Mrs. McPherson's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 9

• Cozy Book Cranny

  Funded Jun 23, 2023

  Thank you so much for donating to our Cozy Book Cranny project. It was exciting to watch students explore the space during the first few days of school and get excited when they realized the space was built just for them. They love the space so much that many use it before or after school to sit and read.

  Every day, when we begin class, students use the cushions and table to get comfortable during our independent reading. Most mornings, you can find one or two students perusing the bookcases for a book to read. Many students stop in on Fridays to ensure the plants have been watered and spoken to so they will grow.

  The space has created a community within our classroom, an area students are proud of. The flexible seating has provided an area for students to take a break from the traditional chairs and desks in rows. The tall, rotating bookshelves allow students to search my book collection easily. Students are checking out more books not only from my shelves but also from our library.

  Your donations are greatly appreciated and are creating a culture for reading that will follow students in the future.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

• School News Needs MoJo: Mobile Journalism Tools

  Funded Feb 17, 2023

  Thank you to everyone who donated the materials for the Mobile Journalism project. My students are excited to use tools that journalists use worldwide. The mobility of the MoVo camera equipment and the carrying case makes reporting on the go easy for my students. The small bins helped us organize our microphones, SD cards, and camera accessories. The Vlogging kit allows students to report school events.

  Our sports reporters are incredibly grateful for the equipment since carrying a bulky video or digital camera isn't always feasible for sideline reporting. Now, they can broadcast live from the field and our viewers get instant updates and interviews. This fast-paced reporting is widespread for today's journalists. These tools give my students real-world reporting experience that will give them a leg up when applying to journalism jobs and schools.

  This equipment, paired with students' smartphones, offers the convenience and portability that today's student journalists need. The tools in this project provide students with the independence and tools they need to report, edit, and broadcast news stories as the event unfolds. They no longer miss out on reporting a live event because they don't have a video camera, microphone, or digital camera.

  Thank you so much for helping my students use tools of the journalism trade. Their experience with this equipment will help them build their portfolios and share news events with the world.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

• Unplug and Unwind through Play

  Funded Nov 29, 2022

  Thank you very much for donating to our Unplug and Unwind through Play project. Our materials arrived just before winter break, and my students were excited to use them when we returned to the building in January. The high school students have appreciated having the items to engage in play, especially on those extra-tough days when their obligations feel overwhelming.

  Watching my students laugh as they play with the parachute, color the giant pages, or gather around a card game has been both fun and freeing. I am so grateful that

  my students can take a break from electronics and stress to recharge through play.

  This experience of laughter and fun wouldn't be possible without donors like you. Thank you so much.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 9 other donors.

• One World, Many Stories.

  Funded Dec 18, 2021

  In my classroom, students participate in independent reading. They select books based on their interests. The goal of independent reading is for students to read, so I don't put a lot of parameters on page lengths, genre, or subject matter. At the end of the six weeks the students share what they have been reading with their peers through book talks.

  I want students to see that reading can be an enjoyable experience and an activity that they can participate in long after they have finished their schooling. That's why I don't set requirements such as genre, lexile level, or page length. The new additions to my classroom library are helping students find new genres of books to explore.

  Many students noticed that my classroom book selections on my shelves were roughly five years' old and didn't have very many selections from the three main genres they enjoyed–non fiction, poetry, and graphic novels.

  Several students wanted to read some of the books that their peers suggested in the book talks, but did not have access to purchasing books or checking them out at the public library. So, I asked students to make a list of books they wanted to read and told them I would figure out a way to get them.

  Enter my amazing Donors Choose donors who helped fulfill my students' book wish list. Students were amazed to see the books they recommended for purchase on our classroom library shelves.

  Since the books arrived, they are frequently checked out with some books having a waiting list. Students who only read sci-fi fiction are now trying poetry or graphic novels. My students have enjoyed talking with classmates who have read the same book. I have enjoyed watching students not only find books they like, but also participate in conversations around those books.

  Some students who are quiet have found a voice, especially when sharing the graphic novel they most recently read. Other students have been given the freedom to try books that they wouldn't ordinarily pick. As a teacher, it has been fun to watch students who are experts in a particular genre recommend books to other students who are discovering that genre.

  Adding books to a classroom library seems like such a simple task, but the impact on our classroom culture has been huge. In a time when students are trying to integrate back into in-person learning and away from reliance on screens, having physical books to read and talk about has really created a special community of readers and learners.

  Thank you for connecting my students with books.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.

• Extra! Extra! Reporting On the Go!

  Funded Sep 2, 2019

  Words cannot fully express the significance of your donation for my journalism students. Many students do not have access to professional audio and video recording equipment and, before your donation, had to rely on their phones to record inerviews and videos for their news articles. Your donation provides access to important tools in journalism for these young journalists.

  The journalism class has introduced students to digital news reporting. Having access to clip microphones and a video camera on a regular basis has helped these students develop a skill that is necessary in today's news reporting. Students are excited to come to class and check out the equipment to record interviews for school events.

  Your donation has helped our journalism program grow. Students are able to participate in mobile journalism which has improved the quality of their reporting. They now can add videos and live interviews to their news stories. Many students would not have the opportunity to interact with quality equipment without your donation.

  Again, thank you for making a difference in my students' futures. Many have decided to pursue a second year of journalism in high school and some of my seniors have decided to major in journalism or broadcasting next year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 other donors.

• Photojournalists: Tell More Than a Story

  Funded Jan 1, 2018

  Words cannot fully express the significance of your donation for my journalism students. Many students do not have access to a digital camera and, before your donation, had to rely on the not-so-reliable cameras on their phones to add pictures to their news articles. Your donation provides access to an important tool in journalism for these young journalists.

  The school journalism class has introduced students to digital photography. Having access to a camera on a regular basis has helped these students develop a skill that is necessary in today's news reporting. Students are excited to come to class and check out the camera to take pictures at school events.

  Your donation has helped our journalism program grow. Students were able to attach quality photos to their articles, which has helped them establish themselves as writers. Many students would not have the opportunity to interact with quality cameras without your donation.

  Again, thank you for making a difference in my students' futures. Many have decided to pursue a second year of journalism in high school and some of my seniors have decided to major in journalism or broadcasting next year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

• Power of Storytelling Through Podcasting

  Funded Jun 20, 2016

  Your generous donations have given my students a voice beyond the four walls of our classroom. Stories are a central part of learning in our classroom and podcasting helps my students write and share powerful stories across classrooms. Students are engaged not only through the technical side of podcasting, but also through the emotional connection between the storyteller and the listeners.

  Further, my students are becoming experts at a skill that is immediately useful to them and the world, in general. A few of my students are planning on starting their own podcasts. Likewise, they have gained confidence in both the use of the equipment and also their writing abilities.

  Thank you for helping my students share their awesomeness with the world.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.

• Genius Hour Inspiration

  Funded Dec 1, 2015

  Thank you so much for donating the classroom library to help students find ideas for their Genius Hour projects. The library will help students for years to come. Some students struggle to find project ideas because they have never been given the opportunity to work on something of their own passion and choosing. The books have given student project ideas and sparked creative reiterations of the projects in the books. Students have chosen projects that range from building their own computer to bringing a national organization to our school for a presentation.

  Through your generous donation, my students have discovered the fulfillment seeing an idea through the planning stage to the final production stage. The skills of working in a group, setting a schedule, and managing materials will be valuable to them as they finish high school and move on to college and career.

  Again, thank you for sparking passion and creativity in my students this year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson

• Brewing for Bills

  Funded Sep 11, 2015

  Thank you so much for helping our Brewing for Bills project come to life. Our club is only five years old and we don't have a lot of money to attend conferences. Your donation will help us earn money to attend conferences where we learn about government, the importance of using our voices and serving our community.

  This year, our club wants to attend KUNA (Kentucky United Nations Assembly). The past four years we have been unable to attend due to lack of funding. Our group is excited to participate in the mock UN conference for the first time and immerse ourselves in another culture for a few days.

  Your donation helps our club sponsor students who may not be able to afford the $275 conference fees. Through your generosity, more students will be able to participate in conferences for years to come.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. McPherson