Mrs. Ochs' Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 6

• Diving Into Character Traits

  Funded Aug 2, 2023

  Social Emotional Learning is so important for all students. Our district has initiated a district wide program this year for all K-12 students. It is called Portrait of a Graduate.

  Thanks to you extreme generosity, our students now have great lessons to go with age appropriate read aloud books. These books match the 6 competencies incorporated in Portrait of a Graduate. Our students can begin understanding empathy, responsibility, communication, critical thinking, adaptability and perseverance. The TPT lessons that were purchased will give them lessons that will help them relate these competencies to real life situations they encounter at school and at home.

  Your generosity is helping shape the minds and actions of our students so that they will develop life skills they will use in every aspect and stage of their lives.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Something as Simple as Paper

  Funded Nov 30, 2021

  Have you every witnessed the panic on a teacher's face when they realize they need to pass copies of something out to students and there is no copy paper to print on? It is not a pretty sight. And 7 year olds need to be able to complete certain school work using paper and pencil.

  With all of the craziness students have had to deal with over the past 2 years, they need the basics more than ever. My class would have tears in their eyes when I would tell them they would have to type answers on a computer. Now I don't have to. The class is so happy to be able to write words on a piece of paper, and solve math problems by writing them out, and yes, even have some time to color.

  Thank you for giving my students one more thing to be at ease over.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs

• Organization Is Key

  Funded Oct 17, 2021

  Agendas are a teacher's best friend! And a student's! And a parent's! To think about having to go an entire year without them was dreadful!

  My students literally cheered when they came in and found agendas on their desks. LITERALLY! You would have thought I gave them donuts for breakfast.

  These agendas have aided in keeping them organized. They have given me another point for communicating with parents. They have made life so much simpler for all of us.

  So from the students in room 21, from their parents and from me, we send you a big, hardy thank you for making this become a reality for us.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs

• Always Safe

  Funded Oct 6, 2021

  We are living in a time of uncertainty when it comes to the health of our family, friends, and for me, my students. Part of my job is to make sure my class always feels safe. The pandemic has made that difficult.

  Our day consists of cleaning desks, sanitizing hands and making sure we are masked up. The items that were in "Always Safe" provided that extra reassurance that, no matter what, we were covered. Who would have thought a group of 7 year olds would be so excited to receive hand sanitizer and face masks. They all love being able to have mini bottles right on their desks, so that at a moments notice, they can sanitizer and know their hands are clean. And the masks...word spread through the entire school that room 21 had awesome masks available when a student in that room needed one.

  So room 21 would like to say a sincere thank you, for making such important daily items available to us.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs

  This classroom project was brought to life by #TeachHealthy with Nature Made and one other donor.

• Virtual Teaching Made More Personal

  Funded Jan 15, 2021

  I think my students were as excited as I was to use our new document camera. I no longer had to balance an iPad on a cardboard box, plug in a headset so they could hear me and lift the paper up closer to the camera for them to see. The document camera we received is amazing. My students oohed and aahhhed over it! And are still excited. I am able to zoom in as needed, use special features that came with the software and I can use it with my MacBook; no additional computer to sign into our meets! Your donations have made a huge impact on the quality of my virtual teaching!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs

• Keeping Up With The Technology World

  Funded Nov 11, 2015

  How do I even begin?! The excitement in my classroom when they heard the news was overwhelming, but when our laptop arrived the students could not contain themselves. This laptop is used on a daily basis. The students are using it to practice keyboarding, to utilize educational games, and to take on line tests and assessments. They are navigating through Google programs and more.

  I am sure you are wondering how this is a wonderful thing and how it could possibly be improving and aiding their education. In a time when everything in our lives is technology based, most people assume that all children have access to technology. This is not the case. Many of my students do not have computers at home, 1/4 of them do not have Internet access and with severe budget cuts in the state of New Jersey, our district and school is limited in its funds and purchase power for such items. We are in an age of online standardized testing, middle school and high school Google program mandated assignments. And as an educator, it is my responsibility to provide students with the learning experiences and guidance that will prepare them to perform up to standards. Computer teachers were cut in our district this past summer, leaving all technology requirements on the classroom teacher. With only 4 desktop computers that are aging, and 21 students in my room it can be a daunting task.

  This HP laptop is being circulated throughout the students. All 21 of them are getting time on it daily. This exposure is improving their skills and their confidence. It is exposing them to programs and computer time they otherwise would not have. This laptop is enabling them to be successful in today's technology world.

  For this amazing opportunity, and for your amazing generosity, my class and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts and from the keys on our laptop.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ochs