Ms. Martinez's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 78

• Headphones for Mission U.S. And Researching Social Studies Topics

  Funded Aug 22, 2018

  I just want to thank you for supporting my students with funding this project. My students were son happy with the headphones. All my 5th grade classes have already used the headphones for researching their assigned country in the Western Hemisphere. In the pics that I posted the students had a research sheet so that they could gather information for their project. Students were given a choice as to whether they wanted to create a poster board presentation, report or a Power Point presentation. each student also had to present their project to the class. Some students even bought in a food from their assigned country. The students really enjoyed doing the project and presenting their project. They told me that it was the best project they ever had to do. Thanks for helping my students to have this unforgettable experience.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.

• Help Us "Breathe For Change"

  Funded Mar 27, 2018

  Dear donors,

  Thank you for funding my "Breathe For Change" project. I just finished after 16 days of the intensive all day yoga training. It was. an amazing experience. I signed up for this Summer " for "Breathe For Change" training to help my students to be in touch with their emotions and help me to teach not just academically but also sociol-emotionally..

  During this training I learned that before I can teach yoga. I needed to become ore aware of my self. We were all challenge to look at out own emotions and traumas so that we could heal. By doing this we also learned to have compassion for all the people we encounter, our families, co-workers, students, principals and every person we encounter. We learned to communicate more effective.

  We were also given all these different activities that we could use in the classroom. Some of those activities included teaching students how to breathe and body scan. Although this seems basic, I will definitely bring back the breathing techniques and gratitude circles. It is also my hope that my principal we allow me to teach yoga to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students 3 days a week. I would also love to teach staff yoga. Lastly, I would like to teach yoga to parents on our Tuesday Parental engagement days. I know that I will need mats, blocks, bolsters and yoga blankets, but I believe that yoga will give students and teachers a tool to deal with their emotions and help them to heal from traumas from the past. It also allows people to be more focused and mindful of the present moment. This is something that everyone needs.

  I hope that I am allowed to bring this blessing to our school in September.

  Thank you for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.

• Valentine Smencils And More For Incentives!

  Funded Dec 19, 2017

  Thank you so much for the Smencils. We received them in time for the Valentine Day holidays. The students were just so happy to receive the Smencils. The students continue to be very motivated to earn those Smencils with participation, good behavior and their work ethic. Since I teach all of the third, fourth and fifth grade classes, the younger students in the school are looking forward to the time when they too will have the opportunity to earn a Smencils.

  We also have a routine in my school where 2 students are selected from one class to do morning announcements for the week. These students are chosen from Kindergarten-5th grade. They say the Pledge of Allegiance, School Pledge, state the weather conditions and the temperature and inform the students if they will have outdoor recess. I have donated Smensils for these students as well. They are so motivated and grateful to receive a Smencils for their public speaking each morning.

  My graduating students are also looking forward to receiving their graduation Smencil in June. My students' joy and motivation to do well is made possible because of you supporting this project.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Just the Basics: Crayons,Paper and Pencils

  Funded Mar 27, 2018

  Thank you so much for the Twistable crayons and Twistable Colored pencils. I am a social studies teacher and see all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes 2 times a week. I am passionate about what I do and my goal continues to be that my students also develop a love for Social Studies. I incorporate art into my lessons whenever I can. We presently do not have a Art teacher so I make an extra effort to create lessons that allow students to do art. Unfortunately, because I am a teacher that has to travel from class to class, I can not do art assignments that require paint or complicated and lengthy clean ups. Twistable crayons and colored pencils have been such an asset to my lessons. The students love the Twistables and best of all the crayons and colored pencils never need to be sharpened. Additionally, the Twistable crayons never break. My students love them, but we had no more and are crayons were broken. When we found out that the project was funded, my students were thrilled. You made about 300 students very happy. I am sure that many creative moments will be displayed while my students use these artistic tools to complete assignment thanks to you.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.

• Laptop is MALFUNCTIONING. Need a Replacement for Upcoming School Year

  Funded Sep 1, 2017

  Once again thank you so much for buying the laptop for me to use with my students. In reality, I must say that in today's day of age, I have become so dependent on having a laptop that it is amazing. I use my laptop to search for information for my lesson plans. I write all my lesson plans on my laptop, I download and play information video and/or video clips. I use images and create slideshow for all my topics. I model how to navigate through the internet when assigning my students a in class or at home project. My grade book is entered on a website called learn boost and I create test questions with Plickers, which I am able to use my phone and/or my iPad to calculate student responses. In a nutshell, I really need a laptop to teach my students in an engaging and effective manner.

  The new laptop is a slightly different color, but is almost exactly like the old laptop. The new laptop however, doesn't shut off if it on too long and has a earphone piece that is functional. The new laptop also does not have line going down the screen. Overall, they are just a wonderful group of students that show me how appreciative they are of me everyday. I always make sure to remind them how instrumental you have been to myself and them over the years.

  The students love the new technology that I use and now I see students use technology more and more in their own projects and assignments. For example, when I assigned the last project on a country in the Western Hemisphere, many students chose to present their information in the form of a PowerPoint, similar to what I present to them in class. This is the new age and I am trying to get them comfortable with technology for when they hopefully go to college.

  Once again thank you for all your support and how you have touched my students educational lives.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Gallery Walk, Jigsaw and Book Making Supplies Needed

  Funded Apr 10, 2017

  Thank you so much for the much needed supplies. Let me tell give you some examples about how my students put those materials to work. The card stock paper was used by the entire 4th grade (approximately 130 students) when they were learning about Spies during the Revolutionary War. Students learned about several ways that spies sent messages and one of those methods was by using invisible ink. Students were able to write a message using invisible ink using a Q-tip. Students wrote their invisible ink message on the card stock paper. They were then able to reveal their invisible ink message using grape juice. The students had a blast.

  My 5th grade students used the art material that you purchased was when students worked in groups. Group were assigned the task of deciding which supplies they would take on a westward expansion wagon. They knew that they could not go over 2,000 pounds. They were given a list of colonial items and their weight and a calculator. Together they discussed and analyzed which items would be most important. Additionally, they had to have someone that would create a wagon train scene. The scene could depict challenges of being on the wagon train or another scene related to families traveling west. Students used markers to create their Wagon train scenes.

  Another example of my students using markers and was when students created a Dinah Zike (foldable) and had to show how 4 different revolutionary women contributed to the revolutionary war. They were assigned to write a short summary about each women and draw an illustration. I try whenever possible to incorporate art and images into my lessons for the NLL (New Language Learners) and visual learners.

  In closing, I have used the materials that you purchased for my 3rd graders, when they learned about the Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian mathematical hieroglyphics. Students used card stock to write their names using hieroglyphics and wrote at least 2 numbers using the Egyptian mathematical hieroglyphic mathematical system. Finally, they used Twistables crayons, Twistable colored pencils and markers to color in the hieroglyphic symbols.

  As you can see the materials have been used to enhance my students learning in many ways, but the examples I have given are just a few. Your donation to my project has made all these activities possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Ms. M's Art Supplies Need Replenishment

  Funded Aug 25, 2016

  Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman,

  Thank you so much for the art supplies. It is only November and my students have used the Twistables and glue so many times. My third grade classes used the Twistables when they created their own political maps, physical maps and grid maps. The map came out so beautiful and the students really understood the differences between each of the maps. My fourth graders used the Twistables when we were learning about the 9 regions in N.Y. S. and each student had to label and color in each of the 9 regions. My fourth graders also used the Twistables when they were learning about natural resources in N.Y.S.. Students had to complete a 4 part foldable, in which they had to list the ways that people used 4 different natural resources and they also had to illustrate at least two ways that people use those natural resources.

  In the photos that were downloaded, one of my fourth grade classes were participating in a group project. I divided the class into 9 groups and assigned them each a region in N.Y.S. They then had to go to a website www.ilovenykids.com. Once on the website, each group had to find their assigned region on the iPads. They then had to choose any 4 categories and write down all the different places to visit in that category. Next each group had to choose one place in that category and write a paragraph about that place. Finally they had to glue each piece to the chart paper and draw an illustration for each category. The completion of this group project took 3 sessions, but the students loved it. They worked so well together and they loved using the iPads.

  Thank you for always supporting me in giving my students the resources that they need to enjoy and love learning.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.

• iPads for IEP Students and English Language Learners

  Funded Jul 30, 2015

  The iPads have been very helpful to my instruction and to some of my English Language Learner students. As you already know, I believe strongly in using technology for my instruction. The iPads have been great, because now I have been able to go from class to class without having to always carry my laptop. I have downloaded several iPad applications that are Social studies related for my classes. Some of the apps that I have used for my classes have been World Book. I have used the World Book app for my third graders when we were studying China and also for my fourth graders when we studied Old New York and Native Americans. I will also be using the World Book app when my fifth graders begin learning about the Mayans as part of their studies of both Mexico today and ancient Mexico.

  I also used the app Think Fast. This app is part of Mission US Crown Vs. Colony. Mission US: Crown vs. Colony is a great app interactive game about the American Revolution. However, they have not developed a iPad app as of yet. What I have done with my students is used my laptop to show them how to play Mission US:Crown vs. Colony and then used Think Fast as a quiz for the class of key concepts related the American Revolution. In April I will be using an app called Immigration. I have also downloaded Stack a country, Stack a State and other Map skills apps. I have not used these apps yet, but I know I will.

  We have 3 students that are straight from foreign countries and are non English speakers. They are getting ELL services, but they were feeling a little lost in the classroom. I gave each of them a iPad and put several apps for them to use in their classrooms. I put Brain Pop ESL, sentence builder, conversation English, Adventure for Kids, The Cat in the Hat and World Book Xl Dictionary and Thesaurus. The teachers of these students have thank me and told me that they look forward to working on their i-Pads.

  I will be sending you thank letters from one of the classes that i have used the apps with. getting thank you letters from the ELL students will be difficult, but I will try asking the teachers to have the students write a thank you letter.

  I thank you again for all you do for my wonderful students. I will post pics soon.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Smencils: As An Incentive/Motivation for Students

  Funded Sep 28, 2015

  Thank you so much for once again replenishing our Smencil supplies for my students. They do not seem to get tired of those scented pencils. Those Smencils are still a great incentive and motivator for my students to strive for academic and behavioral excellence. For the most part, my students are so well behaved. They stay on task and complete their assignments. They do all these things for several reasons. One of those reasons is that they truly care about their education and want to learn, but the other reason is that they know that if they do not behave and complete their task or tasks, they will not have the opportunity to get a Smencil.

  I have a system in place in order for my students to get a Smencil. Every student in each class is given a raffle ticket. Next, they write their names on the raffle ticket. At the end of the class period, I then randomly select three raffle tickets from a Ziploc bag. If I choose a student's raffle ticket that broke a class rule or did not complete the assigned task, then that student's raffle ticket goes back into the bag until the next time I come. Fortunately, I rarely have to put a student's raffle ticket back into the bag. My students are generally awesome. I do have to credit Smencils as being a great contributor to my students wonderful work ethic and behavior.

  I have to say that one of the reasons that I think my students do not get tired of Smencils is that Smencils.com has such a variety. My students are always seeking the newest variety of Smencils whether it is Spooky Smencils, Spring Smencils, Holiday Smencils, Original Smencils and/or Sports Smencils. They never get bored.

  Once again, I just want to thank you for what you do for my wonderful students. They love you guys. I always tell them about how you have both always supported all the projects that I have requested for them for years. They are very appreciative of your generosity and support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez

• Please Replenish Post It Chart Paper

  Funded May 20, 2015

  Post-it chart paper has become part of my routine. Students already anticipate that Ms. Martinez is going to come in and put up her chart paper. The chart paper has the I can statement of the lesson. I can statements are the instructional focus for the lesson. I also post the Do now and important vocabulary on the chart paper. By having this routine, I move quickly into the lesson. I do not have to worry about erasing what a teacher may already have on their dry erase board. It is also very efficient, because I do not have to write the I can statement on the board, which requires turning my back on students.

  I can give countless examples of how chart paper has been used. Here are just a few.

  My third graders are learning about African countries and cultures as part of their NYC Scope and Sequence for 3rd grade curriculum. One of their lessons focused on lesson focused on Kente cloth designs. I explained that Kente cloth colors each have a meaning. I charted the colors and their meanings. In a later lesson, students had to choose 3 colors for their kente cloth and explain why they chose their specific colors. Students then created their own kente cloth designs and drew geometric shapes and/or symbols. The chart paper was used again and again as a reference while doing their art project.

  Another occasion when I used chart paper was with my fourth grade students. Recently, my fourth graders had been learning about colonial life and how colonial women made butter. Students heard butter churning songs,viewed video clips of a woman making butter with an earthenware churn, read butter churning poems and read about the butter churning process. Finally, students were able to make their own butter in class. All students had the opportunity to eat the butter they made with jam and crackers. They all loved that part for sure. I also required that all students sequence the steps that they used to make their butter. They all received a sheet which they were supposed to write down those steps that they used to make the butter. I recorded the steps that the students stated that they used on chart paper.

  I honestly incorporate post it chart paper in almost every lesson in one way or another. The above examples are two of the most recent ways that I used the chart paper. The chart paper has become such an important tool for my instruction and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Martinez