Past projects 5
Gardening With Teens
Funded Jan 1, 2025Thank you so much for your generous support toward our garden project! The students will be so happy to start the new year with such amazing supplies. I appreciate your willingness to come along side us in middle school urban gardening class and care deeply for our teenagers’ mental health.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Smith
Say Good-Bye to Fake Reading in Middle School
Funded Sep 1, 2017When the books shipments came in, my students loved creating a huge tower of all the new editions to our library.
"That tower's taller than you, Mrs. Smith!" blurted out one joyous student.
Because of your donations, every 7th grader in my class has been amazed at the generosity of strangers. This awe has led to students picking up a book out of curiosity for the first time and for even more finishing a book for the first time!
"At my old school, we just had those gross old tattered books to choose from. We couldn't even take them home!" remarked one student when he realized these books weren't for me, but for all of them.
"What?! There are two copies of The Hate U Give?! J.W., get over here. We're reading this together!" another student shouted across the room as we unpacked boxes of books.
Reading in my classroom now has so many positive and shining moments. From the shriek of a student calling 'dib's when a book has been returned, to the quiet hum of every student reading around the room, to the groan of the bell ringing to indicate it's time to pack up and move to the next class. You have made reading come alive for so many teenage scholars with your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 14 other donors.Growin' Our Brains!
Funded Aug 6, 2015Thank you so much for supporting our class' brain growth! When I showed the class your kind and encouraging comments on our project website, they shined with pride. Though some donors they know dearly and others of you are new names to the kids, they simply can't get over the fact that you would give to our class. One student even said, "It's like everyone across the country wants us to get smarter!"
In the mornings before we begin our lessons, groups of students can be found around the room huddled together enjoying one of the many brain games you provided. The encouraging conversations & critical thinking involved are a great way for students to prepare for the day. Others can be found in pairs or by themselves reading one of the great books supplied by your donation. I love hearing students refer to the characters in the book that didn't give up, tried new things, or overcame a struggle as they encounter their own challenges in class and in their community.
Thank you again for making all this magic happen in our room!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Smith
A Community of Kindness: Read Aloud Books
Funded Sep 22, 2014It has been such an amazing journey these past couple of months since your donation has brought the Community of Kindness books to our classroom! I wish you could have all seen the students eyes light up as I explain the project and read all of your encouraging messages to them. One usually shy boy said, "We might not need the books, these guys are teaching us already!" The others agreed, but then of course clarified that they still wanted the keep the books.
Everyday after our first recess, we dig into one of our Kindness Read Aloud Books and discuss what the author wants us to learn about ourselves and others. I don't dare skip this essential block in our day, the class simply wouldn't allow it (even when we had a fire drill take over, they insisted on it)
Within the first few weeks of our first section, I noticed a shift in the students' attitudes toward one another. I even heard one group of boys reference our book Same, Same But Different in the cafeteria when discussing their favorite foods at home.
Students are learning the social skills of accepting each others' differences and how to express kindness (even when we don't feel like it) through these beautifully written picture books. The Read Aloud setting removes the 'lecture' feel to my teaching and opens up a new level of honesty to our class discussions.
Thank you so much for all your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Smith
Meet The Author! Culturally Responsive Books
Funded Feb 6, 2014I'm just not sure if there are enough words to express how thankful I am to have you as family, friends, supporters, and donors! I can so clearly remember getting the crazy idea of setting up this project while running home one day from school. As I passed through our Oak Park neighborhood and looked at the houses and dilapidated apartment buildings, I had two questions troubling me. "How many children's books are in each of these homes?" and "How many of the kids living there see themselves as future authors like the Pinkneys?" Because of your amazing generosity, the answer is now "One More!"
My students, as cool as they attempt to be as 4th graders, just couldn't stop flashing smiles of awe as I read your comments from our DonorsChoose webpage. Some names they knew and burst out with excitement, while others were new names to them. These were the names that impacted them the most. "But Mrs. Smith, why would a stranger from another state give us books?" Holding back tears, all I could say was "Because they care. They care so deeply about your education and future."
Each student in the entire 4th grade class at Oak Ridge Elementary School went home with one of the Pinkney's books after our field trip to UCDavis. Some chose the hilarious picture books to share with their younger siblings, some chose the historical biographies of unknown heroes, and others chose books based off of Brian's inspirational illustrations. Every student in my class begged to have quiet reading time as soon as the boxes were unloaded and names were proudly written in the inside cover. (Can't we all remember that satisfying feeling of writing your own name in your own book as a child?!) Even now, weeks later, I see students swapping books or chatting about the men and women of history they've learned about in their books.
I can't predict if your generosity will boost any students' test scores, raise their Lexil reading level, or eliminate any of the major stressors they encounter on a daily basis. But I can promise you that they see themselves in a different, clearer light as members of the literate community. I can promise you that there is One More book in over 90 homes in our neighborhood. And that's a number whose impact simply is unpredictably amazing!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Smith