Past projects 2
Self Regulation Baskets
Funded Dec 3, 2023Thank you so much for funding our project! I host an after school club for students who want to change the world one small change at a time. They listened to their schools mates and planned this project themselves. These tools will help fourth and fifth grade students learn to recognize and take control of their emotions. We're so appreciative!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Donaldson
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 9 other donors.City of Ember - Class Set
Funded Mar 29, 2016Thank you so much for helping my students by purchasing these books. I have taught this book before, but the copies were old when I inherited them. They fell apart last year. I've had so much success teaching this particular book that I couldn't imagine not teaching it.
Many of my students are below level in reading when I get them at the beginning of each school year. My job is to get them ready for middle school and I take that job seriously. I believe the best way to teach a child to read is to share my love of reading. Once they have that, it's so much easier. Therefore, I choose a variety of genres in hopes that I'll find something for everyone.
We also do a mix of various types of reading. I start books by reading them aloud while they follow me silently. This teaches fluency and they never even realize they're learning because they love the act of story telling. I also use this time to think out loud about the book. Book lovers this while they're reading automatically and don't have to or don't remember being taught to do it. Some children do need to be taught to think about what they've read, though. For some, struggling with the words takes all their energy and there's nothing left for comprehension.
City of Ember is great for that. The detail, imagery and figurative language and allow children to create wonderful images in their mind's eye. At times, we will go back and read paragraphs again just to really see it.
Finally, it's just a good book. I had a none reader, who only wanted to watch the movie, get into this book and beg to keep reading when class was over. At the end of the year when we watched the movie that goes with the book, he told me he liked the book better because the movie that played in his head while he was reading was better than the actual film. That was a huge surprise coming from this kid. It's also why I continue to teach and I why I appreciate your gift so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Donaldson