Past projects 10
Make Reading Fun
Funded Mar 27, 2018I am extremely grateful for your generosity . My students will now be able to have a listening center to relax and read . His project will be a wonderful addition to my classroom as well as a motivating tool for my students . Again , many thanks for your giving hearts . I can’t wait to utilize it .”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and 2 other donors.Keeping Things Organized!
Funded Sep 14, 2017One of the challenges of working with students with behavioral challenges is that distractions need to be minimized. Every year I try to think of ways to help students focus and control their behaviors. Something as simple as these plastic organizers have made a big impact on my students. Mass amounts of paper, supplies and books are not falling out of desks. Students are also not losing their materials as often because all those things are contained in these drawers. These small changes do affect behavior.
The students love the drawers and each small group of students have one assigned to their desks. They are sturdy, easily movable and perfect for what we need them for.
I will continue to enhance my classroom to make it a pleasurable experience for each one of my kids. I aim to have a classroom where students feel a sense of belonging and safety but a place where they are challenged as well. Life skills such as organization is something I like to teach my students. It helps them feel more organized within themselves, leading to a decrease in disruptive behaviors.
Again, thank you for your generosity. We are so appreciative !”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
In Need of iPads
Funded Oct 9, 2017In a school where technology is scarce, having an Ipad is a huge asset. It allows for my students to be engaged during independent workstations. I have downloaded various applications and they now can play math and word games. It is also reward for positive behaviors.
My students love technology and their attitude about doing work via a math game is significantly better than pencil and paper. We are hoping to have an entire class set of Ipads one day but we are happy to start with just one.
Thanks you so much for your generosity. My students and I are truly grateful for the gift we have received!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
Creating A Conferencing Class
Funded Sep 20, 2016Thank you so much for this generous gift ! We now have a beautiful conferencing desk where I can comfortably work one on one with my kids . It's a space where we can set up our computer for the kids to work on as well . The white board was so essential because we work in small groups. It is a way for me to work out math problems so the students can clearly see each step . The kids all enjoy using the board to teach the rest of their small group .
They were so excited to receive these classroom additions ! You have made an impact on the school environment and for that we are all so grateful !”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Pleading For A Printer
Funded Jun 29, 2016Dear Donors,
I am so thankful for this printer I received because of generous people like you. Because of the lack of regular access to computers and printers, my students have left their work handwritten. They can finally work on typing their final writing pieces so that they have a clean finished product. Unfortunately, most of my students are not proficient in typing, again due to the lack of access to computers. With the two computers in my classroom, they now can learn to type and immediately print their work.
Being a special education teacher, I am inundated with paperwork. Having a printer in the class allows me to print out Individualized Education Plans, student progress reports, etc. It also allows me to print out worksheets for the various academic levels I have in one class.
We are only in the second full week of school and this printer has been such a blessing. The kids will be utilizing it very soon and I know they will be excited!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
Literacy Lounge
Funded Mar 9, 2016As soon as our awesome leather couch was delivered, there were tones of "oooohs and ahhhhs". A few of them couldn't wait to assemble the furniture and set up our Literacy Lounge. Our reading area has been transformed into a comfortable and inviting place for students to grab a book and relax. Now my students have a desire to read because it means they get to sit on the couches.
My students also struggle with managing their emotions and so I start off every day conducting a morning meeting which is a time they can talk about their highs and lows, discuss how they are feeling and answer thought provoking questions. Now that they have a lounge, we conduct our meeting in that space rather than at their desks. It sets a tone for the day and they look forward to their daily meeting.
We are so incredibly grateful for this extremely generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
Life essentials for Students with Special Needs
Funded Jan 19, 2016I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks for your generous donations of life essentials to my class. We got a big shipment of snacks which the kids got super excited over! They really struggle to push through until lunch and I think its important to have something to tide them over. Now they look forward to the start of the period when they have something to munch on. The food really keeps them focused on the task at hand and they are definitely more productive. I have noticed the difference!
When they received the big bucket of lip balm, they couldn't wait to pick out the flavors they wanted. They use them all throughout the day and I have had lots of requests for more. Since we have a big bucket filled with lip balm, there is plenty to go around! Our classroom is feeling more "homey" every single day. They now can come to school knowing they will be fed throughout the day and taken care of.
The shirts were a big hit as well. We needed to exchange a few to get bigger sizes for our taller students. They will be receiving those soon! The look on their faces when they knew they were receiving brand new shirts was priceless. I cannot thank you enough for what you've done and how you've made our classroom a more comfortable environment.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Team and 8 other donors.Creating an iClassroom
Funded Dec 7, 2015Because of your generosity, our class now has an Ipad which I hope is the start of a bigger technology center. As you know, our society is driven by technology, yet we are still not up to date with the tools we need in the classroom. My students work in stations and one of our stations is technology, yet we have one computer to be shared with several students at a time. Because of you we have an addition to this center and students don't have to crowd around one computer.
Not only do my students utilize various educational apps and websites, they also have a chance to earn free time where they can play some fun games to relax. Our students are on a behavioral system due to behavioral and emotional difficulties, so having an incentive like Ipad time really does work.
One student in particular is a really struggling reader and will act out to avoid doing any work. He responds well to working for Ipad time after a certain time of staying on task. We have seen a difference in his behavior with just adding this into his day. We have an area with bean bags and a rug given to us by other wonderful donors and he just plops on a bean bag with the Ipad and has the opportunity to relax.
I am truly thankful that you thought of us and gave so generously. Just know that you are making a difference in the lives of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
Two Beanbags In Search of A Rug
Funded Dec 6, 2015I want to thank you so much for helping this project get funded. Your kindness and generosity gave this classroom a colorful new rug that the kids absolutely love. They entered the room and were so excited. They couldn't wait to hang out back there. That's exactly what I wanted. Slowly my classroom is becoming the space I envision it to be and it's all because of amazing people like you!. My students utilize the rug area daily by relaxing on a bean bag and reading or just taking a break from hours of sitting in the same spot. The classroom has to be a comfortable space and you helped in making it that way. I can't thank you enough. I am so grateful for your big hearts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.Creating a Comfy, Cozy Classroom
Funded Oct 5, 2015From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generous donation! The students were super excited to unpack the bean bags and immediately jumped on them! We now have a great addition to our reading area where the kids can relax and manage their behaviors or just sit with a good book. Without fail, when one of my students is finished with their work, they ask if they can sit on the beanbag and read. It gives them a positive option when they are all done working. Many times, it is when they are bored when they become disruptive and some of them love the beanbags so much that they stay on task and finish ahead of time just so they can have a few minutes to unwind.
I really want the classroom to be their save haven where they can feel a sense of peace and comfort. The beanbags are just the beginning of a bigger plan. Our next step is to add more furnishings to make it even homier!! its because of donors like you that we can make this happen.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ascencio