Past projects 10
The Pandemic and Pencils
Funded Jan 24, 2023The students ask for these pencils in all my classes. They seem to enjoy writing more with the proper hand support. If there are not enough of these pencils in the pencil caddy, then the students raise their hand and ask for a "big" pencil.
I am already through almost all the boxes and it has only been a few months. So I know the pencils are a success. I hoping that I get through to the end of the year without having to get more.
Thank you so much for your support. It is. Very appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
A Seat at the Science Table
Funded Dec 8, 2022We just love the colorful stools. They make the room look bright and cheery! You can see from the pictures that they are the perfect size and allow me to have a group of 7-8 children around the table.
The students love the stools. They make is fun to sit at the table. The stools are much more appropriate for the students' size than big bulky chairs. And the other teachers want some for their own classroom.
I want to thank you for your continued generosity in supporting me and my classroom. Know that these materials will be well-used for many years. I still use items in my room that were funded by Donors Choose 10 years ago. You really do make a difference.
Thanks again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
A Table for Science Groups
Funded Oct 23, 2022I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful table you brought for my Science room. It allows me to pull small groups of students who need extra support in learning. I can focus on their needs while I watch the rest of the class complete assigned work.
As you can see it also provides great space for fun projects like making slime!! Sometimes you need some extra room for all your Science materials and this table really helps us out.
Students often ask to go sit at the "back table", as they call it, to work with a partner or me, just have a different space. The table fits about 7-8 students and sometimes I need to meet with that many students in a group.
I cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
Science Investigations
Funded Nov 15, 2021The chart stand has made a big different in our Science Room. As you can see from the pictures it has many uses. First, we use the chart pad interactively. Students come up and complete or label science drawings. I use the dry erase board to list instructions for the class. Then the students are able to access the bottom shelf that organizes our Science books and Materials. Having everything in one place has simplified things for us. Lastly, the fact that it is on wheels is an extra bonus. I can actually roll it into another room when I need to, which does happen on occasion.
We are very appreciative.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 3 other donors.Science Supplies
Funded Jan 9, 2018Thank you so much for the wonderful Science supplies you sent. As you can see from the photos, students are using the pencils and paper you sent. What is not in view are the clips and notebooks they also use on different days.
The supplies came just in the nick of time. We were out of pencils in the Science room and students often come to us from lunch without their supplies. We also have a number of new enrollees that needed the notebooks you sent. Many of our students do not come to school with all the notebooks and supplies they need and so we give them what they need. It really makes a child feel much better about his or herself when he or she has all the supplies just like everyone else. And it makes me happy that when a child needs something, I can just pull it out of the closet and give it to them and say, "no problem".
We are currently writing the curriculum for the last 2 units and producing teaching materials. We are using the box of copy paper you sent to help with this. I am very grateful for your support. We will continue to improve our Science program thanks to you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
Keep Supply Lines Open!
Funded Nov 29, 2016The materials you so generously donated are now reaching approximately 250 students. This is because I use them in an ELA enrichment program I teach to various classes K-5, and I am using them in after school Test Preparation as well.
Believe or not, many students do not have crayons, folders or even pencils when they come to school. Parents just cannot buy everything. I give out at least 12 pencils per period and then I resharpen them. These go to students who would not have anything to write with if I didn't have pencils for them. The folders are being used mainly in TEST Prep for our special materials and these folders are so sturdy I will be reusing them for a number of years.
The biggest smiles come when I take out the classroom set of crayons that you bought. "Wow!" they say. They have never seen anything like it. (see photo) And of course, in this set - everyone gets their own little box of 16 crayons to use. They all feel so happy that they have their own set and it is the same as everyone else.
I cannot thank you enough for helping me with this. It is a great example of small things mean a lot.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
WANTED! Chapter Books
Funded Oct 5, 2016I again, want to thank you for these wonderful chapter books. I have used them to help my students learn that they can read just for fun. My goal is to make my students life long readers. I have used the books to create a time called "Free Read". During this time students can choose any book they want to read, they do not have to complete a reading log, and they do not have to write about the reading strategies they have used. They just read the book.
And what has been the result? Whenever I announce it is "Free Read" time, they CHEER. Yes, they cheer. The are so anxious to get one of the books you bought. The Captain Underpants books are so popular, that I am going to order more myself from Scholastic. During our regular independent reading time, my students make it through about 15 minutes before they get bored, squirm and want to go to the bathroom. With these books, my students are reading "eyes-on-the-page" for 30 minutes. They don't move, ask to go to the bathroom, or try to talk to one another. I think they could read longer but our schedule doesn't permit it.
I am excited to see how much my students reading has improved when we do our next formal assessments in January. In the meantime, I will sneak some assessments in now to see how things are going. However, I am convinced that your donation will have a larger impact than reading assessments. Students are going to find favorite authors or books. They will get interested in a book series and want to read all of them. This is the beginning of making a student a life long reader. We could not ask for a better result.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.The Best Use of Technology
Funded Sep 16, 2016The iPads you generously donated to my classroom have been enthusiastically received by my students. They all are eager for their turn on these tablets. Most of my students do not have access to much technology at home, and it if they have any - it is usually not something as sophisticated as an iPad.
The iPads are supporting a required part of our Math Curriculum, called Personal Trainer. This feature tracks individual student performance and adjusts the content of the training session for each individual child. All students in the school are to be using Personal Trainer, but most can't because of lack of access to technology. Your gift has made this possible for my students and I cannot thank you enough.
We also have school wide access to an online library that has over 5,000 books. So the students can go online and choose from a greater variety of books to read in the classroom. And it doesn't take up anymore space to store them!!
Lastly the iPads are a great reward for good work or good behavior and the students can come up at recess and use them.
The other teachers are amazed that I was able to receive these iPads for my students. Thank you for sharing and giving.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
Safety First
Funded Jan 18, 2016I cannot describe how the beautiful and very sturdy chart pad stand you purchased has transformed my classroom. My students now sit comfortably in the meeting area during Math, Reading, and Writing. There is no fear of it falling over, in fact is mobile and we move it around to where we need it.
Students are able to come up and write on the chart pad, as well as on the reverse side which is a line magnetic white board. I sent a picture of a student writing on this to show you. Because that side is magnetic, we also use it for letter tiles during phonics.
The bottom of the stand has a large space that lets me store chart pads and other papers neatly and out of sight. Without it, I had to stash the pads in the closet where they would sometimes get damaged.
I don't know if you saw the pictures of this stand, but this is a stand that can last for more than a decade - that is how well it is built.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell
This classroom project was brought to life by Dorothy and 11 other donors.Creating an All ESL Class
Funded Nov 19, 2013I hope you saw the pictures that included students working near or under the 2 huge pocket charts that you bought. One chart is red, the other green. These allow my students look for words and their associated pictures to build vocabulary. Even other ESL students who visit my class, now know to look to the wall with the pocket charts for words.
My students love using the colored caddies for Math manipulatives. They are color coded by table. It makes it very easy for table monitors to get and replace them during Math Lessons. I will also be using them in an after school program for my students who need extra help in Math.
The other resources you bought - the timer, the clip art and the signs are items that I use to help manage the class and they are very helpful.
Again, I thank you so much for helping my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pell