is showing in my numbers, but most importantly it shows in the joy that my students have when they come to my reading groups. Reading is vivid and now, thanks to your kindness, has more "life".”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Davis
Making "Sense" Out of Learning
Funded Oct 24, 2012When I received the email that my project was funded, I was overjoyed! The students absolutely love the materials. The reading highlighters, talk boards, sentence strips, magna tabs and textured cards help my students every single day. If I begin a lesson without handing the students the materials immediately they always say, " You forgot our highlighters!" or you might hear someone say, "Can we use the magna tabs today? They are so much fun."
The resources that you have provided to my students have enriched the learning environment so much that I cannot imagine teaching without them. The resources have also heightened other educators awareness on my campus about teaching using different modalities. Thank you so much for caring about our future and the job we do everyday!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Davis