Ms. Lopez del Castillo's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 3

• Connect the Dots: Making Technology a Reality

  Funded Oct 8, 2009

  I am so excited to have the opportunity to write and share with you some of the ways your support has impacted my classroom and my students. It is incredible to see such a long list of donors for just one small classroom, and to know that your desire to impact the youth in our school's compelled you to give to my students.

  Before my classroom had its own projector, I had to walk into school hoping that I would get to use one of the two my school owned. The system for checking out was poor, and at times I would find out last minute that somebody had gotten to it before me. My lessons would have to change at the last minute, invariably impacting their effectiveness. Many of my students struggle with organization, which makes it essential that I be able to show them work step-by-step, in an organized manner that reflects what they need to show in their notes. Without a projector, this would at times proves difficult, as the visual component of the lesson was not as strong. Further, it is time-consuming and boring to write straight notes; with a projector to put up visual images of main ideas, we can focus our time on analysis and discussion of new topics. Students become exposed to a different manner of disseminating material, which helps to prepare them for the various teaching styles and mediums they will encounter at the college level. My student's love the projector, because it makes the information clear and present. The grades in my Physics course increased by 35% over the course of the first semester, and I attribute this in part to the improved efficiency and technology in the room.

  Having a printer in the room is also incredibly helpful. Just being able to print a students progress report on demand so that they can stay up to date on their performance is incredibly helpful. Further, since I only have one computer in my room, I can send students to do some research on a topic, print their information, and then send a new group. In the past, students had to sit at the computer reading and taking notes, only making it possible for one or two groups of students to access the web in a given time period.

  Each and every addition to my classroom that helps the students see technology around them is essential. Not only does it help to reflect the realities of the society they will soon join as working adults, but it gives the students pride knowing that they too can have projectors and printers in their classrooms, instead of this just being an image they have seen on TV or in another school. It helps them to understand that they are as capable, and have the tools, to succeed academically and carry those skills to a college or university after high school. They may seem like small improvements, but nothing goes unnoticed by the students, and they are happy and proud that they learn with technology.

  Thank you so much for choosing to support this project, and know that your gift is used each and every day to spread a love for learning and science.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Lopez del Castillo

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 11 other donors.

• Physics Phor Real: Injecting Life into Learning

  Funded Sep 25, 2009

  I would like to personally thank you for your support of my classroom and more specifically for helping to increase youth participation in inquiry and scientific experimentation. It is not the same thing to tell a group of students that momentum is conserved as to show them two carts that are moving towards each other and then move away at the same speed after a collision. The simple supplies you sent to my classroom have allowed me to create these opportunities for my students, allowing them to see, touch, and hear Physics principles all around them. It has increased student motivation in the course and has led to questions like "What kind of majors use Physics in college?" of " WOW, I really didn't expect that, why did I feel so much more centripetal force when I pulled my arms toward my chest?". These are things that could not have happened without the supplies you gave us.

  I became a teacher because I wanted to increase minority student participation in the STEM careers; I was lucky enough to be placed in all-girls school, where I could reach the group of students (under-represented female minorities) least represented in STEM careers in our country. Every day I hope to convince one of them to pursue a career in the STEM fields, and this is so much easier to do when the students can truly engage in inquiry-based learning and make scientific conclusions for themselves. Your contributions have not only helped my students become better physicists, but they have helped my students believe in a future as engineers, scientists, computer programmers, and design specialists. Because they can design a scientific experiment and make conclusions, they start to believe they can survive STEM careers at the university level. I am so grateful for this, but the true gratitude will be from the students many years from now, when they remember the reasons they chose to pursue STEM degrees.

  Please continue to support students classrooms; it makes such an incredible difference and many students are greatly affected by the chance to experience science hands-on. You are opening up new worlds in my classroom, and I cannot thank you enough for that.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Lopez del Castillo

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

• Dry-Erase Race to a Successful Year!

  Funded Dec 11, 2008

  Thank you so much for the opportunity to implement this project in my classroom. I am so excited at how quickly you responded to the funding request and amazed at this great chance to bring a unique and interesting twist to my classroom!! Just today I was doing a group competition with my students: they had to scribble responses on white sheets of computer paper and try to hold up the floppy papers so I could see their responses. I couldn't help but wish I had the dry-erase boards so the process would be smoother. Then I checked my e-mail, and lo and behold, my project had been funded!! It was a wonderful ray of sunshine added to my day.

  Thank you once again!

  Ms. ”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Lopez del Castillo

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.