Past projects 5
Programs for Pre-K
Funded Sep 29, 2022The iPad has been a big hit in my classroom. The apps I have found include letter recognition, color and shape recognition and sorting activities. Some apps are just for listening to music while watching a video on social skills like sharing and making friends. These are all skills learned in Pre-K.
The students love the familiar characters and colorful graphics on the apps. The sound effects are also very exciting when an activity is correct and completed. They are always happy when completing an activity.
Even though all my students enjoy using the iPad, there are some students who benefit a little more with it. English is a second language for many of the students and these iPad activities makes it eager for them to learn and fun as well. It is helps with their vocabulary and basic skills like color and shape recognition for example.
I want to thank you again for funding this project. It has been a huge success in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Vasconi
This classroom project was brought to life by Valhalla Foundation and one other donor.Library of Learning
Funded Aug 29, 2021I want to take this time to say thank you so much again for funding my project so that my students have many new books to read in our classroom. Since we received the books, I have been introducing many print concepts to my Pre-K class. We review the cover of the book, how to turn pages, looking at the words and recognizing letters. For the students who are not quite reading yet, which is most of them, they are using the pictures to tell the story.
These books are available to the class during our morning routine. After unpacking and signing in, the students can sit and read a book while we are waiting for everyone get ready for the day. Some of them already have favorites and always pull out the same book to read. The books are also available during center time. All our books are in the reading center with a comfy chair and couch for the students to enjoy their time reading.
As you can see, we are getting great use out of the books. The whole idea behind this project was to increase the students' love of reading as well as their recognition of letters and words. Thank you again for funding my project and making it a huge success.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Vasconi
Teaching Differences
Funded Feb 8, 2020My students are very curious with new toys and books. They will be so excited to see these new additions to the classroom. These multi cultural items will be a great tool in teaching them about diversity even at this young age. Thank you so much for helping my students learn this valuable lesson.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Vasconi
Exercise for Everyone
Funded Mar 9, 2016Thank you so much for your donation to my project. The new equipment was a big hit with the lower grade students and for the students who have limitations on what they can do in the gym. The students loved seeing the colorful new equipment that they were able to use during their gym period. It was very exciting for them to try new things and be able to participate in different activities.
One of the things we do for the students in the gym is an activity that we call "Four Corners". We place different equipment in each corner of the gym and break up the class into teams. Together with their team students perform the activity and then after a while when the whistle blows the students move in unison to the next corner. Imaging how excited they all were when for the first time, every corner had a new, colorful and exciting piece of equipment. They were all engaged and had so much fun.
While the students are involved in the activities, I am constantly observing and assessing them to make sure they don't get bored or they need assistance if the activity is too difficult for them. Since I do this, it gives me ideas on what other lessons or projects I can do with them. I research different games to play and then look for pieces of equipment that are suitable for them.
Thank you again so much for your contribution. I look forward to watching my students have a great time in gym because of your donations.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Vasconi
Get Active with Apps!
Funded Feb 20, 2015I can't thank you enough for your donation to my project, Get Active with Apps! My students were thrilled to see the iPad along with all the apps I loaded for them. They even wanted me to write down the names of these health and fitness apps so they could use them at home on their own iPads (or other tablets).
The students who are not prepared to participate in the gym or those who are injured and can not participate especially benefit from the iPad. I have loaded fun apps that they can do off to the side like a short, easy workout or question and answer apps that focus on health and fitness.
This project has made students aware that physical fitness can be incorporated with technology and doesn't have to be boring. Some of the apps have characters and fun graphics. It has definitely gotten the students interested in physical fitness outside of the school gym which is exactly what I wanted for them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Vasconi
This classroom project was brought to life by Jamba Juice and one other donor.