Past projects 4
Create Curiosity in the Middle Grades
Funded Nov 23, 2022Thank you each and every one who made this project a reality for OUR students! Highly engaging content matched with vivid images are sure to grab the attention of our reluctant readers opening doors to imagination and possibilities. When we create curiosity among those students, we have a great start to growing great communities!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Armstrong
This classroom project was brought to life by The Walt Disney Company and 9 other donors.Connecting Students and Reading With Technology
Funded Oct 31, 2018Your donations to provide my students with two Chromebooks has been worth so much more than a "thank you." With technology everywhere these days, our students are expected to know how to use it and know what it can do. Without the opportunity to access it often, some students may be left behind. But now I know my students have a better chance at success in many things, including reading, because these Chromebooks allow them to read on-line articles and books that are of interest to them - more than my classroom library can offer. And once a child finds something they like to read, they are more likely to keep reading.
Some of my most reluctant readers are excited by the option that I've given them to find a book on-line if they still can't find anything "interesting" in my class library. They even come into my classroom asking if we "get" to read today!
In addition to my reluctant readers use of the tech, several of my students with differing levels of learning disabilities enjoy access to additional reading materials. I love the scaffolding that the technology enables these students to engage with their reading and get instant feedback even if I'm working with other students.
Your generosity has made a BIG difference in an urban middle school in Houston. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Armstrong
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School.Encourage Students To Pick Up A Book
Funded Mar 19, 2017One of the goals I set for my classroom is for my students to have the opportunity to independently read ANY book or text that they found interesting for 15-20 minutes each school day. Being able to have a choice about what they read is an important factor for a child to gain a love for reading. Just liking a book turns words into a story. That story becomes something that they want to know more about, and are more likely to try and figure out what the words actually mean. When they have a knowledge of the new words, they can visualize the story in their heads and will, in turn, increase comprehension. (I love how so many skills can be worked and grown by doing something you like!)
The addition of these 10 new graphic novels freshened up my classroom library giving it something new to look for. My students were so excited when the package arrived and I told them what was inside! I had several get out of their seats to try to be the first ones to look through the books so they could get first choice! One surprising detail to me was that the books are all hard-bound. Many of my students had never felt a hard-bound book before, giving them a new connection to the bigger world.
I may hold out one or two of the books next year and use them as read-aloud books, since they do have beautiful illustrations that I can project. Even middle-schoolers love to be read to, and it's special to see their minds at work when they can use a graphic to help them understand a more complex story.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Armstrong
This classroom project was brought to life by TOON Books and 3 other donors.Don't Knock It Until You've Tried It!
Funded Dec 31, 2015Thank you so very much for believing in the education and high expectation of our students today. The donation you provided has given my three classes of 90 6th graders the opportunity to start a relationship with reading.
Reading is a skill that does need to be progressively cultivated. This skill is one that may not actively be demonstrated in most of my students' homes. Many of the students in my school have not had the chance to interact with different genres of text to know what is available in the world and find an interest to continue reading. Your donation allows for several age-appropriate stories that these scholars are interested in reading, along with giving them a common topic for conversation, creating more social interactivity, as well.
Improving fluency, understanding character, identifying main idea, and sequencing are just a few of the fantastic ways that your donation will assist at least 90+ students this year. Ask the kids though, and they'll just say they're excited to read something "fun" and "interesting"!
I've used the magazines for weekly stations, and the students look forward to the student-friendly articles. I am planning a unit to end the year using the other books and plays to encourage participation and creativity, as well as keeping the learning going through the last days of school.
Again, from me and from many, many students - thank you for your assistance this year!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Armstrong