Past projects 10
Can you be our Sphero Hero???
Funded Aug 22, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom's project. My students were so delighted to see the project had been funded and even more enthusiastic when the robots were delivered to our classroom! This gift will benefit my future students as well. Having interactive and hands-on materials allows me to encourage and nurture my students love of learning. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and support.
The most exciting part of the robots is that they provide so many different opportunities and choices for my students. Several of my students have commented that they love learning the coding language that can be used to operate the robots. Other students have said they love solving the challenge of making a robot follow a set maze created by their classmates. Most importantly, I love that my students are having fun in my classroom!
The robots are having the most profound impact on my reluctant to learn students. These are students who are typically disengaged in the classroom and hesitant to stick with challenging tasks. Many of these students are the most engaged when we use the robots because they are having fun while learning and are given the freedom to explore the classroom rather than being asked to sit at a desk and complete work.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 4 other donors.STEM Doodlers
Funded Nov 2, 2018Thank you so very much for your kind donations. My students are obsessed with the 3D pens! I teach an arts and crafts class at the end of the day and the kids are so excited to create items with the filament you donated for the 3D pens. My students love the pens so much a few of them asked for them as Christmas gifts. They've been creating designs and turning them into magnets or giving them as gifts to family members. I can't wait to continue to share these resources with more and more kids as my arts and crafts class gets new students every five weeks! Thank you for allowing me to provide my students with new and engaging technology that makes them excited to be at school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 5 other donors.Robotics in the Classroom for Creative Thinkers!
Funded Aug 15, 2017Thank you for bringing so much joy to my students! We have Maker Space Fridays in my classroom where students are encouraged to create, build and explore in my classroom. During this time students are allowed to play with the robots, create designs using the 3D printer, use the laser cutter, learn how to code and more. Students can use the robots to learn a wide variety of subjects from math to science to computer programming.
My students LOVE using the robots. The excitement and enthusiasm they have for learning how to code the robots, make them perform and race them against one another is amazing. Students use special tape that came with the robots to create race tracks for the robots to follow within the classroom. They program the robots to weave in between their classmates legs and desks while working.
I love that all my students are able to learn programming with the robots. These products are all inclusive in the sense that my lower skilled students have the ability to program them just as well as my higher level students due to the ease of the app that goes along with the robots.
Thank you again for helping my students thrive in an every changing educational world.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and 5 other donors.Cameo Cutter to Create Positive School Culture
Funded Aug 24, 2017I am so thankful to be reminded of all the good in this world during a time when there are lots of not so good things happening. Thank you to you all for supporting my students and allowing them to be creative in the classroom. I love allowing my students to be completely and totally themselves within my classroom because I believe it allows them to be the best students they can be. I believe this tool will be a favorite piece of technology in my room this year!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 4 other donors.A Long Walk to Water
Funded Dec 3, 2012I cannot express to you how much my students appreciate your generosity. The novels that you donated have helped my students understand what day to day life is like in Sudan. My students felt a strong connection to the non-fiction aspect of the novel. My students are even interested in participating in a fund raising project to help the main character of the novel, Salva Dut, continue to build wells in South Sudan.
Our school does not have the funds to purchase new textbooks, let alone a set of class novels, so without your help my students would have never had the chance to experience this wonderful book. The ability to relate and understand what life is like for other cultures is a vital part of building empathy and understanding.
Without your caring donations we could have never made this possible. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by Build-a-Bear Workshop Foundation and 2 other donors.Multicultural Explorers
Funded Nov 6, 2013Thank you so much for your generous donations! I can't tell you enough how excited the kids were to receive a subscription to Science World and to receive another iPad mini. Being able to make real world connections to science is really important to me. I want to encourage my students to pursue careers in the health and science field. Having them read Science World helps me show them how interesting careers in those fields can be.
Once a month we have Science World days where students can read with a partner and enjoy the articles from the magazine. Students challenge themselves by answering the comprehension questions on the back of the magazine. We've also been able to watch some of the interactive videos that go along with the articles.
Having the iPad in the room is a wonderful resource students can use when they have a question about what we're studying and I don't know the answer. Students love being able to have technology they can easily carry around the room with them and use at their desks.
Thank you so much for preparing my students for future success in high school, college and beyond. We are so very grateful!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
Exploring the Exciting World of Engineering!
Funded Feb 4, 2017My students feel incredibly lucky and thankful that you were able to make a donation to complete our project. My students are in LOVE with the K'nex and Keva planks! Any time we finish an activity in class they ask, "Can we build with the materials in the back of the room??" They love the tools so much they are asking if I can buy more Keva planks so they can build bigger projects. I love that they are so excited about simple toys. It is refreshing to see my students working together to create something rather than sitting in front of the computer staring at a game!
My students weren't sure what to think of the Keva planks at first, but as soon as they began playing with them they were hooked. They love trying to build the tallest tower or replicate designs from the booklet that came with the kit. They are constantly thinking of new things to build and want me to take their picture with the designs.
I hope that I can buy some more Keva planks this summer so my students have more access to them next school year. We are in the process of turning my classroom into a Makers Space with a focus on robotics and engineering so I am looking to acquire any and all tools that will help inspire my students to become the builders and designers of the future. Thank you again for your generosity and kindness. My students and I appreciate it more than you know!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
Help Inspire Scientists of the Future!
Funded Mar 11, 2016My students were fill of excitement when they heard we had received a subscription to Scholastic ScienceWorld magazine! My students were thrilled that they would be spending more time reading about exciting science news from around the world as well as learning more about the wide variety of science occupations they can choose in the future. I love seeing 6th graders get excited about science!
The resources are being used almost every day! When students have free time in class after finishing their required class activities they love reading the archived ScienceWorld magazines on the Chomebook as well as watching the accompanying videos. When new issues come we spend the entire class period reading and talking about the articles as a class. Students have said they love, "getting to relax and read about things they actually find interesting." They are given time to talk about what they read with classmates and don't feel like it's work because the articles are so interesting (and sometimes gross!).
The project boosted my confidence as a teacher. It feels amazing to hear your students talk so passionately about a subject that is often neglected because it isn't reading or math. I know the magazine has allowed my students to become more confident reading nonfiction material and has helped spark their creativity about what types of careers they would like to pursue in the future.
Thank you so much for supporting my teaching and my students' learning. Your support has made my students excited about science AND reading and that is a gift that is irreplaceable!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 3 other donors.Science Explorers!
Funded May 21, 2013My students were thrilled to receive not only another iPad for our classroom (this makes two!), but to receive a subscription to SuperScience. It is so helpful to have tablets in the classroom when conducting research projects. We just recently finished our science fair projects. My students loved being able to use the iPad minis to research their topics and to take pictures of their projects to include on their science fair boards.
I've been using SuperScience as a reward for students on Fridays. I allow students to check out a magazine and read with a partner. I love seeing students engaged in science that they can connect with on a personal level. My students don't always see the importance of science, especially because we don't take standardized tests in the subject area. Having SuperScience allows my students to see science being applied in the real world and not just in a classroom or laboratory. It helps students see there are many career options for people who love science.
Thank you again for your generous donations!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
Holy Tim And Moby!
Funded Jul 4, 2013My students are in love with the weird, silly robots! We appreciate your generous donations so we can use BrainPop in our classroom. We love starting lessons with Tim and Moby. Currently we're learning about rocks and landforms so we've had the chance to watch videos about rock types as well as the rock cycle. If we ever have free time before or after an assembly I let students choose BrainPop videos they'd like to watch as well. I love being able to give students a choice in their learning and spark their interests in subject areas we don't touch on in the classroom. I can't say enough about the importance of technology in the classroom. Your generous donations have turned our dream into a reality. Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Huschen (Raykovich)
This classroom project was brought to life by AKJ Books and 9 other donors.