Past projects 4
Time to Level Up in the Music Room!
Funded Aug 14, 2023I cannot express how much I truly appreciate my new interactive whiteboard! It has been a total game changer for both me and my music students. An interactive whiteboard, or Smartboard, as they're often called is basically like a 65" iPad. It allows the teacher to use it as a second monitor and touch screen while also having the capability of using a stylus to "write" on it as you would a regular dry erase board.
My new Smartboard allows me to show my lessons on the screen without having to project the image using an LCD projector. This may not sound like a big deal, but it's actually HUGE! It means I don't have to turn off all the lights and hope for a somewhat cloudy day in order for my students to see the screen. Students stay much more engaged and everyone can see the screen clearly.
The biggest gain for my students, especially my kindergarten and 1st grade students, is the interactive part of this Smartboard's capabilities. With this new technology, my students can now come to the Smartboard and move things around using the touch screen to play the games/activities that are an integral part of our curriculum.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frerichs
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Music for the 21st Century!
Funded Jan 8, 2020I want to extend a heart-felt thank you for the donations each one of you has made to make my "Music for the 21st Century" a reality. I was able to download a number of applications on the Kindles that include music reading, piano-playing, and rhythm reading games. Now, when we have time at the end of music class, the students are able to pick up a Kindle and play the music games. They LOVE it!!
My 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are especially enjoying the new technology. They have liked using the piano apps to make songs. In one of our recent lessons, the students had to write their own 8-measure composition. Once finished, the students will use the piano app to play their composition for their classmates. I think this will be very exciting for my students as many of them have no experience at all with the piano, and the app makes playing the piano very easy and user friendly.
Again, my students and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, and we will use the new technology with enthusiasm and care!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frerichs
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 7 other donors.The Stage Is Ours!
Funded Mar 19, 2019I would like to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for funding this project! We used our new sound system and stage lights for our Spring Concert on May 14th, and they worked beautifully!! In the past, we had to beg one of our teachers to bring her home karaoke machine to school on the day of the program. While it was nice of her to do so, the corded microphones were problematic, and it was a lot to ask her to keep dragging the system back and forth. Not this time!!! It was so nice not having to worry about having a cord attached to the microphone or about having to recruit someone to hold a microphone up to a portable CD player in order to amplify the music.
My students were absolutely stoked to have wireless microphones, and the stage lights made them feel as though they were in a performance that really meant something. Parents were thrilled with the results and my students keep asking me when we will perform again! Your generous gifts have made an unbelievable difference in the lives of my students and frankly, my school; and on behalf of them I thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frerichs
Ready, Set, Music!
Funded Oct 28, 2014I cannot express to you all how grateful my students and I are for our new xylophones! I am only sorry that I have not gotten this thank you out to all of you sooner, but, as you know, sometimes life has a habit of getting in the way. I'm so happy to have the chance to talk about it now.
We received 2 lovely alto xylophones and 1 soprano xylophone to add to our mobile music classroom. When the instruments arrived, it was a lot like Christmas Morning, both for me AND my students. We were in awe of how beautiful the instruments were and I set about writing my lessons so that the xylophones were incorporated. I have been able to do things with my classes that were impossible before. Believe it or not, 6 children can play on the xylophones at the same time. The new instruments have added a lot of depth to the music we sing in class. I am proud to say that ALL my students, grades K - 5 have had the chance to play the new instruments and they absolutely LOVE them.
Some of the comments I have heard from students include: "WOOWW!", "That was so much fun!", "These are SOOO cool!"
So, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to say a great big thank you for our new xylophones. They have truly been a wonderful addition to our music classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frerichs