Ms. Hoernke's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 4

• Teaching With Technology!

  Funded Jan 12, 2024

  First of all, thank you for your generous donation of two iPads for my classroom. I am a math intervention teacher for elementary students so I work with kindergarten through 5th grades. Through getting iPads, I can customize learning for students based upon what skills they need to work on. For example, I have math fact goal sheets for students. I teach students strategies to help them solve their math facts more efficiently and quickly. Once they pass their facts, they move onto the next one. The app we use, FF Math, helps students to customize a list that they need to practice in a matter of seconds. This keeps students motivated to learn because it is what they need to work on and it keeps challenging students when they are ready to move onto a harder level.

  Students are excited to use new technology! They enjoy learning how to use various apps that will help them learn. They also like the independence of knowing where they are at on their goal sheets, and then setting up their work on their iPads to practice. I do a lot of hands-on activities with math in my setting. The technology piece helps to individualize the work so students can get additional practice at their level. My first grade group, especially, is very excited to start using iPads to help them practice their math facts!

  Thanks again for your donation to help me individualize math instruction for the students I work with. It is because of people like you, who support education, who make my job easier to help a broader range of students' abilities in a more efficient way and the new technology helps learning to be more engaging for the students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Hoernke

  This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies.

• Flexible Seating for Fantastic Friends!

  Funded May 7, 2018

  Words cannot express the gratitude my students and I have for your generosity! We were so excited to have more comfortable chairs! Even though I have a small office to work in, the students and I are pleased with the seating options. The students have the opportunity to work in a regular chair, a wobble chair (if they need to move a little) or a cushion so they can cuddle up to a good story, relax and read! One student always asks me if I can read with her on the cushion every day during our reading time. That is certainly her favorite place to be!

  The excitement began to build for my students when they saw the boxes in the hallway outside of my classroom. They said, "What are all of these for?" as well as, "Are these for us?" I responded with "Yes! They are for you so you can learn more comfortably and choose a spot in which you would like to sit in that will help you learn best." Now, my students know it is a part of their regular routine to pick out a comfy place to work.

  You may be wondering, "what's next" for my students? Well, my third grade guided reading group is starting to learn about illnesses. They will pick a topic that relates to illnesses (colds, flu, cancer, etc.) to learn about what it is, if there is a cure, what they can do to prevent themselves from getting it, etc. The students will work freely on their topic and share their research with their classmates. They have the option to work with a partner to read and discuss what they are learning as well as ask and answer questions they have. With the option of flexible seating, students can form groups quickly, work with a partner easily and be comfortable while they are learning.

  Thanks again for your support. Together, we can make a difference for our children and their future!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Hoernke

  This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 3 other donors.

• Tech Savvy for the Scholar!

  Funded Mar 30, 2017

  Thank you so much for your generous donation of helping me to get an Apple TV for my classroom! I am a Math & Reading Resource Teacher/Interventionist for kindergarten through grade 5. I see about 50 students throughout the day in a small group or one-on-one setting. Since I work with reading and math along with various ability levels, I need to be able to switch my content out quickly so I am ready for my next group. Since I have an Apple TV, I am able to do that! It allows me to differentiate and be more efficient with my time and it allows me to have much more flexibility with my instruction.

  I also have students use their iPads and "Air Play" their work on the TV so other students can see how they are solving their problems. It promotes confidence and the students are so excited when they are able to show others how to do something.

  Without generous donors like you, this state-of-the-art technology would not be available for me to use with my students. The students and I thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Thank you for making education better and making the difference for many students!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Hoernke

  This classroom project was brought to life by Aspect Ventures and 4 other donors.

• Individualizing Math Instruction With iPads!

  Funded Aug 13, 2015

  My name is Brenda L. Hoernke, Reading and Math Resource Teacher for the elementary grades at Necedah Elementary School in WI. I work with kindergarten through 5th grade students. The grant we received from you has been helping our second grade students with their reading and math skills. At our school, we promote student independence, differentiated instruction at the individual students' level of learning and engaging as well as innovate ways to help teach our students.

  Since our school received the iPads from our grant, more students have been able to use RAZ Kids (Reading A-Z app) which helps students to listen to books online at their instructional reading level. Students are also able to practice reading the stories as well as take a brief quiz to see how well their comprehension about the story is. The students LOVE these stories! They are also great for students to use because other students don't know what level they are reading at. All iPads look the same on the outside, the content on the inside helps to provide practice at his/her reading level to help move them forward with their learning.

  Students are also using these iPads to practice their addition and subtraction facts on a program called Reflex Math. This is game-based learning helps students learn their math facts in a fun way. It is research-based and has proven to help students make significant gains with their math fact fluency! The students use this program at least 3 days a week (20 minutes each time) to help them with their speed and accuracy of math facts.

  I know students are excited to use the iPads! When I offer students different options of what they need to work on, most of the time, they want to use the iPads! Some of our students don't have the luxury of owning an iPad at home so they are able to experience the benefits here at school to help them keep up with the ever-changing technological world as well as learn in an engaging way!

  Thanks again for your generous donation! It is because of people like you that make our students have a brighter future.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Hoernke