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Mrs. Baran's Classroom

  • Fieldcrest Primary School
  • Minonk, IL
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Past projects 7

  • Dim the Lights, Relax and Learn...

    Funded Sep 25, 2022

    I am delighted that you took the time to read our request to revitalize our classroom. The ambient lighting, comfy couch, special seating, and phonics games provide a calm and serene classroom. I wish you could have been in our room on the day all of the items you purchased arrived. Honestly, it wasn't calm. Anything but! We were all SUPER excited!

    The lighting sets the stage for learning. The LED Dimmable String Lights with the dimmer switch has positively affected my students work and demeanor and the additional seating has added a more welcoming classroom environment. As one child recently said to me, "Mrs. Baran, our lights are so cool I could fall asleep on this couch! Priceless!

    Our Reading Reef doubles as a collaborative quiet space for reading, and at other times during the day, for students to work together to build number sense with a variety of games, manipulatives, and collaborative learning opportunities. The Easy-Clean Comfy couch is so much better in real life. With all the germs that are going around, it is brilliant just to wipe those germs away! Hey, it's the little things! There is no way we could have purchased this without your generosity. The couch does stay in one place, while the Wobble Cushions can be moved to different parts of the room, allowing my students to sit at their desk or elsewhere in the room. Let me tell you, those special cushions have made a huge impact on my wiggly littles!

    The chosen literacy games have been excitedly received. We have been utilizing the Pop Match Middle Sounds game to meet every student's learning ability. The academic learning paired with students' individual social emotional well-being is pretty special. The one item we have yet to utilize is the Keeper of the Castle Long Vowel game. As we are currently learning long vowel sounds, next week will be the perfect opportunity for the littles to be more engaged in their learning.

    During independent reading and small group learning, my students choose a spot that works well for them. We have a variety of locations in our room such as small group tables, sitting or lying on the floor, and alternative seating. Making sure my young scholars are comfortable is an essential component in motivating them to excel in their learning. Now, we have lighting that sets the stage for learning. There is a clam that comes over the room. I have to report, it's a little spa-like!

    Because the cost of purchasing good quality equipment can be so high, without donors such as yourself, it is unlikely our students would have encountered such a wonderful classroom experience.

    Again, thank you for your generosity and vision for reaching and teaching ALL students to be active learners and putting some light and ambiance into our special classroom.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

  • Pitch IT for Eco-Friendly Writing Tablets!

    Funded May 3, 2022

    Our Donors Choose, Pitch IT for Eco-Friendly Writing Tablets was a huge game changer for both my students and myself. We were able to put the messy dry erase boards and markers aside and venture forth into a clean and exciting world of writing.

    Our first activity was to simply explore the tablets. Ya know, you have to experiment (some would call this play, but NOT us), with our new and exciting goodies! We learned how to use them appropriately so they would last for the many first graders that would enter our first-grade classroom. We did get down to using them with writing math facts, spelling, drawing, and of course, Tic Tac Toe. Brilliant. NO paper wasted.

    Then came the BIG insect research project. Each scientist had to use at least two different resource to take notes about their chosen insect. They were able to save the notes on the tablets and continue adding to their observations. Eventually their notes turned into incredible projects. Could they have used paper? Yes. But the eco-friendly writing tablets made the projects both exciting and allowed the scientists to determine what information they needed to record to produce incredibly detailed facts.

    We appreciate that you made our Eco-Friendly Writing Tablets enter our learning environment.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

    This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 8 other donors.
  • Shout Out LOUD! Move It! Move It! Move It!

    Funded Mar 20, 2019

    I am delighted that you took the time to read our quest, "Shout Out LOUD, Move It! Move It! Move It!," to revitalize one of our favorite areas in the school, THE PLAYGROUND! Students are now have the opportunity to choose and enjoy a variety of gross motor activities that can be used independently or playing with others on the playground. Brain breaks abound!

    When I shared the news with our students that we had sufficient funding for new playground equipment they were super excited. When the equipment arrived, my students' cheers were heard by our neighboring classrooms. It is wonderful to see that you share our vision for reaching children.

    While the playground was just open and uneven tarmac with a couple of balls to play with, it now has a wide variety of items to choose from. While the playground itself is still uneven 😊, our students are able to go off into the far corners of the playground to enjoy hoops, scoop-ball sets, stilts, classic playground balls, Poof balls, and footballs for ALL students no matter their physicality!

    The students love hoola-hoops, colorful and different shaped balls for both organized games and the imaginative minds of primary school students. This is in part because your generous donation to purchase the equipment. On a gray day, the sun still shines on the faces of our students. Thank you for making that possible!

    As one child recently said to me, "Mrs. Baran, the stilts are so fun. You should try them!" Another chimed in, "How about the hoola-hoop?" Well I tried... "Mrs. Baran, if you practice you can get "gooder" like me." 😊 He then went on to demonstrate how I could improve my technique. Priceless!

    Because the cost of purchasing good quality equipment can be so high, without donors such as yourself, it is unlikely our students would have encountered such a wonderful playground experience.

    The delighted, happy, and physical experiences of our students being able to choose from a wide variety of equipment has transformed our brain-break and recess time enormously.

    Without a doubt, our students now have a variety of appealing, motivating, and physical equipment to choose from, even in the light of the much-anticipated arrival of the PTO's fundraising and instillation of larger equipment, the students continue to enjoy the opportunities you have provided!

    Again, thank you for generosity and vision for reaching and teaching ALL students to be team players and putting the sunshine into our once grey playground!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

  • I Can't Hear You! I'm Listening!

    Funded Nov 3, 2016

    I am delighted that you took the time to read our quest to revitalize and enlarge one of our favorite areas in an already lively classroom, THE LISTENING LOUNGE. Students are now able to choose and enjoy books on CD's and listen to them come to life on their own individual CD players.

    When I shared the news with my students that we had sufficient funding for our individual CD players, and would be able to expand our Listening Lounge with a variety of literacy genre's, they were super excited. My students' cheers were heard by our neighboring classrooms. It is great to see that you share my vision for reaching children.

    While the Listening Lounge continues to be a small and cozy area where students laze on the floor, snuggle-up in the corner, or plop on a cushioned bench, we are now able to transport and spill out into the rest of the classroom as more literacy agents congregate and navigate their way to other areas of the classroom to enjoy books. This is in part because your generous donation purchased the CD players and books on CD's. There is no way our district, given our financial crisis, could afford such important educational items for our room. The books and CD's are well organized too! We have each book and CD in its own transparent, washable, folder. This makes the Listening Lounge run efficiently so that the children get to settle down and listen to a book quickly and quietly. In turn, this allows far more time to kick back and relax. They are also able to return books ready for the next independent literacy agent! And of course, should they want to read the book again, they know exactly where to find it! Now that's a practical, life-long learning experience.

    As one child recently said to me, "Mrs. Baran, I can highly recommend this book." She then went into the reasons for her analysis of the book. Then there was the child who sang along to his book, oblivious of the fact that his classmates could hear him singing joyfully along to his chosen book. Priceless!

    Because the cost of purchasing high-quality books on CD's and durable CD players are expensive, without donors such as yourself, it is unlikely my students would have encountered such a wonderful literacy learning experience.

    The confidence of my young students and their reading ability and independence has increase enormously.

    Without a doubt, my students now have a variety of appealing, motivating, fiction and non-fiction books at their individual reading level and above, and CD players that work every time they place their chosen CD into the player.

    Again, thank you for generosity and vision for reaching and teaching ALL students.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

  • Get Hooked In The Book Nook!

    Funded Oct 31, 2014

    I am delighted that you took the time to read our quest to revitalize and enlarge our favorite place in an already lively classroom, THE BOOK NOOK. Students are now able to choose and enjoy books of interest at their individual reading abilities.

    When I shared the news with my students that we had sufficient funding for our mobile bookshelf and non-fiction books, they were super excited. My students' cheers were heard by our neighboring classrooms. It is great to see that you share my vision for reaching children.

    While the Book Nook continues to be a small and cozy area where students laze on a couch, lay on the floor, and snuggle-up in the corner, we are now able to transport and spill out into the rest of the classroom as more literacy agents congregate and navigate their way to other areas of the classroom to enjoy books. This is in part because your generous donation purchased a rather extravagant book shelf on wheels. There is no way our district, given our financial crisis, could afford such an important educational item for our room. This book shelf is so well organized too! We have labels on each section with letters showing students exactly where to return books once the books have been enjoyed. They are independent agents! And of course, should they want to read the book again, they know exactly where to find it! Now that's a practical, life-long learning experience.

    In addition to the mobile bookshelf, we now have sufficient copies of books to add to students individual Book Tubs! There is no longer the need to 'hide' that special book. Students can take the books to other areas of the room, such as the Office Area, The Listening Lounge, or tucked into a comfy-corner to read and enjoy. The sports books have been a huge hit!

    We have just launched our research projects, where each child chooses an animal to investigate and then write in a variety of genres! The non-fiction books with colorful pictures, text boxes, and array of factual information, are now more appropriate for my first grade students. Because the cost of purchasing high-quality books is expensive, without donors such as yourself, it is unlikely my students would have encountered such a wonderful literacy learning experience.

    The confidence in my young students and their reading ability and independence has increase enormously. Without a doubt, my students now have a variety of appealing, motivating, non-fiction books at their individual reading level, and a book shelf for easily accessing texts of their choice.

    Again, thank you for generosity and vision for reaching and teaching ALL students.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

  • "Can You Hear Me Now!" I s-a-i-d, "Can You Hear Me Now?"

    Funded Sep 27, 2013

    I am delighted that you took the time to read our quest for a reliable audiocassette recorder for our listening station. When I shared the news with my students that we had sufficient funding for an audio device and books for our literacy station, they were super excited. My students' cheers were heard by our neighboring classrooms. It is great to see that you share my vision for reaching children.

    The audio device that you funded will enable my students to listen to a variety of literacy genres, specifically non-fiction books, on CD's and cassettes. The Spider book by Gail Gibbons is amazing. She has such a gift for writing non-fiction books for children. The package you helped purchase should be in every classroom! In addition, students, other teachers and I will be able to record books on tape that we already have in our classroom library, for our listening area.

    The listening area is now sporting red 'walls', a small desk for the recorder, a shelf for a variety of books on tapes and cassettes, and, yep.... a device that actually works! The simple push of a button and voila... voices! It actually works!! We are awaiting a fabulous couch for our listening center... Lime green! Ooh-la-la!

    You have no idea how easy it is for my students to simply push a button and be able to listen to their books. Life in our whole group and small group times has become so much more enjoyable. Our listening station is a dream-come true! Thank you again for your kindness. Life is good in first great... We can hear you now!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

  • 7R's: FiRst GRadeRs ReseaRch a Topic, Then WRite CReatively!

    Funded Jan 27, 2013

    This letter is a small token of my appreciation for your kind donation to our classroom. The non-fiction books that you provided my students have encouraged my young literacy researchers to read and write in a variety of genres on a mammal or insect of their choice. Each student has been provided a variety of books that are at their appropriate reading level. The array of books has also allowed each student the opportunity to have their own copy of an animal they have chosen to research.

    If you were a fly on the wall in our classroom, you would observe students reading, writing, sharing, and totally engaged in their research. Our room has come alive with enthusiasm. Researchers are no longer frustrated having to decipher non-fiction books far beyond the level appropriate. Further, each child has their own book!

    Sadly, due to budget cuts, our school is unable to provide such fundamental resources for our students. Reading non-fiction books provides a foundation for future researchers and writing experiences.

    Without donors such as you, students across our Great Nation would go without.

    Thank you for your generosity in supporting the minds of young children,”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Baran

Our first grade classroom is full of life! We are scientists, technologists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians in addition to being readers and writers, researchers, and risk-takers. We collaborate, solve problems, apply information we have been given, increase our knowledge of complex tasks, and enjoy the adventures of learning through experiences. First graders are valuable, influential, and make a difference in our world! Oh, we also laugh, dance, sing, act, and celebrate each students' individuality.

About my class

Our first grade classroom is full of life! We are scientists, technologists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians in addition to being readers and writers, researchers, and risk-takers. We collaborate, solve problems, apply information we have been given, increase our knowledge of complex tasks, and enjoy the adventures of learning through experiences. First graders are valuable, influential, and make a difference in our world! Oh, we also laugh, dance, sing, act, and celebrate each students' individuality.

About my class

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