Past projects 3
Basic Tools For Young Learners
Funded Sep 9, 2015This project has given my students the tools necessary for meaningful learning to take place. It has made daily learning routines, whole group, and small group instruction possible by providing them with basic materials such as pencils, paper, dry erase markers, and erasers. This class may be the sweetest group of kindergarten students I have ever had the honor of teaching. Having the supplies provided by this project keeps my students engaged and happy at school. They love being at school and learning!
The students and I use the dry erase markers daily throughout every subject. We have small, personal sized whiteboards that we use them with. In the morning, after the students have unpacked and eaten breakfast, they have the option to read, write, or play a variety of learning games. Most students choose to use the small whiteboards with the dry erase markers. They walk around our classroom and copy words from things we have labeled, sight words we have learned, and numbers from the number line or hundreds chart. We use the dry erase boards and markers to practice handwriting, letter and sight word recognition, as well as for drafting sentences during writing. We received a gross of pencils through the funding of this project. We have enough pencils that there is always several sharpened ones available to each child. They are becoming much stronger writers and it's really exciting to watch. Some of the children came into school and could barely hold a pencil. Now, with much practice they are illustrating detailed pictures with sentences that show an understanding of the conventions of writing. None of this would be possible if it weren't for the generous donations to this project. We use dry erase boards and markers to answer questions during every subject. For example, they may be asked to write the number that shows one more than 6. They use the marker to write their response, hide it, and then show it to me on cue. This method provides all students with the opportunity to answer the question and the entire class is engaged and participating, rather than just one or a few. The copy paper is used for countless reasons. Students do not have many consumable workbook resources, so the paper is used for in class and homework assignments in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. We do not have access to many class copies of a text to use for shared reading, so each week the copy paper is used to make decodable texts that each child in the class can hold in their hands as we read together. Because the books are paper, the students can enjoy coloring in the illustrations, taking them home and sharing them with their families.
The kids got really excited one day when they watched as a brand new pack of dry erase markers was opened and poured into our shared classroom supply bin. They all rushed over to grab a whiteboard and try out the new markers. Using the whiteboards might be the most popular free-choice activity in our class. They really enjoy using them and pretending to be the teacher. When they see their pencil cups filled with bright yellow pencils that are freshly sharpened with new erasers on top, they get excited to write and complete their assignments. Isn't it all about enjoying learning after all? The students get really excited about learning and it is clear to see in their bright smiles that they are very proud of the hard work they have done.
We will continue to use all of the donated supplies on a daily basis while we work on becoming stronger writers, readers, scientists, historians, mathematicians, artists, and more. The children are being provided with a meaningful learning environment that will help to build a strong foundation for the knowledge and skills they will need in the future. In this respect, the impact of this project will extend years beyond this one.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
Tools for Young Authors
Funded Sep 8, 2014My students absolutely love their new whiteboards and writing notebooks! We use them both daily and they have been incredibly important in supporting a number of routines as well as instruction. The students use the writing notebooks during our 45-minute writing period after lunch. They are currently learning to create sentences using the new words they have learned while at the same time perfecting their handwriting. It can be very challenging for them to do this and having the blue and red guidelines in the notebooks has made it easier for my students to improve their writing abilities. It has also made it easier for me to communicate with the students when we have writing conferences. The children are in love with the new whiteboards and they use them constantly. The kids are given the option to pick one of several different academic games and activities when they are waiting for the rest of the class to transition. The whiteboards are a favorite choice of most students. They enjoy writing letters, numbers, and copying their names and words around the room. They pretend they are the teacher and do little lessons with each other at the carpet (It's pretty adorable). We often use the whiteboards in whole group activities. It allows each child to participate and it keeps everyone engaged. Our district doesn't currently have the funding to give us any materials; no books, paper, etc... Having the whiteboards, notebooks, and other materials donated to us has helped my students build a strong foundation in literacy”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
Whisper Phones! This Is So Much FUN!
Funded Aug 29, 2013When my students saw, held, and used the phonics phones for the first time they could barely contain their joy and excitement. The students said the phones were very fun to use while reading and they also enjoy using them in the dramatic play center.
They use the phones to help themselves hear the sounds when we are doing shared and guided phonics-writing lessons. As we work together to write a letter, list or story, the students use the phones to slowly sound out words and help me spell them. Using the phonics phones during shared and guided writing helps the children hear the subtle sounds in the words that we are trying to write.
We also use them during independent reading. Each student has their very own reading bag that sits on the back of their chair. It includes books that they choose themselves, a magnifying glass and the phonics phone. Each day the children take their reading bags, find a comfortable spot in the classroom, and use the phones to read to themselves. Having the phonics phones during independent reading allows the students to hear themselves as readers and sound out words that are easily decoded. Using them at this time also motivates the kids to want to read, thus building up their reading stamina. Having the phones not only has a positive and motivational impact on my students now, but will for years to come when new students enter school for the first time. Thank you for making this project possible for us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 8 other donors.