Past projects 38
Recess Recovery
Funded May 6, 2021Students are using the resources during recess as we are a large school and even amid non-COVID regulations we have too many students to allow everyone to safely play on the playground daily. As a result, we are often assigned a field or the bus lot which is just an open concrete area safe from traffic. Students are creative and find games to play but the simple tag is just not the safest so these materials have really expanded their options of play and positive interaction. Additionally, it assists in students' experiencing activities to support eye/hand coordination as well as other large motor activities that in turn positively benefit their academic learning!
As the materials were introduced to the classroom; their cheers were deafening as they started shouting out plans for the materials and what they could do during recess! Thank you so much for providing such fun and beneficial items to my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and one other donor.Total Body Leads to Learning
Funded Oct 27, 2020I cannot tell you how thankful I am for the amazing contributions to my classroom project! One of the most of favorites of my students at this time is vocabulary ladders. These activities get my students' brains stimulated on so many levels and they have so much fun completing them! Not only are they practicing their phonics skills as they must think about spelling with letter sounds and phonics rules but they are also increasing their vocabulary plus their reasoning and logic skills. We have so much fun completing these "riddles" that it is hard to believe how much learning is taking place.
Additionally, the students are loving the brain break activities that go beyond simple dancing but actually help to stimulate their brain and exercises those synapses!
I again thank you for allowing me to provide my students with activities that are beyond just expanding their academics but are really building that most important muscle, the brain!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
Groove and Learn
Funded Dec 5, 2019Young students love to move and today's academic curriculum often does not allow enough opportunities for them to rid themselves of kinetic energy often resulting in a lack of focus or negative behaviors that disrupt the classroom.
The chair bands are a perfect method to allow students a chance to fidget with their legs while remaining in their seats working and without making lesson disrupting noises or constantly moving their chairs. I even have one student who chooses to stand on hers at times and jump up and down. It is noiseless and I barely notice but she is getting the movement she needs.
Additionally, students who have more than the average about of energy are also able to use a wiggle seat in their chair allowing for whole body movement; again without causing a class disruption.
Movement gives students a kinetic outlet and a higher level of focus to get work done and acquire more knowledge.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by College Football Playoff Foundation & ACC and one other donor.Reading is Life
Funded Dec 3, 2019It is amazing to have access to so many books that are on my students' levels. During class students are required to read to self but none of the students are on the same level of learning and it is frustrating and not effective to have books in hand that they cannot read. These books are giving my students many more opportunities for read to self time to build fluency as they have more books on their level which gives them success.
An increase in books on my students' reading levels also makes for a more constructive and positive experience with fewer negative behaviors. As students are able read their books independently then they are less opportunities for talking because of frustration or boredom so I have more opportunities to pull children into groups for smaller group lessons based on individual student need without continuous disruptions or having to redirect behavior!
Books based on my students needed level just make a more positive reading experience overall.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and one other donor.Sound Speaks Volumes
Funded Jan 31, 2019Thanks to your generosity my students are able to utilize their iPads without disrupting others and without becoming distracted themselves. Students have assigned applications on their iPads that target their current work level for literacy and math but have a difficult time staying focused on their personalized lesson when they hear the chatter from other games and activities.
Furthermore, students who are not working on iPads but are working independently with hands-on materials or are working in a small group with me do not lose their concentration and focus due to the noise from the iPads.
It is a little known fact I believe to those outside the teaching profession that the volume of noise level effects the level of activity of students which means the more noise the more active the students become. As a result of every student having headphones, we have reduced the noise pollution of the classroom significantly and therefore have calmer workshop times in which everyone is more focused.
Interestingly enough the reward of headphones is everybody has FOCUS to learn!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 2 other donors.Math Made Real!
Funded Nov 26, 2018The math materials that I was able to provide my students due to your generosity has really allowed my students to increase their addition and subtraction problem solving skills. Having the hands-on materials enables the children to further develop their understanding of the math concepts not just memorize equations. The cubes are allowing my students with fine motor needs be able to use a ten frame strategy without being frustrated by the flat disk as the cubes were easier for grasping. We also expanded our knowledge of building numbers on the ten frame and understanding number concepts with the 10 frame cubes.
Most specifically, I had been teaching with a Rekenrek (math counters) since the beginning of the school year; but once the children were able to get their own in their hands their understanding of the this strategy increased most efficiently. As a result, I am seeing a better concrete understanding of addition and subtraction.
Now that my students' are increasing their concrete knowledge of math concepts they will grow even more in the years to come as they will truly understand the numbers and strategies that I am teaching!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Atlantic Coast Conference.Learning is a Distraction
Funded Mar 27, 2018Technology is an excellent source for diversifying lessons to be personalized to students' individual learning levels but when many iPads are running different activities at one time it can be a distraction to the entire classroom. Students become less focused on their personalized work which leads to less retention of information.
My students have been fully involved with their personalized activities with the introduction of the headphones provided by this grant. My classroom has become calmer with less noise pollution. Students are more focused and have had better results on their programs with more on task time being documented. Additionally, small group instruction has become more focused because students are able to work with me without the distraction of iPad noise.
Thank you so much for your generous donations which have led to a calmer and more focused learning environment for all of my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Active Learning Fun
Funded Nov 16, 2017My students and I are loving the equipment! We use the items everyday. Recess time has become more exciting with involved students and less negative behavior.
I had told them that I was asking for materials for us to use during recess time and when I told them that we had gotten the grant they were so excited and one asked me everyday when the "materials" would come. The day that the administrative assistant brought down the box was exciting. I had to stop my lesson and unpack the box as a class. There were "ooohs" and "aaahs"! They were so excited for recess!
A great recess time contributes to my students having a more focused afternoon in in which we do writing and math so the benefits are not just seen during recess time but also in our class time after we come back inside.
Thank you immensely for your kind generosity. Small contributions make huge impacts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by National Fitness Foundation and 2 other donors.Words Are A Sight
Funded Jan 18, 2016Sight Words are a huge part of learning to read! However, many people do not realize the impact on student reading when they are not able to read simple common words in a snap. Students who are able to read these common words quickly and without hesitation are higher readers and are more successful at reading. Furthermore, providing students with hands-on and engaging activities encourage more focus.
The new word work we received thanks to your generosity have transformed our learning environment! The engagement of students during independent work time is greater. One comment I have heard is "these word boards are so fun"! They are very excited about the enjoyment of the activities and learning their sight words!
Thanks to your kind contribution my students have been immensely affected! It is strange how a seemingly small item can make such a difference and generate such excitement. I have more students working and showing excitement toward not just learning those sight words but reading in general. I have already seen several students increase in their reading success due to their increase knowledge of sight words!
My words will never be enough but please know how thankful I am of your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
Cover Your Ears and Focus!
Funded Jan 18, 2016Technology has become a huge part of education! Many schools are using grants and other donors to fund the use of technology with laptops, chrome books and in our case iPads. However, many people do not realize the impact on classroom environment to have ten or more iPads being used at the same time. Additionally, when headphones are provided they are unfortunately a low level priority and not of quality or comfort.
The new headphones we received thanks to your generosity have transformed our learning environment! The noise during independent work time has decreased greatly as we no longer hear all the iPads; and as a result students are now able to focus and concentrate their individual work. Also, we were able to purchase higher quality headphones that have provided my students with more comfort. One comment I have heard is "these headphones don't poke at my ears"! They are very excited about this fact and the fact that the volume level stays consistent!
Thanks to your kind contribution my students have been immensely affected! It is strange how a seemingly small item can make such a difference and generate such excitement. I have more students working and showing excitement toward using the iPads. Another small achievement is that I am able to work more consistently with small groups of children without other students interrupting for needed help to adjust the volume, fix the tightness or repair a headphone.
My words will never be enough but please know how thankful I am of your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Duke Energy and 5 other donors.