Past projects 12
Soft Start Supplies To Create A Calm Beginning Each Day!
Funded Dec 8, 2022I hope this letter finds you doing well. It has been a few months since my students and I received all of our soft start supplies. When my students first saw the supplies they were so excited. I explained to them that so many kind people had donated in order to help us get these supplies and they were so surprised that others had thought of them. Not only were they so thankful to receive the supplies, but students also got a great lesson in generosity by receiving these kind gifts from you.
We have been using the new soft start supplies quite a bit. One way we use all of the supplies is during morning work time. Students can come in to a calm environment and begin their day slowly by building and being creative. Many of my students come from chaotic home environments that are not calm. By being able to come into my classroom each morning and just build and show creativity, mornings have gone much smoother in my classroom. We have also used these supplies during indoor recess. Students love being given the opportunity to use lots of different types of blocks and supplies when we are stuck inside due to rain or cold. There is currently a large display of different things that have been built with Legos in my classroom because the students never want to take them apart. I love it because it helps my students feel more at home in my classroom and like my classroom is not just mine but theirs as well.
Again, thank you so much for your kind donation. By allowing my students to have supplies they can use daily to begin the day in a calm way, you have helped me create a learning environment where my students feel safe and cared for. Because my students feel this way, I know that more learning and growing will take place in my classroom. Thank you again for your kindness and generosity. Please know you have made a difference in the lives of my fourth graders.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Help My Fantastic Fourth Graders Grow A Love For Reading!
Funded Feb 22, 2020I want to take time to again thank you for donating to my classroom. The books arrived in our classroom a few days ago and my students were so excited to see the box! Many of them stopped to look through the books in the box before I could even get them out. I was so surprised at how all of my students were so excited to see which books we got and choose one to read. My students went through the baskets of new books and were so excited to read them as well as tell their other classmates about how much they were enjoying the book they are reading.
I have never seen my students so excited about reading! They are constantly asking for time to silent read and working hard to finish work so they can read afterwards. Students who I have had to really push to read entire books throughout this school year are excited to read the new books. This makes me so happy as a teacher and even more thankful to you that you were willing to donate to my students.
I look forward to using these books for many years. I hope that they will continue to help my students grow a love for reading. I believe books can take you anywhere you want to go and my hope is that by getting engaging text into the hands of each of my students, they will get excited about reading and learning. My next goal is to get my nexxt project funded. This project was created to bring science to life for my students by allowing them to dissect owl pellets. Again, thank you so much for donating to my classroom and helping grow a love for reading for my fourth graders. I pray you are blessed as much as you have blessed my class. Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Fun Flexible Seating Options That Encourage Social Distancing!
Funded Aug 14, 2020I want to thank you so much for donating to this project. In such uncertain times these flexible seating options have brought my students joy and made my classroom a more welcoming, exciting place to learn. My hope is that even during this very different school year my students will find comfort knowing that our classroom is a safe, comfortable place to learn.
When my students saw the new seating options as they entered the classroom in-person for the first time this school year, they were so excited and curious about when we would use them. We are now using them daily during independent work time as well as during instructional time throughout the school day. The seating options allow my students to safely socially distance while being comfortable. This is so important for my students as they work hard to learn new things each day.
We will continue to use these resources daily. I truly believe that if a student does not feel safe and comfortable, they cannot successfully learn. With your donation, you have helped me to make my classroom a comfortable place to learn that feels like home for my students. Creating this type of environment will help me ensure that my students are successful in my class. Thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 11 other donors.Bring Science To Life! Help Me Purchase Owl Pellets!
Funded Mar 11, 2020I first want to express my gratitude. I am so thankful you were willing to help my fourth graders with this project. As a science teacher, it is my goal to bring science to life for my students. I want them to grow a love for learning that follows them after they leave the door of my classroom.
Due to COVID and our students returning in-person only a few short weeks ago, we have not been able to use these resources yet. I have talked with my students about dissecting the owl pellets and they are so excited for this project. They ask about it often. My goal is to use these resources once COVID restrictions allow students to work with partners safely.
I can't wait to use these resources with my students. I know they are going to love learning about animals in a hands-on way. I look forward to updating you when we are able to use these resources and letting you know how excited my students were to use the resources. I know they will absolutely love it! Thank you for being so kind and giving to my students. You have helped grow a love for learning in a great group of fourth graders and I am so thankful for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Give My Fourth Graders the Gift of Fun!
Funded Dec 7, 2019I can't thank you enough for helping purchase the supplies for my classroom! Due to the recent cold and rainy weather in Kentucky, students have gotten to enjoy using these games and resources almost daily for the last few months. Students have loved playing with the games and play dough and look forward to indoor recess now! I am so thankful that they have items that help them destress during this time everyday in my classroom.
When students first saw the boxes, they were very interested in what was in them. I had mentioned to them that I was trying to get them new indoor recess games and supplies but had not told them that we had gotten our project funded. When I opened up the boxes, students were so excited to see what was in the boxes. They began cheering and asked if we could stay inside and play them instead of going outside during recess. Students still look forward to playing with the supplies. They are taking very good care of them as well because they want them to last a long time in our classroom.
My next goal is to get my next project funded so I can expand my classroom library. My students love to read but unfortunately many of my books have been damaged over the years due to frequent use. I would also love to get copies of some of the newer books that my students are very interested in. I know this would help grow their love of reading. I strongly believe that no student hates to read. They just haven't found the right book yet. My goal is to help students grow into people who love to read. Thank you again for your help funding this project. Please know that you have blessed twenty-seven wonderful students and I am very thankful as well. I hope that you are blessed as much as you have blessed us. Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Getting Third Graders Excited About News & Current Events!
Funded Aug 21, 2015I want to thank you so much for your kind donation to my classroom. When my students first say the Time for Kids magazines, their eyes lit up. They were so excited to see magazines that weren't black and white and were about current events taking place in the world right now. Each week when we use the Time for Kids magazines during our reading block, my students can't wait to get them and look through them to see all the beautiful photographs. It's such a joy to see them so excited about reading!
We use the magazines each Friday during our reading block. A big focus in third grade is identifying the main idea and supporting details of a non-fiction text. Instead of using the usual non-fiction book or passage, we use the Time for Kids magazines. Students love reading them and can't wait until Friday so they can read them with their classmates. By using these magazines to help students master important third grade standards, I not only make sure students are learning everything they should learn but I make sure they are engaged in their own learning as well.
One of my main goals as a teacher is to help my students become lifelong learners. I want them to love learning and grow a desire to want to learn throughout their entire lives. By providing them with engaging texts, I see my students' love of reading grow. They don't feel like they are working and learning because they are having so much fun reading something that interests them. Your generous gift to our classroom is helping a class of third graders grow a love for reading that will follow them throughout their lives. I want to thank you personally for making such an impact on my students. You continue to help them grow and learn by providing them with engaging reading resources. Thank you again for your donation and I hope that you are blessed as much as you have blessed my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Help 1st Graders Love For Reading Grow With Non-Fiction!
Funded May 19, 2014I wanted to thank you once again for your kind donation. I hope this letter helps you see how your donation has made a big difference in the lives of some very amazing first graders. Please know that we are so thankful for you and your generosity. Your gift is helping students grow their love for reading and learning.
When my students first saw the non-fiction books, they were so excited! My students love animals and were so excited to see books about some of their favorite animals. My students were also excited to see books about famous Americans that many of them had heard about previously at school or at home. What made my students even more excited is when they opened the books. They saw so many words that they knew how to read. Unfortunately, most non-fiction books have a very high reading level and are very difficult for my students to read independently and even with a partner. Most of my students could recognize many of the words on each page of the books. It was wonderful to see how confident they were as they worked hard to read the books. They were so proud!
My students and I are using these resources in many ways. Many of the new common core standards focus on non-fiction text. It is very difficult to find non-fiction text that is appropriate and engaging for first grade students. These resources are being used to help my students master these common core standards in an engaging way. They love reading about animals and famous Americans. It is wonderful to see them so excited about reading!
This project boosted my teaching and my students' learning by providing my students with an engaging way to learn about non-fiction text. It also gave them the opportunity to hold non-fiction text in their hands that they can read on their own. It has made such a difference in the confidence of the beginning readers in my classroom. I want to once again sincerely thank you for your donation. You have blessed our classroom more than you will ever know. You have helped twenty-five fantastic first graders grow a love for reading that I hope they will carry with them throughout their lives. Thank you once again and I hope that you are blessed as much as you have blessed our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Helping Grow Strong First Grade Readers With Shared Reading!
Funded Jun 19, 2014I want to once again thank you for your kind donation. I hope that this letter helps you understand the difference you have made in the lives of the twenty-five first graders I share my days with. We are so thankful for your generosity.
When my students first saw the easel, they were so excited! Not only could we write on our easel because it has a dry erase board, but there are also places to hang big books, which the students were very excited about. They were excited to find out that big books would be out in a place where they could get them during silent reading time. They were also excited to find out that the easel was light enough to be moved around the room so it could be used throughout the day and even during indoor recess! They were thrilled!
My students and I will be using the easel throughout the school day. The easel will be used during mini-lessons as well as during shared reading ofcourse. The easel will also be used during reading groups and during small group time when students who are struggling get extra help. This easel will be an essential resource in our classroom that is used constantly. We are so thankful for it!
This easel will boost my teaching and my students' learning in so many ways. It will boost my teaching by giving me a resource I can use throughout the day to help those students struggling as well as to use during shared reading. During shared reading, the easel will be used to help all students see the book we are using and learn about reading strategies. The resource has helped my students' learning by giving them the opportunity to see the book during shared reading as well as through using the easel during small group instruction to ensure that all students are learning and successful. Once again, I want to thank you for your kind gift. You've made a positive difference in the lives of twenty-five wonderful first graders. We hope that you are blessed as much as you have blessed our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Helping Beginning Readers Grow A Love For Reading!
Funded Aug 26, 2014I want to thank you once again for your kind donation. I hope this letter gives you a glimpse into how your donation is helping my first graders grow a love for reading and learning. Your generosity is definitely making a difference!
When my students first saw our new books, they were so excited! They couldn't wait to get their hands on them and read them! There were so many books they had seen before and they were so excited to show me they could read them. They couldn't wait to switch out books and check out the new ones. I've never seen my students so excited about reading!
My students and I are going to use the books in many different ways. My class has never had a huge selection of books at my students' reading levels. These books will be used during reading workshop and silent reading time. They will be used to help students master common core standards. They will also be used during silent reading time as well. My students are so excited to have books they can read independently. These books will be used frequently in our classroom.
These books will boost my teaching and my students' learning in many ways. My students are so engaged when they read these new books. I know that giving my students engaging text will help boost their excitement for reading and learning. They are growing a love for reading that I am so excited to see! Once again, I want to thank you so much for your generosity. We hope that you are blessed just as you have blessed our class.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman
Big Books To Help Firsties Grow A Big Love For Reading!
Funded Aug 26, 2014I want to thank you again personally for your kind donation. I hope this letter helps you to understand the impact you have made on the lives and learning of twenty-five amazing first graders. Thank you again for your generosity.
When my students saw the new big books, they were so excited! Many of the big books we are using now are old and not in the best shape. Many of the stories are stories they have already heard many times before. When my students saw the new big books, they were thrilled to see brand new books in great condition. They also loved that we now have such a big selection to choose from. They were so excited about reading!
My students and I will use these big books in many different ways. The main use of these big books will be shared reading. Shared reading is a time during each day where we read one big book together throughout the whole week and focus on reading strategies. This is such an important part of our day because it helps my beginning readers learn foundational reading skills. These big books will also be available to students during silent reading and reading workshop time. The students can't wait to read them!
These big books will boost my teaching and my students' learning in many ways. These big books are so engaging and my students are so excited to read them. They will boost my teaching by giving my students engaging big books to read and learn from during shared reading time. They will also boost learning by giving my students new text to learn from and enjoy. Once again, I want to thank you for your kind gift. Please know that your gift has made a difference in the lives of twenty-five wonderful first graders. We hope that you are blessed as much as you have blessed our class.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Norman