Past projects 49
An Apple A Day, Allows Children To Learn!
Funded Oct 30, 2012I really wish u could have been in my classroom the day I announced to the children that some really, really, generous people have donated an iPad to our classroom!! The looks on their faces were priceless. If you could have been there, you would have been able to see how genuinely grateful they were. These children really understand the value of an item like this and the children in this class are interested in technology. Many of them come from families in which their parents are immigrants and they are struggling to make it in NYC. For this reason, I believe this donation made a lasting impact.
The children havde been able to use the iPad for different educational purposes. I allow them to do research on the iPad and they also play educational games. Our classroom does have three desktop computers which they use often, but what makes this item so special is the convenience of it. They don't even have to move from their seat to use it. Their minds are like sponges - even for the children who had never had an opportunity to use an iPad before, the learning was easy.
I am extremely grateful that you have given me the opportunity to teach them about the technological world we live in. Technology is the way of the future and if I am able to make an impact in the lives of these children now, at such a young age, then I am ok with the job I have done. With your help and kindness, you have made this possible and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
The Clock is Ticking
Funded Oct 24, 2012Thank you so much for your very generous donation to our class. It never ceases to amaze me how total strangers can be so kind. I commend you for taking such an interest in the future generation and caring about their education. The children are always so excited when I explain to them how people like you care enough to contribute these items to them. They are at an age where they can fully understand what's involved and show appreciation for what they have received. I only wish you could be there to see their faces when we receive the donations - it's priceless!
The donation you have sent has helped us tremendously this school year. I have been fortunate enough to receive these journals for the past couple of years and I will continue to ask for these journals in the future because they really make such a difference in many ways. We are required to do what is called a math problem of the day every morning. The Math Problem Solving Journals which you have donated already have a word problem for each day. Working out these problems consistently each morning has helped the children consistently improve their math skills. It has also helped prepare them for the State Math Exam which they will be taking this upcoming week. On this exam, the children will encounter numerous word problems. Solving word problems is always an area in which the children struggle the most on the test. I believe,
because of your donation, these children have shown major improvement in this area and are well prepared for this exam. Thanks to you, my job was a little bit easier this school year.
In addition, the Correct the Sentence Journals that were donated also helped the children to be successful - specifically in the area of writing. Many of the children come from households where English is a second language. Because of this fact, many of the children have a hard time learning to write grammatically correct. The journals have assisted these children and have helped them improve in this area as well. I am so proud to say that I have seen remarkable improvements in my students this year.
Please continue to do what you have done - that is, making a difference in the lives of children. Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Munsching Away!!
Funded Sep 7, 2012Thank you all so much for your very generous donation to our classroom. The children were so happy when they received the amazing library of Robert Munsch books. I had begun to read to them the limited supply of books I had by this author in my library before I knew this project was funded. They enjoyed the books so much and had become familiar with the writing style of the author, that when the entire library was delivered they were elated.
We spent a lot of time studying this author. The children enjoyed every second of this author study. His books are filled with humor and text exaggeration. The children even attempted to take on his writing style in their own writing!
As you can see from the pictures, our culminating activity for this unit of study was a Robert Munsch celebration. The children paired up with a classmate and together they memorized an entire Robert Munsch book. They each were given a presentation board which they made look like a stage. Then they performed (recited) the story they chose by memory and to an audience. They made props or wore clothing that resembled the main character from their book. Parents and staff members were invited to the classroom for the clelbration. It was fabulous. Thank you so much for your donation and for caring enough about the future generation to invest in their learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and one other donor.The World at Our Fingertips
Funded Dec 2, 2011I am writing to express our gratitude for the extremely generous donation to our classroom this year. On behalf of myself and my students, THANK YOU!!! I wish I would have captured the faces of my students when I tod them that we were getting a brand, new laptop donated to our classroom. I can only compare the excitement to a child on Christmas morning. These children could not grasp the fact that there are such nice people in this world who genuinely care about their education enough to do something like this!
You see, many of these children come from underprivileged homes where buying a computer does not happen for them. Many of their parents are immigrants who are struggling to support their families. Their only access to technology is in school. You have made it possible for these children's eyes to be opened to a whole new world! They have been able to do research for projects by surfing the web. They have learned about search engines and have navigated their way through. Many of them taught themselves Microsoft Word and all that can be done when using this software. They have learned to type better and it has motivated them to do better schoolwork. In addition to the educational perks, they have also been able to explore many fun (yet educational) websites where they were able to play all sorts of games in each of the content areas taught this year. Just having this one laptop this year has impacted our classroom deeply.
I commend what you do for the benefit of children. They are our future generation and amazing people like you have impacted the lives of these children. I thank you for making a difference. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Quenching Our Thirst for Fun
Funded Nov 13, 2011Thank you for providing the math games for our classroom. The children use the boardgames very often to reinforce their math skills in division, multiplication, money and fractions. These specific areas in math have been targeted this school year in fourth grade. Our New York State math Exams are coming up next week and I believe these math games have assisted me in preparing my students for this exam. Not only did these games reinforce skills that I taught during our regular math curriculum, but they also provided an opportunity for the children to work on getting along and working cooperatively in groups. The children had to read the directions to each game together and learn how to play the game. Once they knew how to play the game, they then had the job of teaching their classmates. This reinforced skills in following directions and reading comprehension. We have used the games as part of our daily routines since we received them so they have been put to good use. I am glad that these children have had the opportunity to learn and to have fun while learning. It motivated them and encouraged them to do their best. It's nice to know that there are people like you willing to invest in the education of our children and the future generation. Thank you again for being so kind. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the children.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Making the Most of Every Minute
Funded Sep 8, 2011Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! On behalf of my students, I would like to let you know how incredibly thankful we are for your very generous donation to our classroom. Your donation has impacted my classroom tremendously. Allow me to explain how! Every morning, my children come into the classroom, unpack their belongings and immediately begin their work for the day - which begins with using two of the three sets of journals you have provided. Each day, we use the Daily Math Practic Journals and the Correct the Sentence Journals. These journals are set up in such a way that there are problems for each day of the week. The children have been using them for months now and we have established a morning routine that is so beneficial to us to go along with these journals. The Daily Math Practice Journals is set up to review most mathematical concepts I have either taught already or will teach this school year. Anything that has not been taught yet, the children take it upon themselves to use a math reference book, which we have in the classroom, to look up the topic. This has helped me motivate the children and has helped them become more independent workers. The Correct the Sentence Journals have assisted my students with their writing skills. These journals teach punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc. All necessary tools to write correctly. These journals have impacted the learning of my students greatly this school year. We just began using the Math Test Prep Journals about two weeks ago. The New York State Math Exam is quickly approaching and this journal has been a useful resource to use to practice for the exam.
Your donation has been put to very good use in my classroom. You have impacted the learning of my children and have assisted me in teaching them. You have made a huge difference and for that I thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Future Authors
Funded Dec 22, 2009I don't know how to thank you for your very generous donation to our classroom this year. These items really helped to improve the writing skills of my children. They really liked the Write and Publish Activity Center. There were so many different fun writing activities to choose from. The children were really excited and motivated to write each time they used the writing prompts included in this kit. This activity center also helped them work cooperatively together. Many of the children would pair up and help each other complete the activities. It was really wonderful to watch. The Writing Process Chart that you donated also helped to educate my students. They realized the necessary steps it takes to produce a published piece of writing. It showed them how to revise and edit their writing to make it the best possible piece of writing that they were able to produce. This chart was really helpful for them. The Writing Prompt Journals introduced them to the different types of writing they may encounter or have to write. The journals included persuasive writing, procedural writing, narrative writing and many other genres that appear on the State Exams. So not only did it give them options as to the type of writing they like, but it also prepared them for the exam they took this year, as well as, the exam they will be taking next year. People like yourselves make a difference in the lives of children. Your kindness is truly appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
You've Got Mail
Funded Jan 13, 2009Thank you so very much for your very generous donation to our classroom. You don't know how wonderful it is going to be to have a computer that can very easily move from desk to desk. It's also going to be a huge help because it will be new and it will work properly. The children are going to learn so much from having this laptop readily available for them to use at any time. It will enhance the quality of our work and enable them to produce finished products in which higher standards were set and met. Thank you so much for doing what you do for our children. It is appreciated more than you know”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Exploring the Animal Kingdom
Funded Dec 20, 2008Thank you very much for your generous donation to our classroom. Each school year I notice that children at this age have a real interest in learning about animals. They will read books and look on the internet for information. They are very motivated when it comes to this topic. I thought it would be a nice idea if some of those animals were readily available for the children to see within the classroom as we learn about them. Your donation is making this possible. They are going to love having these hands on items in our classroom. Thank you very much for being so kind to us”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso
Not a Minute To Waste!
Funded Dec 10, 2008Thank you so much for your donation to our classroom. These journals are going to be a huge help to my children in both writing and math. They will also save us time in our very busy day! It will really make a difference for each child to have their own journal with problems already there to work on each morning. They will also help prepare them for the upcoming state exams they will take very soon. Thank you for what you do for our children! It is very much appreciated”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiTomasso