Past projects 3
Music Rocks!
Funded Sep 25, 2019So . . . I had this wild idea that a good old fashioned turntable would be a cool addition to our classroom. I just didn't know how cool it would turn out to be. The kids LOVE IT. Sure they love the calming music when they enter the classroom in the morning. And they love the fun, upbeat music they get to play at the end of the day when they are cleaning up and getting ready to head home. But I'm most surprised by how much they love the intentionality of putting a record on the player. To watch them carefully select an album, then pull it from the sleeve, gently put in on the turntable and finally slowly place the arm so the needle lands on just the right spot -- well, it is magic to watch. And, not surprising, the kids most attracted to this 'job' are the ones who are a little impulsive and often race through tasks. It is a beautiful thing to see. So thank you for this gift.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Joy
We Can Read! We Will Read! We Will Love To Read!
Funded Sep 19, 2014I can't begin to thank you enough for the generous gift of books you donated to my classroom. Just before Winter Break we finished The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. The kids loved it. And by loved it I mean LOVED IT! We cried, we applauded, we wrote letters of thanks to Ms. Applegate for writing such a wonderful story. The kids are still talking about the book. We even took a brief detour in our curriculum to read more on gorillas (Ivan was a gorilla). My favorite response to this book study was from one of my struggling readers who said in her thank you note to the author, "I want to read every day. Please make more books." When you see that, you know you've created a reader. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Joy
Ready, Set, GO: It's TIME to Read!
Funded Aug 20, 2014Where do I begin to thank you? What might have seemed like a small gesture to you, had a huge impact on my students. First they were honored, as was I, to receive such a generous gift. Then the work began . . . they started using the stopwatches to time their reading. Maybe 67 words one minute, then 75 the next. Such a powerful feeling to track your own success! We stop for these fluency checks several times a week. The kids have the routine down -- and love it. Sure I could have used one timer for the whole class and told them when to start and stop. But the realization that they can work as a team and are, to a large extent, responsible for their own learning and progress, well, that was the real gift you gave.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Joy