Mrs. Borrelli's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 4

• Reading With Our Ears

  Funded Jun 15, 2023

  Thank you so much for the generous donation that allowed us to receive headphones for students! They have already been put to good use in allowing students to listen to stories on their computer while they follow along in a hard copy of the book.

  This strategy allows students who might struggle to read a grade level book to participate in a reading group with their peers using a grade level text. Often times, special education students can feel singled out because when doing book groups in middle school, they are unable to read the same books as their peers who are on grade level when it comes to reading. Headphones allow them to listen to a text at their own pace, play it back if needed, and focus more on conversing with their peers about the text instead of working so hard on reading the text.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Borrelli

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.

• Help From Our Friends

  Funded Jun 22, 2023

  Thanks to your generous donations, we have already been able to put the donated materials to good use! I have been able to start my students off right away with laminated materials that will be able to last them throughout the year so that they can consistently reference them.

  The kids were excited to see the play money and time mat as many of them struggle to identify coins especially and tell time. The books that focus on data and geometry will provide them more support later in the year when we begin working on these areas as they can often be confusing for kids, especially those who receive special education support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Borrelli

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.

• Carts for our School Store!

  Funded Jan 29, 2018

  Thank you so much for your generous donation! When the donation first came in the students were curious and excited about what was in the boxes! For me, one of the most exciting parts about receiving the donations was that I found a hidden talent in one of my students! As I began to build the carts, he immediately asked if he could take over the building process. He was new to our classroom and I was still trying to learn his likes and dislikes so I let him help me build it. He did great and after that he wanted to build the other ones by himself. He was engaged the entire time he was building the carts, which is difficult for him most days, and he was so proud once he was finished building them. It was a wonderful surprise to learn that this student so enjoyed working with his hands and gave me great insight into what might help motivate him in the future.

  In terms of using the carts to sell snacks, it has been a great help! We are easily able to transport the snacks we sell between the classroom and outside where we sell them. They have been much easier to use than the bulky custodian's cart that we had been using prior to this! Not only that but with all the colors, the cart is more inviting to students who are looking to purchase a snack from us!

  Now, you might be curious as to what we use the money for that comes from the snack sales that we use the carts for! Our students are in our classrooms because they need support with emotional and behavioral skills. We have put a monthly incentive in place where the students can earn a reward for good behavior. Last month we went to the New England Aquarium, a place where many of our students had never been before! They were fascinated by the sting ray and shark touch tank. The funds we had raised through snack sales allowed us to take the students to an IMAX movie on the Galapagos Islands!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Borrelli

• iPads for Adjustment

  Funded Mar 11, 2016

  Thank you so much for your donation that was used to purchase 3 mini iPads for my adjustment classroom. A lot of us tend to take technology for granted. We also don't realize just how much it motivates us! Knowing that we can go home at the end of the day and relax watching our favorite show or playing a computer game is our own reward for the hard work we did that day. My students do not all have these motivators at their homes and often need more immediate and frequent reinforcements throughout the day. I have been using the iPads as motivation for my students to complete their schoolwork throughout the day.

  In order for students to understand the idea that, as we all do, one needs to work in order to obtain a "reward", my students earn tickets during academic blocks for being safe, nice to peers, and completing their work. For my students, completion of work does not mean always mean finishing an activity but instead means working for a set amount of time on the activity presented by the teacher. For students who can follow these classroom instructions, they are able to earn a ticket every 10 minutes. Often this will even motivate the students who are struggling because they know that time on an electronic device will be the end result. At the end of the work period, those students who have earned their tickets may make the choice to purchase time on the iPads. Their favorite activity is playing Minecraft together!

  In the end, these iPads have provided my students with a great motivator! I have seen, even in this short time, a greater desire to earn their tickets and in turn purchase time on the iPads! Thank you again for your generous donation, what a great impact it has made in our classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Borrelli

  This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and one other donor.