Past projects 38
Let's Get Technological
Funded Aug 23, 2014My students have been so excited about the document camera that your kind donation purchased for our classroom. The first time I used the camera with our video projector their mouths were open in astonishment and the air was filled with the sound of ooohs and aaaahs!
The camera is allowing my students to get a much clear view of activities that I am modeling. The biggest impact has been in the area of math. Most recently, I began to teach patterns using pattern blocks. The lesson was much better than in the past because instead of the children crowded around me on the floor with complaints of "I can't see" or "He stepping on me"; I was rewarded with a quiet and productive lesson as EVERYONE was able to see the projection of my work on the board.
My previously mentioned pattern lesson was one of the best in my 17 year long reaching career. A majority of the students were able to go back to their tables and create their own patterns with little assistance from me. It was evident how important it is to not only model skills with real materials but to also conduct the lesson in a way that everyone is able to see clearly without underlying distractions of being crowded.
I have continually raved about my document camera and encouraged all my co-workers to go to DonorsChoose.org to get their own and witness the amazing difference themselves!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and one other donor.Learn Dramatically
Funded Feb 26, 2013I cannot completely express the gratitude I have for your kind generosity. I immediately observed an impact on my students as they explored the multicultural puppets; discussing the various outfits and how they were different from the clothes we wear and the increased vocabulary being used to describe the clothing.
I also observed with pride an increased interest in writing as they used the dramatic play writing boxes. Additionally, I again heard an increase in vocabulary as they first "read" the cards from the boxes with assistance from the attractive pictures that once again generated curiosity and excitement!
Please understand how meaningful any donation is to not just the classroom but the overall development of the children which are so positively affected!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by JP Morgan Chase and one other donor.Save the Artist!
Funded May 24, 2012Dear Friends,
The kindness you have shown is extremely appreciated by me and my class. It is the generosity of strangers that is so touching.
My students are young and their skills for art and writing are not yet fully developed but they still have pride in their accomplishments. The funds you have provided were used to purchase picture frames to placed permanently on the wall and in which students work can be shown with honor. The students beam with happiness as they choose a frame in which to display their work!
Again it is due to your generosity that this is a possibility in my classroom. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
Science Stimulates!
Funded Mar 2, 2012I want to thank you with my deepest regards for so generously donating to my Donor Choose science project. The hands on materials that were donated to my class have been appreciated and enjoyed by all my students. The materials have assisted the students in learning important concepts about colors, including color mixing, and important concepts about the five senses and how they assist us in exploring our world and learning! Furthermore, the students are just beginning to explore the concepts of weather and the seasons. However, the most enjoyed items has been the mirror exploration set. The students have really enjoyed exploring the different features of the regular, concave, and triangular mirrors!
Emphasis in early childhood education is naturally in the area of literacy and language arts but I want my students to be better prepared global citizens with experiences in many different areas of learning. The science materials you provided assists me in achieving this teaching goal.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Arts & Science Council and 3 other donors.Cover Your Ears So You Can Hear
Funded Nov 30, 2011Thank you so much for your kind contribution! Everyone in the class has benefited from the headphones that were purchased for our classroom. The students working on the computers and other technological devices are now able to hear their programs without interference from the classroom environment and students working independently are not interrupted by the sounds of the computers!
The reduction in noise from the computers and other technological devices has created a calmer and more quite atmosphere that is more conducive to student learning.
Again, I emphatically thank you for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
Math Made Fun!
Funded Feb 27, 2011Thank you for your donation to my project and in turn to my classroom. The students have enjoyed the hands-on math materials and have interacted with the materials enthusiastically! The kindness shown by your generosity is appreciated by myself, my assistant and my students.
The math materials are beneficial to all of my students regardless of their area of growth in math development. The materials have assisted in an increase in concepts of counting, patterns, sorting, and unintentionally colors. The activities are engaging and have assisted in making math lessons fun and exciting!
I again thank you for your extreme kindness and generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by The Leon Levine Foundation and 7 other donors.Reading On My Own!
Funded Feb 3, 2011I appreciate the materials provided to me by your kindness! My students were extremely excited to use the TAG reading system and explore books on their own. My initial reasoning for requesting the TAG reading system was to support my more advanced students ready to take the next step to becoming independent readers, but I have been pleasantly surprised at the impact the materials have had on all my students!
My students have demonstrated an increase in literacy skills related to print awareness as a result of working with the TAG system. All students are showing more awareness that print contains meaning and have demonstrated this by increasing their ability to point to text as the TAG reading system is verbalizing the text.
Again, I thank you with an enormous amount of appreciation for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by The Leon Levine Foundation and 4 other donors.Art is Learning!
Funded Jan 30, 2010Thank you so much for your generosity! It was so much fun listening to the students 'ooohhh and aaahhh' as I unpacked the box of materials. They immediately started asking me questions about all the items, They wanted to know how we could use them and commented on all the colors. I loved seeing their interest peaked with just their visual senses. I knew the language would begin to flow when they really began to explore with the materials and express themselves artistically.
My students have enjoyed the new art materials and the addition of these items has encouraged renowned interest to the art center by the students. The first item we introduced were the textured paint brushes. As students began using the brushes they talked about the different 'patterns' being created and discussed how to change the patterns based on how they were moving the brushes. One of their favorite items has been the crystals of various shapes and colors. They have been using them on white construction paper to create designs and patterns. We do not use glue so the students are able to explore with them repeatedly and I will be able to use them with students for years to come. It has been wonderful to hear the growth in language and witness the hands-on and natural learning that is taking place.
I again thank you for your kindness in helping me to receive the art materials. The students creativity and learning have increased as they expand their vocabulary to include new words to discuss texture, colors, shapes and designs. It is also a wonderful experience to watch the students express themselves freely through the use of art! My classroom has been truly blessed by your donations.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Arts & Science Council and 10 other donors.Including All Friends
Funded Mar 5, 2009Thank you for your considerate donation. My students have thoroughly enjoyed the items you helped to provide us with. The activities have been enjoyed by all my friends and have really assisted my English Second Language learners begin to develop more worldly vocabulary, not just classroom environment vocabulary. In addition, the color sorting and category sorting items have assisted my children with special needs to increase their daily living vocabulary and to develop simple work skills.
The activities have also increased student cooperation and really provided the children with fun activities to get them excited about learning. These items really help to promote my belief to the students that learning is FUN!
I again emphatically thank you for your extreme kindness and generosity! During this time of financial instability, my school system is facing a significant budget cut. I would not have been able to purchase these much needed items without your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Speedway Children's Charities and 2 other donors.Opening The World Of Letters
Funded Mar 4, 2009It would be impossible to convey my extreme thanks to you with words on paper, but please try to fathom the amount of gratitude that I, my teaching assistant, and student's have for you! As I unpacked our boxes of goodies my student's watched and the room was filled with oohs and aahs! Everyone was asking to work with the materials and begging me to put them out as soon as possible. They immediately began working with the new items and expressed their excitement with comments of loving everything. During group time I used other materials you helped to provide and the children were fully attentive with smiles on their faces! The provided materials have assisted my student's to increase their letter knowledge and they will begin Kindergarten on target with their peers instead of behind!
Again, I cannot express to you enough the heartfelt appreciation I have for you and your kindness. We are allotted a small amount of money each year to purchase materials and supplies, but it is never enough to get everything we need to help the students become well rounded and successful in all areas of their development! This year it was even more appreciated because like all school systems we will be suffering with budget cuts for the years to come, which will negatively effect the classroom.
It is the kindness of strangers like you that provides us with the ability to assist our student's in becoming the shining stars and leaders of the future!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bechler
This classroom project was brought to life by Speedway Children's Charities and one other donor.