Mrs. LLeras' Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 6

• Printing Our Ideas

  Funded Mar 27, 2024

  I cannot thank you enough for all of your generosity and support! I'm so excited to help my students move into the artificial intelligence world and now, with your donations, I will be able to do it in style! The students will be able to print their designs and display their creativity. They will be able to scan and share their AI activities with others, and hopefully encourage others to jump on that AI train!

  Thank you again for believing in our ideas and thank you for your amazing contributions!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras

  This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT and 13 other donors.

• Composting in the Classroom

  Funded Apr 14, 2021

  The students could hardly wait for me to get the items out of the box and set up. They were ready to bring in composting materials before the bin was even delivered!

  This project prepared my students for the city wide composting initiative. The students brought in apple cores, orange peels, egg shells, coffee grounds, wood shavings, paper, and other composting materials. We added the worms and within days you could see the composting transformation happening (the students were obsessed).

  I gave the students composting jobs: The Spritzer-someone to use the spray bottle to keep the soil moist, The Tillers-students who would use the shovel to "till" the soil (move it around), The Insect Checkers-students who would keep an eye on the number of worms and to see if new insects joined our composting bin, and The Composters-the students organized and added the composting materials that were brought into the classroom.

  As an end of the year activity, we used the healthy composted soil to plant flowers that the students were able to take home.

  This project was great for all subjects! Of course, we learned new science vocabulary, the reasoning behind composting, the process in which the food materials break down, and the purpose of the worms and the insects. However, I was able to bring the composting into ELA, math, social studies, and art. The students took great notes (with drawings) that showed the progression of the composting. They wrote an essay on composting and the advantages of composting. We used math to decide how much soil was needed.

  The students that I composted with are now composting leaders in the school, helping the younger students with the school wide/city wide initiative! I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras

• The Yuck Factor: Dissecting Owl Pellets

  Funded Mar 9, 2021

  This project had to be the most fun project I've ever done! The students were on the edge of their seats, excited about dissecting the owl pellets. They had predicted what they thought the pellets might look like and feel like. Needless to say, most of their predictions were incorrect.

  Several of my students thought it looked like petrified feces. They never imagined that the pellets were so tightly packed together. The students were amazed at how many bones they discovered inside the tightly packed pellet. Many students were unsure of the activity (at first), because of how the pellet felt. However, once they started pulling the pellet apart and seeing the bones, they were hooked. They were amazed at the amount of skulls and bones they found. They realized, before I had to tell them, that there were several different types of creatures (rodents, shrews, birds, etc.) within the pellet.

  It was the first time this school year that my students were able to participate in a hands on science activity. They absolutely loved it and immediately asked, "So what's our next project Mrs. LLeras?" I can't thank you enough for helping me see this project through.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras

• An Apple (iPad) A Day Keeps Us Connected

  Funded Feb 28, 2021

  I think this project might have been my favorite one! Thank you, everyone, for donating to this project. I can't tell you how much these items have increased productivity in the classroom.

  Due to COVID protocols and having a large number of students in my classroom, I had to move to a larger classroom (in January). It isn't my classroom and I wasn't able to move everything from my old classroom. The classroom that I am stationed in does not have a white board, a chalkboard, or anywhere to model instruction.

  When I got the iPad and the Apple Pencil I was able to connect a whiteboard application (on the iPad) and I was able to display it on the Promethean Board. That means that I am able to write on a whiteboard (on my iPad) that is displayed on the Promethean Board. I can actually walk around the room and write as I walk. The Apple Pencil allows me to write like I was writing on a piece of paper. One of my students said, "Wow, Mrs. LLeras, look how nice your writing looks."

  I am also able to take pictures of the students work, with the iPad, and instantly display it on the Promethean Board. The students are thrilled to have their work displayed in such a grand way.

  I can't thank you enough for your donations. These items have truly made a difference in the way that I teach.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras

  This classroom project was brought to life by Barbara Henker Trust & Carol Kupers Whalen Fund and 10 other donors.

• A MacBook to Make Remote Learning Seem a Little Closer

  Funded Apr 8, 2020

  Last year when the world shut down I had to learn to teach online (within a weekend). I had to learn how to teach through applications like Google Meet and Zoom. I had to teach parents how to access these applications, as well as how to use them effectively. I had to learn how to use Google Classroom, because that became my classroom away from school. The amount of time I spent in front of screen ranged from seven to ten hours.

  I was thankful to have a laptop. I was thankful to get my students logged on and working, but I quickly realized that my old laptop was not going to be able to keep up with the amount of work and time that it would be used. I was struggling with keeping internet connection, glitching during Google Meets, and how slow the laptop was running.

  Receiving the donation of a MacBook Pro was the best part of the pandemic. My students knew immediately, without ever seeing the MacBook, that I had a new device. They said, "What happened Mrs. LLeras, you're not glitching anymore?" I was able to increase the amount of time I spent online with my students. I was able to access information (saved to my computer or online) with ease. I was able to create assignments and activities that were authentic and enjoyable. The students were excited that I was able to meet with them more and they were excited about the new opportunities I found (having a MacBook).

  All of my students benefited from my new technology. The parents were even thrilled that I was able to show the students new technology techniques, new applications, and educational websites. However, this piece of technology warmed my heart more than anything. I consider myself a hard worker and I like to make sure my students receive the most authentic education as possible. I truly could not do that with my old laptop. I worried constantly about not being able to be the best teacher I could be. This donation helped me to sleep at hight. It kept me from worrying about all the "what ifs." Thank you so much!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras

• Duplicate This!

  Funded Nov 28, 2018

  I moved, as a teacher, to New York from Delaware. In Delaware teachers had access to a "teacher" copier in the teacher's lounge. Therefore, making copies was a piece of cake! When I moved to New York I felt I was never prepared; I never had enough copies! I never had quick access to a copier in those tight situations. For example, when I got a new student I realized I didn't have an extra math workbook and I didn't have copies. That student had to look at another student's workbook. That's not the best way to learn/practice math skills. I was always in a jam when a student needed an extra copy.

  Receiving this printer/copier was the best thing ever!!! The children were thrilled to see the box!!! They couldn't wait for me to set it up! They understood how precious the copier part of the printer was. They realized if we didn't get enough newsletters from the office, I could copy one. I was able to take math notes (on methods in math that parents just don't understand), in my handwriting, and share it with the students and their parents.

  This printer/copier was truly a benefit to me, my students, and their parents. Thank you so much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. LLeras