Past projects 3
Mindful Minds: Empowering Students' Mental Health
Funded Oct 5, 2024Thank you for your generous contribution to our classroom counseling resources. With your support, my students now have access to tools like fidgets, board games, stress balls, conversation starters, and Play-Doh. These resources have already made a significant impact on their emotional well-being and social development.
In group counseling, board games and conversation starters have helped students practice important skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. The games have created a fun, low-pressure environment where even shy or anxious students feel comfortable participating and engaging with their peers.
The stress balls and fidgets have also been invaluable during moments of stress or anxiety. For one student, using a fidget spinner during individual counseling has helped them focus and calm down, allowing for more productive conversations. Many students have also shared that these tools help them concentrate better in class, offering a productive outlet for excess energy.
The Play-Doh has proven to be an unexpected yet powerful resource. Students use it during both individual and group sessions to relax and express themselves. One particularly withdrawn student opened up about their home life while sculpting shapes with Play-Doh, creating an opportunity for deeper emotional exploration.
When the students first saw these materials, their excitement was palpable. The fidgets and stress balls were immediately popular, while the Play-Doh sparked curiosity and creative expression. Watching the students engage with these tools has been a reminder of how crucial it is to provide them with resources that support their emotional growth.
Moving forward, these tools will continue to support our ongoing lessons on emotional regulation and social skills, with future activities focused on empathy, problem-solving, and healthy peer relationships. Thank you again for your generosity—it's already making a lasting difference!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richards
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org Teen Mental Health Initiative.Exploring Theme and Imagery in Graphic Novels
Funded Aug 23, 2018Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! My students and I are extremely grateful for your generosity, and so excited to begin reading our new novel! Unfortunately a lot of the books at our school are very worn, and we don't have access to newer titles, so being able to dive into such an engaging and profound text is amazing! When I read this text the first time, I just knew that it was something worth exploring in my ELA classroom.
In reading this novel, my students will continue our exploration of finding ones voice, especially during times when finding and using your voice is a difficult feat. We will also analyze the differences between the techniques of graphic narrative and prose narrative, as well as the reading patterns for each. In doing this, students will also be able to visualize and understand complicated ideas that they may normally have difficulty comprehending. Being able to read this graphic novel will also engage my students that have been struggling with reading lengthier texts, and help them relate to the story's message in a more meaningful way. It's a lot easier for my students, particularly my students that are English Language Learners, to relate to a text when they can follow along with rich graphics. Graphic novels increase student interest and encourage my students to want to keep reading (which is wonderful)!
In my classroom, we will read this book as a whole class and engage in daily activities that include close reading, turning and talking and analyzing literary elements. Students will be asked to make connections to books we've previously read, like The Hate U Give, where the main character also struggled with using her voice, but for a much different reason. My students are super excited to begin reading and are already making real life connections based on what they already know about the story. I'm also really excited to dig into this text! Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richards
Ink for Aspiring Writers
Funded Mar 26, 2014My classes and I would like to thank you most graciously for your contributions. You have made this school year flow much more smoothly for not only myself, but my wonderful students as well. Our school does not provide student access to printing, but due to your donation, my students are able to print inside of their classroom. This is truly a great help because a majority of my students do not have access to printing outside of school either, due to situations beyond their control. You have helped us tremendously and my students are so happy.
My students were beyond excited that their hard work will no longer go unnoticed! My students work really hard taking their writing through the writing process and many are unable to publish their work using a computer because they have no way of printing it out. Now, my students are more eager to write and revise because they know they will be able to print out their work and it will go on the board for the whole school to see!
In all, this project has provided a big boost to my teaching and my students' learning because not only are we benefiting from the contribution, but my students are able to see that hard work pays off. Many students were so intrigued by the process of donating to those in need, that they would like to raise funds for next year so that they can give back as well. We have already begun recycling and selling baked treats! You should know that you have been a great help to us and we truly appreciate all that you have done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richards