Dr. Nelson's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 17

• Chick It Out!

  Funded Apr 17, 2024

  I am writing to express the profound impact of the recent egg incubation and hatching project on our 7th-grade students. Witnessing the entire lifecycle of a chick, from the delicate moment of incubation to the adorable sight of them hatching and then growing over the course of a week, has been nothing short of transformative for our teenaged learners.

  This hands-on experience has sparked a newfound curiosity and enthusiasm for biology and the natural world among our students. They were not just observers; they were active participants in the process, carefully monitoring and nurturing the eggs as they progressed through each stage of development. The excitement and anticipation in the classroom were palpable as they eagerly awaited each chick's arrival, fostering a sense of responsibility and empathy as they learned to care for their tiny charges. Witnessing the miracle of life firsthand has left an indelible impression on our students, instilling in them a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things.

  In addition to the academic enrichment gained from this experience, the emotional and social impact cannot be overstated. The shared experience of caring for the chicks has fostered a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among our students, as they worked together to ensure the well-being of their feathery friends. Moreover, the joy and wonderment on their faces as they observed the chicks' growth and development served as a poignant reminder of the importance of nurturing curiosity and fostering a sense of wonder in our youth. This project has not only enriched their understanding of biology but has also cultivated empathy, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural world. This helped make 7th grade life science a bit hit this year!

  Overall, the impact of this hands-on learning experience has been immeasurable, leaving a lasting impression on our 7th-grade students that will continue to resonate long after the chicks have grown and flown the coop.

  Sincerely,”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Good Graphic! It's My Favorite Novel

  Funded Nov 21, 2021

  My students just saw the books! They are so excited to read the new graphic novels. They know they can come to grab a book anytime instead of going down and hoping the library has the book. We now have them in our classroom.

  Trying to get reluctant lower-level readers excited about reading and wanting to read is huge, and can help them gain self-esteem. Graphic novels have bright engaging pictures to support the reader and punchy fast-paced drama.

  I love adding quick reads to my classroom library. This gives the students lots of choices, and they do not need to commit to a huge amount of time to a novel. This has increased my classroom quick read library by a order of magnitude in size.

  Donors with huge hearts help classrooms run!”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Water, Water Everywhere

  Funded Dec 1, 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted a unique problem for my elementary classroom during the 20/21 school year. With water fountains closed off to students to prevent the spread of the virus, there was a need for bottled water for students.

  The need to have a bottle of water, a computer, pencil, paper and other supplies on the desk proved a challenge! The challenge was the desks and tables where over run with items. Paper and computers plus water, do not mix a happy mix. In the first month of school water bottles were being knocked off of desks, and breaking, or being knocked over onto student work ruining more than one project, not to mention the water being spilled on laptops.

  My solution was to ask for bike bottle holders to help the students secure their water bottles. This work much better! The water bottles attached to the leg of the desk, and was in easy reach of the student, and it cut down on the amount of water bottle being knocked of desk being broke and needing replacement. The only time a water bottle broke after the holder happened when the student picked up or was filling the water bottle.

  These were life savers! Loved them”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 3 other donors.

• Be Calm and Carry On

  Funded Jan 17, 2021

  During the 20/21 school year, the stressors for my students were complex and widespread. Being able to learn to deal with their emotions in a safe and effective manner proved valuable. I was able to allow the students an outlet for their hearts and minds in the fidget tools in my calm corner. I taught lessons in mindfulness. I used my calm/mindfulness corner, as a designated space in my classroom where students could go when they needed to regulate their emotions.

  These tools allowed my students to use soothing materials to help them de-escalate when upset. My students learned to use the calm corner effectively, and I was allowed to be creative and keep it super simple, but the objective was to give my students sensory-friendly tools to help them regulate and focus without requiring punishment, and to allow choice.

  Thank you! I appreciate all my donors, you are so amazing and generous!”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Nurture for Nature

  Funded Mar 4, 2021

  When I set the empty aquarium up the students were so curious. They had all sorts of ideas to put life in the aquarium. They wanted fish, they wanted a guinea pig, a hamster.

  I told them the first thing we would do with the tank is use it as a chick brooder when our chicks hatch. Here in a few short weeks, we will have brand new babies. The students are super excited to be able to see the chicks hatch and develop for the first few days of their life. Then we will start a new adventure with a terrarium. This tank will allow us to change science to very up close and personal.”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Think Mathematically About Multiplication

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  Thank you for the gift of the subscription of Multiplication.com. The students love the games, and the competition of working with and against one another. My students need the external motivation of this website to encourage their developing brains. Basic multiplication skills are so very important to a students growing mathematics skills. The multiplication games in Multiplication.com make the process of learning their multiplication facts fun. My students need a fun, engaging way to make their daily practice drills fun. The more facts they learn, the less difficult math becomes for them.”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Ready, Set, Pens, Pencils, Markers, Color... GO

  Funded Aug 21, 2020

  I was able to create a calm corner in my classroom with these tools. The calm down corner for the students is a perfect spot where the students can go and snuggle a soft friend, color or write out their feelings, read or look at books, engage with stress toys, take deep breaths and just relax until they are ready to talk about what is making them frustrated, angry or sad. In this space, the students can regain their composure and relax until they're ready to talk or work again. I want my students to learn methods of self-control they can use all their lives. If a student is emotional, stress, or frustrated, the student can't really learn the lessons we want to teach. These tools help my students to get back into their learning space.”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Let's Twist Again! Twist-Erase

  Funded Dec 20, 2019

  These pencils were amazing for my students! They loved them, and no more lost pencils! I could assign a pencil to a kid, and they kept them! I was so shocked. I usually look for erasers and none of us had to look for erasers! No pencil sharpening! The thick 9mm lead was perfect, I could not believe how durable the lead was. There was an occasional snapping of lead at times, but overall, the pencil problems in room 205 were gone!!!! I will never ever go back to wooden old fashioned pencils ever again! This was the best Donor's Choose ever!”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson

• Abracadabra, Dry Erase Magic

  Funded Nov 20, 2019

  My students love the whiteboards, these have allowed my students to have one to one whiteboards. This allows me to accommodate students of all learning styles.

  1. I can use them to engage every child in every single lesson.

  2. Minute by minute, I know exactly who's grasping the concepts and who's not.

  3. Students love them because they're fun. Mistakes made during guided practice can be easily brushed away.

  4. Using dry erase boards will save paper and significantly reduce the stack of work you take home to grade.

  5. Dry-erase boards can be used in whole group instruction, small guided groups, and learning centers.

  6. No need to worry about technology failing when you need it most.

  7. No learning curve or advanced prep! Just pass out the dry erase boards and let the learning begin!

  Last but not least they are great ways to doodle during free-time!”

  With gratitude,

  Dr. Nelson