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Mr. Olt's Classroom

  • PS 5 Port Morris School
  • Bronx, NY
  • Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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We'll charge your card today and send Mr. Olt a DonorsChoose gift card he can use on his classroom projects. Starting next month, we'll charge your card and send him a DonorsChoose gift card on the 17th of every month.

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Make a donation Mr. Olt can use on his next classroom project.

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show projects from all time

Past projects 12

  • Quarantine Reading

    Funded Apr 3, 2020

    Thank you for your generous donation. Our students love to read but many lack the necessary resources to keep an updated library at their homes with engaging titles. My students love highly engaging books that make them think. We love to talk in my class and we spend a tremendous amount of time reading and talking.

    This format of reading and talking has created better writers. When the students participate in this highly engaging process they are forced to think, analyze, evaluate and communicate. This 'deep thinking' process has lead to 'deep thinking' writing.

    We are looking forward to reading "The Outsiders" and participating in this process of learning that we have missed out on for 6 months.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Quarantine Reading Continued

    Funded Apr 5, 2020

    Thank you for your generous donation. Our students love to read but many lack the necessary resources to keep an updated library at their homes with engaging titles. My students love highly engaging books that make them think. We love to talk in my class and we spend a tremendous amount of time reading and talking.

    This format of reading and talking has created better writers. When the students participate in this highly engaging process they are forced to think, analyze, evaluate and communicate. This 'deep thinking' process has lead to 'deep thinking' writing.

    We are looking forward to reading "Down These Mean Streets" and participating in this process of learning that we have missed out on for 6 months.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Who Will Be Next?

    Funded Mar 23, 2020

    As technology becomes more and more available, It has become increasingly difficult to get students to read. Choosing the 'right' book for middle schoolers is essential to motivate them. 'Unwind' is a fast pace dystopian science fiction novel that keeps students engaged.

    Reading is an essential aspect of every teaching day. We love to read and talk, and talk, and talk. I truly believe that reading and writing are like breathing. The inhale is reading and the exhale is writing. Students struggle to write because they have not taken the 'breath'. Through discussions students are able to better understand the text and then therefore they produce better writing.

    Because of your generosity, I am excited for our classroom discussions and creating life long learners.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Keeping It Real

    Funded Mar 19, 2019

    During my travels I have acquired many fiction titles that my students love. However, my library has always lacked quality nonfiction. For my students to be well rounded readers they need exposure to all genres. In the process, social acceptance is a crucial element to my classroom. I pride myself on exposing my students to quality text that span a variety of social, ethnic and religious groups to build knowledge and understanding.

    I desperately wanted a book that my students would fall in love with and that would teach empathy and acceptance from different regions. I am super excited to add this book to my library that continues to grow rich from the generosity of others. While building tolerance and acceptance for those that may have differences from us. Thank you again for your extremely generous gift.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Can I Please Take the Book Home?

    Funded Dec 24, 2018

    Thank you for your generous donation. My students and I have been on an academic journey of building life long learners and instilling the love of reading. My students and I have fallen in love with the genre of dystopian fiction. We have been analyzing the use of technology in our daily lives and the impact it has had. My students and I love thought provoking books that help facilitate discussion and nurtures a love of reading. The two titles you have graciously donated will help to foster these ideas.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Global Understanding for Inner City Youth

    Funded Mar 8, 2017

    Social acceptance is a crucial element to my classroom. I pride myself on exposing my students to quality text that span a variety of social, ethnic and religious groups to build knowledge and understanding. With America's current state of affairs, I felt that is was imperative to include texts from the Middle East. My students have a lack of understanding about this region, and that lack of understanding creates fear.

    I desperately wanted a book that my students would fall in love with and that would teach empathy and acceptance from this region. I believe that Persepolis is the the perfect bridge to unite that gap. I am super excited to add this book to my library that continues to grow rich from the generosity of others. While building tolerance and acceptance for those that may have differences from us. Thank you again for your extremely generous gift.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Author Study: Following Those We Love

    Funded Feb 23, 2017

    Thank you so much for your generous gift. This year we are having a 'Race to 25'. This requires the students to read 25 books and/or short stories in a school year. In the beginning of the year my students were highly engaged and enthusiastic about the challenge. It is now March and we have started to lose steam. We have read the majority of titles in our classroom library. We desperately needed new and engaging titles and authors to fall in love with.

    Sherman Alexie became the perfect match. His unique style of writing and his ability to connect with his reader is the perfect catalyst for our project. I wish you could have heard the cheers of my students when it was announced that we were funded.

    Thank you again for your extreme generosity. I have a passion for reading and I desperately want to pass that on to my students. Because of your gift I can ensure that my students are exposed to quality reading that will help to develop this habit.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Graphic Novels: A Genre Study

    Funded Mar 1, 2017

    Several weeks ago my class and I had a discussion on the Holocaust. I teach a 7th grade ESL (English as a Second Language) class. I was amazed at the limited knowledge they had on this topic. I was desperately in search of a highly engaging text at a decent enough reading level that would engage my students. Maus is the perfect match.

    I have yet to use graphic novels as a means for teaching content. The graphics in the book are a perfect scaffold for teaching literacy without losing content.

    Thank you so much for your generosity. My students are very fortunate to be exposed to such kindness. May your act serve as a model for my students in the future.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Wonder: Building Acceptance

    Funded Feb 10, 2017

    If I have learned anything in my fourteen years teaching middle school is that kids can be mean. They are emotional roller coaster that have extreme highs and extreme lows. It is a time of transition and change. And believe me- it is not easy.

    We have instilled a love of reading in my class. Unfortunately, many of the books that my students are exposed to are damaged or outdated. We desperately wanted to rebuild our classroom novels with highly engaging books to continue to foster this love of reading. I also want to instill this value of empathy. While doing some research I identified 'Wonder' as a perfect choice for a highly engaging text that develops a deep sense of caring and sympathy for its main character.

    My students and I want to thank you for your generosity. Through your act of kindness. For the fact of you giving and not wanting recognition. You have demonstrated this virtue. It will be a lesson not forgotten.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

  • Books to Create Life-Long Readers

    Funded Dec 8, 2016

    We have started our third unit for the year, 'Writing About Reading'. This unit asks our students to write authentically and engaging about literature. We will focus on analyzing a text for symbolism, structure, perspective, and style. The students will then create a variety of writing samples that demonstrates their understanding of this type of literary analysis.

    I believe in the power of choice. Therefore, students will self-select their text for the unit. I then form Literature Circles based on their selection. This allows me to form small groups where the students are reading the same book. We then allocate time for teaching, reading, and discussion.

    Reading in my classroom was becoming increasingly difficult. Many of the students have read the novels in our library and the book selection had become sparse. My students started to dread reading and viewed it as a punishment. I knew something had to change. The first day I opened the box and read the titles to my students it was as if a light was switched. My students started giggling with excitement and rushing the table to choose the book of their liking. Now, my students enter my classroom asking to read and begging for one more minute when time has been called. It is amazing what the right book(s) can do. From the bottom of my heart thank you for your generous donation.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Olt

My students are a diverse group of learners, many non-native speakers of English, and our K-8 school is situated in a part of the South Bronx where students needs are often overlooked. My class is populated by thirty students per class with a few meeting grade level standards but the vast majority struggling to make gains and to stay engaged in learning year after year. As individuals, they are unique and opinionated. They are enthusiastic when presented with new and interested content, and they are always willing to try new approaches to learning and take risk. Most have been here in the building since they were five. This place is a home for them and we teachers are here to expose them to new and different ideas that may be outside of their daily life in the Bronx.

About my class

My students are a diverse group of learners, many non-native speakers of English, and our K-8 school is situated in a part of the South Bronx where students needs are often overlooked. My class is populated by thirty students per class with a few meeting grade level standards but the vast majority struggling to make gains and to stay engaged in learning year after year. As individuals, they are unique and opinionated. They are enthusiastic when presented with new and interested content, and they are always willing to try new approaches to learning and take risk. Most have been here in the building since they were five. This place is a home for them and we teachers are here to expose them to new and different ideas that may be outside of their daily life in the Bronx.

About my class

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