Past projects 14
Flexing Our Brains With Flexible Seating
Funded Nov 12, 2019I can't even begin to express my deepest gratitude for your generosity. I am beyond words in telling you how truly thankful I am that you took an interest in my students and the future of their education. Students took to the motion stools immediately and voted that everyone should take turns using them. With their suggestion, we decided to rotate usage of the stools throughout the day during various subject areas and center rotations. Cushions were used during center activity rotations, as well as guided instruction when students are seated on the carpet in the meeting area.
The look on their faces when they saw their new flexible seating arrangements was priceless. The level of excitement truly touched my heart. Each and every one of them wanted to try out their new flexible seating. When one student served as a model for how to use them, all of their faces lit up, knowing that they would soon have a turn.
With our new flexible seating arrangement in class, the level of student engagement has improved tremendously. Students are now more excited to rotate in center activities and come to the meeting area to use the seat cushions. Our next goal is to collaborate on creating an incentive system where students are able to utilize the flexible seating for extra time. Additionally, we hope to work on expanding our classroom library to potentially create a flexible seating nook where students can independently read.
Knowing that they have access to these tools has opened so many doors for them. I can't thank you enough for making this vision of mine a reality for my students. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
Oh Say Can You Hear...
Funded Aug 14, 2019Thank you so very much for your immense generosity. Your contributions helped to make learning come alive in the classroom. Students were able to read and listen to books online, as well as watch math lessons. This has helped them to become more independent learners as they complete activities and follow their personalized learning paths. Students use their own headphones in order to stay focused and conduct independent research projects as well, which has helped them to take ownership of their learning.
What is most exciting about the new headphones for students is that they each have their very own. Their faces lit up when they discovered that they would have their own headphones to use during center activities. They absolutely loved the fact that they could easily hear stories online and follow along with math lessons without the distractions of other computers.
Our auditory learners have been most receptive to this new technology. Tis new addition has helped to make our classroom environment one conducive to their learning needs. They are able to maintain their focus more easily now and grasp additional reading and math concepts. These new headphones have certainly helped to differentiate learning within the classroom for our English Language Learners as well, who greatly benefit from hearing translated texts online.
These new headphones have given my students a positive learning experience for days to come. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and firmly believe that these headphones will have tremendous impact on the level of learning that my students will experience.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Curl Up To A Good Book
Funded Oct 9, 2017First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who made this proposal a reality.
The day my students walked into the classroom and saw their new Magic Treehouse books, they immediately lit up. They were excited that we would be using them for book clubs and wanted to begin them immediately. This excitement, if anything, demonstrates the positive impact that your dedication has had.
Soon thereafter, my students participated in classroom book clubs, reading the series of books independently, with buddies, and within groups. The books allowed my students to engage in rich classroom conversations and learn about the culture of different countries around the world.
Having this library of resources for my students has enriched their love of reading and allowed them the opportunity to discuss literature that is meaningful to them. They have since switched book clubs and read the other books in the series. Many of my students have continued their author study of Mary Pope Osborne and borrowed other books written by her.
You have made it possible to allow my students the opportunity to grow as independent learners and thinkers, and for that I shall forever remain truly indebted to you. Your support and genuinely kind nature will help my students and future students reach their academic potential. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
Can You Hear Me Now...
Funded Sep 25, 2017I am truly humbled by the warm welcome that my project to make learning come alive received by everyone who had a role in getting it funded. Seeing this idea become a reality fosters the idea that anything is possible, a lesson that I try to instill in my students each and every day.
When my students saw that they were each given a set of headphones to use during math centers and listening activities, they were overwhelmed with joy. Upon hearing that people who had never met them before valued their education and supported them made them feel incredibly special. Their smiles and enthusiasm speak volumes about the tremendous impact you have had on the lives of my students.
Each student put their headphones to use right away, engaging in interactive math centers through educational websites, listening to stories online, and conducting research through watching science and social studies videos. Engaging in these activities allowed my students access to a whole new world of learning and enhanced their overall academic experience.
Providing my students with these headphones has excited my students about learning through technology as well. They look forward to using their headphones and being able to stay focused on their tasks without distraction. They have used them across all subject areas and especially love the fact that they have something that is their own.
Through your tremendous generosity, you have made it possible for my students to develop as academic scholars. Your support will forever remain in each and every one of our hearts. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
Oh Say Can You Add...
Funded Sep 12, 2017Thank you so much for your dedication and support. Your generosity has allowed an idea to become a reality for my students. Upon receiving the math manipulatives, I immediately felt that our math instruction would be exponentially more meaningful for my students. Months later, and this feeling has come to life.
Upon seeing the materials for the first time, my students were thrilled. There were oohs and ahs, along with a few requests to immediately use the resources. Excitement is an understatement to describe how they felt that day. We went through each and every math tool that was donated and my students were full of suggestions with games and activities that we could engage in to use them. You could tell how special they felt and enthusiastic they were about math.
Our math program allows for the students to make use of these manipulatives to aid in their learning during partner work. While studying geometry, the students were able to make use of the foam geometric shapes. This was an especially useful tool for my English Language learners who benefited from having a visual to connect the new vocabulary with. The multiplication and division flash cards were an immediate hit when we began our unit on multiplication and division. The students wanted to quiz each other and borrow them to practice at home. Prior to receiving the materials, they didn't possess the same eagerness to learn these concepts. Additionally, in our class, we work in math centers, where students have made a great deal of use of the place value coins and linking cubes to complete addition and subtraction centers.
These materials have clearly provided my students with the extra support they need. They have surely helped to reinforce these key concepts in a way that is fun and meaningful for my students. Moving forward, my students have begun to create their own center activities using the manipulatives that they have received. It is truly remarkable seeing them take the initiative in learning, especially considering that the only thing they needed were the right tools.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
A Reader Grows In Brooklyn
Funded Aug 26, 2017First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who made this proposal a reality.
The day my students walked into the classroom and saw their new Magic Treehouse books, they immediately lit up. They were excited that we would be using them for book clubs and wanted to begin them immediately. This excitement, if anything, demonstrates the positive impact that your dedication has had.
Soon thereafter, my students participated in classroom book clubs, reading the series of books independently, with buddies, and within groups. The books allowed my students to engage in rich classroom conversations and learn about the culture of different countries around the world.
Having this library of resources for my students has enriched their love of reading and allowed them the opportunity to discuss literature that is meaningful to them. They have since switched book clubs and read the other books in the series. Many of my students have continued their author study of Mary Pope Osborne and borrowed other books written by her.
You have made it possible to allow my students the opportunity to grow as independent learners and thinkers, and for that I shall forever remain truly indebted to you. Your support and genuinely kind nature will help my students and future students reach their academic potential. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and 6 other donors.A Reader Grows In Brooklyn
Funded Aug 6, 2011I am forever indebted to you all for your dedication to student achievement. Your support and generosity in helping my students achieve their academic goals is truly inspirational. In allowing them the power to choose what they want to read, we equip them with a voice in their education, something that is extremely important in school. I am humbled by your kindness and extremely thrilled that this project was successful due to your love of learning. I look forward to seeing the excitement on the students' faces when they see this wonderful collection of books in their new library. Thank you once again for all of your help and support! ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
To Add or Not To Add...That is the Question
Funded Dec 9, 2010I would just like to express my utmost gratitude for your kindness and dedication to student learning. I'm so grateful for your generous contribution to our classroom math learning environment. At the beginning of the year, we started off with very few hands on materials, yet when the new games and manipulatives arrived, the students were elated to see that math would be learned through a hands on approach. Not only were the students having a lot of fun, however, they were practicing important skills for achieving third grade standards in math. The students were extremely thankful to learn math in a refreshingly fun way and will have so many memories of the first time they learned multiplication, division and so much more. Counting money was so much more fun with magnetic coins. Identifying 3 dimensional shapes was entertaining with foam cubes, spheres and prisms. In addition, who could forget the students learning about fractions and place value with the flash card games. These new games brought about interesting discussions and motivated the students tremendously. Now they are eager to approach any topic in math. As a teacher, it is extremely rewarding to see my students progress in math, and it is due to your generosity that this was possible. Once again, thank you. Your contribution has impacted these students as it will the many who will be entering third grade next year. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
This classroom project was brought to life by Barclays Capital and 7 other donors.A Spoonful of Reading Makes the Knowledge Go Down...
Funded Oct 1, 2010I would like to say how truly grateful I am to your extremely generous donation. Upon sight of their new classroom library books, my students' faces lit up. They immediately requested to borrow the books to read. Some have even chosen to read books with their friends. It's this impact that illustrates how valuable your kindness and concern are.
While our school may be limited in resources, you have made it possible to allow my students the opportunity to grow as independent learners and thinkers, and for that I shall forever remain truly indebted to you.
Your support and genuinely kind nature will help my students and future students reach their academic potential. Thank you. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita
To Learn Or Not To Learn...
Funded Aug 18, 2010A simple gesture or act of kindness can go a long way. In this case, your generous donation has followed suit. My students have already made use of the math games that we received. They absolutely love playing these games during their Math center time. The smiles on their faces is enough to show that they are loving what they are learning. The magnetic coins and dollars has been extremely helpful, especially with students who are struggling with counting money. It's such a helpful visual for the class to see while we're in our class meeting area.
It's easy to see just how much progress the students have made since they received these materials. Some struggling learners have already shown tremendous growth since using these games.
It's donors like you that make this learning possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Tabbita