Past projects 4
Paper to Work, Write, Draw, and Just Be Students With!
Funded Nov 17, 2022Thank you so much for gifting our community with paper!! My small groups have benefitted in such a huge variety of ways- from sheets to fill in, to handwriting paper, to games!
The best part is my students don't even realize how they're benefitting. They just think it's an everyday, regular thing. And it really is. But without this paper, I would have been scrambling all year. I've even been able to share some with other teachers in our school!
Because I do small group intervention, our needs are constantly changing. In my kindergarten group, we just got a new student who speaks very little English. I made an extra copy of the book we were ready for her to take home and practice with.
In my 5th grade group, we're currently getting ready for the ELA state test. But my students need the most practice with multiple choice questions, so I'm able to create new questions for them and add them into their test prep books. For my math group, I created fact-family games for them based on their goals. When they've learned those facts, we'll print off new cards to add in!
So many different ways that I'm able to use the paper to meet my students' needs on a daily basis.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 4 other donors.Print the World in Color!
Funded Sep 6, 2022After approximately 3 months of having a color printer in my classroom, I can honestly say it has been extremely useful! I no longer have students constantly ask why black and white printouts or copies are colored in (by me!) and it is a huge timesaver. Obviously I pick and choose what I use the color ink for, but it is engaging when we do use it.
They love having games to play no matter what, and having them available in the planned colors makes life so much easier! Often, a game is designed using 4 different colors of cards. Try playing that one when you print it out in black and white! One of our favorites has been Gobble Gobble, a sight word game that I printed out and laminated for the pre-Thanksgiving week. I was able to take the template I found, edit it on my computer to differentiate the word lists used so that different groups were using different words, and *still* print it out in color (and so that no group knows they're using different words!!). It was the most requested game the week before winter break as well!
Finally, the most obvious way the printer has been useful has been that I don't have to leave the room. One day, my colleague was absent and I ended up taking one of her groups. During the period, I was able to print off more materials for my surprise extra students, and they were able to participate fully. Last year, I would have had to send students down the hall to "find the printer closet"- and then return with more paper... and then try to troubleshoot from afar. This is much more successful! It's the little things, but they make life so much easier!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
Remote or Hybrid Learning Requires Computers!
Funded Aug 11, 2020I have no words about how useful this laptop has been so far this year. We have been both in-person and fully remote during this year, and having a laptop and headphones have enabled me to work efficiently in either environment.
I ended up taking on a new role this year (in this year of flexibility!)- I'm the "remote learning coordinator," which means that I'm working mostly with families and staff, to help problem solve technology issues as they pop up. (I'm the one-person help desk!) I also teach a computer class 3 periods a week. Having this laptop has been lifechanging, for myself, the students that I do see (although they don't realize they're benefiting!), and the families and staff I'm working with.
Much of my day is spent answering emailed questions from families. If I don't know the answer, I'm able to quickly find the answer, which I wouldn't have been able to on a slower device. I have the memory to discover and learn about new platforms, like Whiteboard.chat (or figure out new ways to help students work together, as shown in the pictures- students were using Padlet to collaborate on a research project over Zoom, while sitting in the same room. I'm also able to test out breakout rooms and other teacher questions over Zoom.
The student I'm shown meeting with one-on-one where I was showing him a new way to view his work (the A) has had a particularly challenging year. He has gone back and forth between full remote and just switched to blended learning, which means new teachers. To be able to sit with him in a breakout room and teach him a skill that will help him stay a little more organized was incredibly helpful to him and his teacher, and he told me now that he's in person that he's been using this view regularly!
Thank you again for funding my project- while this year has been nothing like I expected, I certainly could not have done anything without a laptop!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.If You Give My Students a Mouse, They'll Probably Ask For...
Funded Oct 28, 2012curriculumThank you so much for your contribution to our wireless mouse and keyboard! We received our wireless mouse and keyboard in November. Utilizing them in our class over the last few months has been even better than I expected, and I love the "silent applause" and gasps I hear every time I pull either one out. We've used them throughout the curriculumâto sort our Word Study words, type explanations of Math problems we solve together, edit Writing, practice skills in Reading using PowerPoint where students choose an answer with the mouse and get taken to a new slide to see if they're correct, and explore online Science and Social Studies resources like the Tenement Museum website and the Simple Machines Rube Goldberg machine!
One of the statements in the new Common Core Standards used to describe a college/ career-ready student is "[Students] use technology and digital media strategically and capably." Thanks in part to your generous donation to the project, my students are well on their way to achieving that goal! They have the opportunity to use the keyboard and mouse more often than when they just used the computers during activities, and their typing skills are improving.
All my students are loving the chance to use the mouse and keyboard. Here are some of their own thoughts about the experience. "The first time we got it was the best time of our lives. We dance and talk about our wireless keyboard and our wireless mouse." I've also noticed my students' focus immediately increases when I pull out either one, as one comments: "I get bored watching Ms. J typing. It's so tempting to doodle or read. Now, I'm more focused on the typing on the board. Everyone wants to type. Even I do. (I HATE typing)." Another agrees, as the idea of making things appear on the screen from far away is especially fascinating," It lets us type our word study words and helps us learn them. I thought it was cool because I did it from far away!" Two more both enjoy using it in Math and wish they had one at home!
Some students who generally struggle with writing are waving their hands to volunteer an answer and type a sentence as soon as I pull out the keyboard. Some of my students who are English Language Learners are hesitant to talk, but are much more likely to volunteer to type and use the mouse, so participation from the entire class has increased as a result of a keyboard and mouse!
I cannot thank you enough, but I also cannot say it better than my third graders, who say, "I could just explode with thank you-s flying around me!" and, "You are as kind as a baby puppy!"”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones