Ms. Ricke's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 3

• Learning Outside of Our Classroom... Within Our Classroom.

  Funded Sep 17, 2023

  Thank you so much for funding our proposal! The supplies and sorting boxes are very much appreciated, but the VR systems are the really big hit.

  My students use the VR systems in so many ways. As in many Chicago schools, we don't have a playground on our campus or any really designated play space in the building. One way the kids really love the VR system is to play "Supernatural" - a VR balloon popping exercise game set to music from Disney to their favorite Taylor Swift or Beyonce music.

  Another way I love to use it is with my twice exceptional students. If that's a new term for you, that means my students with an autism diagnosis and very evident autism traits who are also working intellectually and scholastically well above their same-grade peers. Many of these students also have extreme interests in topics like animals, space or cars. I've been able to download self-paced, exploratory apps on the VR where these kids can get "hands on" or "real life" experiences in their areas of interest. This is so motivating for these kids who can, on occasion, kick back against doing the 'boring' classroom work. They really like earning their VR time when they meet the class expectations.

  Additionally, my students who need to experience things in order to really understand them have benefitted from learning about things in the VR environment to help make concepts that they may not have another way to experience or understand. Being able to bring that almost-real-world information back to their homeroom can really help the kids who struggle with independent reading understand the content and context of the material the class is reading. Sixth graders have experienced Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech as if they were there, decades before they were born. First and Second graders have walked the ocean floor learning about sea stars, sharks and octopi.

  Again, thank you so much for helping my special education students get more out of their school day.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ricke

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares.

• My Students Need to PARCC Themselves in Front of Technology!

  Funded Aug 7, 2014

  I am so excited that my scholars are going to receive iPads to help them prepare for the PARCC, MAP and life in general in a technologically advanced world.

  It means everything to me that you were willing to help make that happen for my scholars. When I gave them the news today, I'm pretty sure the cheer could be heard across state lines! :)

  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support of these 75 5th graders! You're helping to close the information gap one group of scholars at a time.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ricke

• Upgrade Us To iPads

  Funded Aug 15, 2013

  I cannot thank you enough for funding my iPads. They are such a phenomenal resource for my 5th graders.

  As many of you know, the brand new building we were supposed to move into in August is still - half way through October - not finished and may not be until January. We have 'taken refuge' in a disused school nearby, but we do not have even one-quarter of our regular classroom supplies and materials. And things we don't have with us are, of course, things like our laptops and desktops and the internet infrastructure to run them on.

  The iPads allow us to stop and check facts and pull up pictures and additional information as we go through our science and social studies lessons. My students with special needs are using Dragon to dictate and then copy long writing assignments that typically challenge them and stress them out a great deal.

  Students look forward to their day each week to have the iPads in their Centers rotation. They've done everything from work on their photography and videography skills to playing science games where they have to 'blast' the bad bacteria and "Bill Nye the Science Guy" games where they have to use vectors to launch a ship from planet to planet and then learn about each planet as they get there. To help prepare for a geography test they played a continent and ocean game that was far more entertaining and helpful than a text book or old fashioned flashcards could ever be.

  Of course, as with all new technology, the iPads are a wonderful incentive to help students remember to always display their best conduct and strong decision making skills. Each day students who have had an exceptional morning are allowed to continue to work with and explore the iPads during recess. This has prompted something of an informal competition to get to the top of our conduct ladder the quickest each day.

  I've bought a connector to attach the iPad to our school's projector which allows us to stop and show a movie or look at a picture as we go over concepts which furthers our comprehension in all subjects.

  These iPads couldn't have come at a better time. With all the technology we currently can't access, it's fantastic to have a few small (easily packed when we finally get our new building!), up to date and highly engaging electronics to keep us going even under our very trying circumstances! Thank you, thank you, thank you all again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ricke