Past projects 3
Special Seating for Special Needs
Funded Oct 16, 2019Teaching is not easy! It's even more difficult to be effective when teachers don't have what they need to do their job. Receiving resources and materials from donors, such as Chevron, through Donor's Choose is essential to really make an impact in the classroom, and therefore in our children. Since receiving the materials funded for the project, "Special Seating for Special Needs," my students with emotional and behavioral disabilities have blossomed! I truly believe it is in part due to the resources and materials received from the funded project.
My students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) are not accustomed to receiving new shiny materials for the classroom since many times, the resources and materials are damaged due to emotional outburst. When my students first saw the new wobble chairs, floor desks, seat sacks and pencil pouches, they beamed with delight. They could not believe they were getting new "stuff" – especially not stuff that looked fun! They were so excited to use the new chairs, that it made teaching while at the kidney table a breeze! We call the wobble chairs our "thinking chairs," and my students know they must work hard on their classwork while using them.
The increased engagement and effort because of the materials received through Donor's Choose has made a measurable impact in student learning. Ninety eight percent of students showed academic growth as measured by mid-year diagnostic assessment. I am truly thankful for the support of our donors and Donor's Choose for making learning a reality for our students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Many of students with EBD struggle to learn as their emotions make it difficult for them to regulate themselves for a learning environment. The resources and materials received gives my students a chance at learning. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Diaz
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School."Sensing a Need: A Sensory Experience for Special Needs"
Funded Oct 23, 2015Funding the resources needed to meet the sensory and physical needs of my special students with disabilities through the "Sensing a Need: A Sensory Experience for Special Needs" project has given my students the opportunity to fully participate in learning through increased self-regulation using the sensory resources. The students in my varying exceptionalities classroom require different sensory input and physical adjustments in order to fully participate in the school setting. The variety of resources donated has truly allowed me to individualize the educational setting and delivery of instruction for each student based on their individual needs.
From the moment the materials arrived, my students were so excited! The task of picking up students from their general education classroom, where their friends are, is a very difficult one and was a struggle from the first day of school. When the materials first arrived in boxes, I told the students who usually cry when I pick them up that there was a "surprise" waiting for them. Immediately, their faces lit up, and for the FIRST TIME EVER, they walked quietly out of their classroom and followed me to the resource class. When my four special students finally walked into the classroom, it was as if they walked into Disney World! "WOW!" Smiles and laughter filled my classroom and my students beamed as they opened the rest of the packages and were introduced to their new "tools."
All the materials donated are used on a daily basis and students love to come to class! The ball chairs have allowed my "little princess" with muscular dystrophy to do something so simple, yet so essential in the classroom: to sit. Before having a ball chair for her, my student with muscular dystrophy would stand for most of her classwork because the hard plastic chairs would eventually "hurt." Now, she is able to sit for longer periods of time to complete her classwork when on the ball chair. The Chew Stixx have allowed my student with emotional/behavioral disorder to release tension as he chews on a safe product while working on math problems and the plush, "Timmy the Turtle" gets hugged daily before beginning a math lesson. Our weighted "shoulder snakes" join us for reading on the carpet and enjoy listening to a read aloud while keeping fidgeting to a minimum and attention to a max! This has really been a big year of learning for all my students with special needs – with thanks to the resources donated which helped learning become a reality in my special education classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Diaz
Mini iPads for Mini Hands
Funded Oct 29, 2013There are no words that can explain the amazement on my students' faces when our class received your gift donation of 2 iPad Mini's and accessories! It was as if they were ready for fun instead of ready for school! I quickly realized that the bridge to learning the English language had finally been made. I was finally speaking their language!
Immediately, every student was excited about reading. Students learned how to login to their student portals to access their online reading curriculum. Once I put a rotation to use the technology in place, I could send groups of students to re-read their story of the week and interact with the text on a more personal level than I could ever provide by reading to the class as a whole. They learned to use their fingers to highlight text they do not understand and even select the "dictionary" icon to find the meaning of a word!
Your generous donation has definitely impacted my teaching in the classroom, ultimately resulting in improved student learning and gains. By implementing a rotation in order to have my students use these resources daily, I can compare their reading results from the beginning of the year to show phenomenal student growth. In using the ipad Minis and accessories to explore text student were able to gain meaning and exposure grade level curriculum. Currently, 100% of my students read grade level text and beyond. Thank you! I couldn't have accomplished this without your donation! I am very excited to say that my class of English language learners can now speak and READ in English!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Diaz