Past projects 17
Help Students with Special Needs Strike a Chord
Funded Dec 24, 2009Please forgive the delay in writing this letter --- I received the Big Macks, but the additional devices were back-ordered --- should hopefully be coming soon.
They too are communication devices so I am definitely looking forward to using them.
Meanwhile, the Big Macks are being used and I am so happy to have them. I program either words, melodic lines, drumbeats or repetitive lyrics to a song. At the appropriate time the student strikes the device and is able to then actively participate in my music class, chorus or bucket band.
The fact that he or she may be unable to speak and/or move does not stop that participation -- thanks to your Big Macks.
I can also program phrases such as "I like this;" "I don't like this;" "Turn the page;" etc. This enables students to initiate an interaction.
Your generous donation has added so much to my program.
Thank you so much for everything.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
My Special Students Need to Continue to Hear the Rhythm
Funded Dec 16, 2009The ChatterVox came today! It is being charged as I write and I cannot wait to use it. The old one is wearing out rapidly - this new one came just in time.
As you will see by the photos that I will submit, the ChatterVox is a wonderful piece of equipment.
The speaker is enclosed in a hip bag that goes around my waist. The microphone is on a headset. As a result I can project my voice "Hands free." I don't have to hold a microphone and I am not tied to one place. I can move about the room and the amplified sound moves with me.
What I love is the fact that I don't stand in one spot -- with the sound coming from a speaker across the room.
Many of my students have difficulty focusing on a person --- I have found such a difference in their response when I use the ChatterVox. I don't know how I ever managed without it.
Another great advantage is the fact that I no longer strain or abuse my voice. I teach between 4 and 5 periods per day. Because so many of my students are nonverbal, I do a tremendous amount of speaking and singing. Yes, we use augmentative devices so they can participate -- but I still have to sing --- and sing --- and sing. Thanks to my ChatterVox I no longer have to strain.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your generosity -- especially in this economy.
You are all such special people -- and your donation will definitely be paid forward for a long time to come. Thank you again for everything!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
Help Our Physically Challenged Students Rock to the Beat!
Funded Nov 7, 2009Oh my goodness! What a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving! The materials have begun to come in and they have already made such an impact on my students. For example, Devon is a severely intellectually delayed teenager. It is so difficult to get her to focus on a task --- or should I say - "Was" so difficult. The Mozart Music Cube lights up when you strike the instrument block and plays a classical melodic line. When you strike it again it turns off --- and you can create an infinite combination of orchestral sequences. Devon loved it! It held her attention of almost the entire music class --- and she quickly learned how to activate it.
The drums and gongs that came in are wonderful in that they can be placed on a table or a wheelchair tray. Students who could not participate in my bucket drum band now can. They can also increase their participation in my general music classes.
I have begun to take photos and will upload them as soon as possible. It is hard to say who was my excited --- the kids or myself.
Thank you so much for donating so generously, especially in these tough economic times.
You are all such special people and I will always be grateful.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a wonderful Holiday Season.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
Please Help a Child Who Cannot Move or Speak..... to Learn.
Funded Mar 13, 2009I can't thank you enough for giving so generously to our school. As you can see by the photos, the students were as happy as I was. Mina was delighted as we piled 10 packages of paper on her wheelchair tray. Despite her physical limitations she used her hands to help steady them. Alvonte gleefully held the empty box that held them and also balanced a package of velcro. The batteries that Nazneen is holding will service many communication devices. The laminating rolls are already being used.
In the photos you will see me standing with students displaying teacher made books and symbols that I use during my lessons. The fact that they are now laminated means that they will last for years.
Nazneen and Jean are standing by my bulletin board -- That display is also laminated and they are activating battery powered communication devices that have been programmed with appropriate musical passages. They are therefore participating in an interactive activity.
The photo of Donovan shows how the velcro is being used. He is working with a laminated teacher-made adaptive book with symbols that are attached with velcro --- they can be removed for matching activities and can be placed appropriately. This book can now be used repeatedly.
In another photo you will see David activating a battery powered "Big Mac." That is a communication device that can be programmed with words, phrases, melodic lines or rhythmic beats. Non-verbal students such as David can now "sing" a song. A student with severe physical challenges such as Mina can now "play" a drum or "play" a melodic line. Symbols representing what is programmed are "velcroed" onto the device - and of course these symbols can easily be changed.
Another photo shows the wonderful art work that our students produce. Our halls are covered with it. If those pieces weren't laminated they definitely would not last long.
All that paper!!!! Our supply closet was practically empty so those 30 reams of paper came at a wonderful time.
Again, I can't thank you enough for your generous donation.
If it weren't for you, the impact of our economic situation would be that much harder.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Please Help Our Students With Special Needs Feel The Rhythm.
Funded Dec 16, 2008Oh my goodness! What a wonderful holiday surprise! Thank you so much!!!
We held our winter performance last week --- and I barely had enough drumsticks to go around. As of yesterday I was still discarding broken ones.
One father took a day off from work to see his son (who had autism) perform. In this day and age that is not easy for him to do --- but seeing his son succeed made his day.
Thanks to your help, we will continue to give our students and their families many more opportunities to succeed.
Have a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year and thank you for everything”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Please Help my Students with Special Needs Hear the Rhythm
Funded Dec 23, 2008Oh my goodness! Thank you SO MUCH! I can't believe that this was funded so quickly! Since so much of my music teaching is done in various classrooms, the amplification device that you have funded will be so helpful --- it will not only help to protect my voice (I am constantly speaking and singing) but it will help the students' ability to focus on what I am presenting. What I especially like is that the speaker system will be hooked onto my waistband - so the sound will come from me -- not from a speaker across the room.
What a wonderful way to start the holiday season - and I will have a wonderful thing to look forward to when I return to school in January.
Thank you so much for everything - and have a great holiday”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.Help Our Kids Strike a Chord
Funded Jul 20, 2008Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!
The computers in my school classrooms are Macs (and the Boardmaker programs therefore are for Macs) -- but I work with a PC at home --- and so much of my preparation work is done there.
At school 4 of us share one (Mac) computer and it is not always possible to use it when I need to.
Having a Boardmaker for my PC will make things so much easier - symbols will get done faster and will be more readily available when I need them.
The new Big Macks will allow more students at one time to participate. It will also give me more flexibility during both group and differentiated instruction.
I will definitely share samples of what we do. Thank you again for everything”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
Help Students with Special Needs to Keep Beating their Drums
Funded Jul 7, 2008This is wonderful!
Thank you so much!
It has gotten to the point where several of our drums have more duct tape on them than drumheads.
It will be wonderful to have the students playing on appropriate instruments once again.
Your generosity is so very much appreciated.
Band class is something that our very special students look forward to and feel so much success from.
Several of those students attend our summer program and I can't wait to tell them what will be coming in the Fall.
Thank you again for everything”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
Please Help to Create P.S. 811Q's "School of Rock"
Funded Oct 20, 2007Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! The music stands and microphone stands will be such a help - up to now I had the use of one microphone stand - if I had it the students didn't. Now when we have a performance there will be no need to pass microphones around. Our mistress of ceremonies will have her hands free to hold and read from her "cheat sheets."
We will be able to place other microphones in front of different members of our chorus so they can be heard. The music stands will be such a help in our guitar program. I will be able to give the students books to work from. Thank you again for everything”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum
Please Continue to Help a Child Who Cannot Speak Sing a Song
Funded Oct 10, 2007I can't thank you enough for funding my proposal.
Yes - the items seem "mundane" but the batteries, Velcro and laminating pouches get used up so quickly - and the costs add up just as quickly.
Without batteries, the communication devices don't work - without paper, we can't print the picture symbols, etc., etc, etc. Thank you again for everything.
Sincerely,
Barbara ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Tetenbaum