Past projects 4
Sensory Tools for Self-Regulation
Funded Oct 17, 2024Thank you so much for donating! I can't wait to share with you how these items positively impact my students. I'm so grateful to you all for supporting my students. I know they will be so appreciative of all the items they will now have access to in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Policarpo
Graphic Novels to Build Stronger Readers!
Funded Mar 13, 2017Thank you so much for funding a class set of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This unit has been one of the most successful ones this year. My students loved being able to read another graphic novel, especially one that was written for students with reading difficulties. All of my students were able to access the information while still being able to apply the leveled text to rigorous concepts such as themes, selecting and citing textual evidence, and using it to write an argumentative essay.
We spent many fun periods reading the book aloud and getting into each of the character's personas. Even my most quiet student joined in the fun and embraced being the evil Mr. Hyde. Moreover, students from my other class periods read the book independently because the cover and pages looked so intriguing.
As I end my second year with this group of students I am thankful that our last unit was rooted in a classic, yet accessible, text where they got to practice, refine, and experiment with new English and literary concepts. There were lots of moments of frustration but just as many moments spent engaged in the reading. Thank you for providing us the materials needed to end their 8th grade year on a high note.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Policarpo
Backpacks for Students!
Funded Mar 5, 2017Thank you for providing my students with new, sturdy, and reliable backpacks! My students were excited to see the backpacks and they were so happy when I let them know the backpacks were for them. They couldn't believe that complete strangers cared so much about some of their basic educational needs. One of my students whose backpack was stapled to hold together his supplies was so happy to sport his new backpack!
My students will now have a safe place to store their materials and will no longer have to worry about their backpacks falling apart in the middle of the day. Gone are the days of stapled backpacks! These backpacks have also proven to them that people are out there who believe that their needs are important. This is the greatest impact that this gift has had on them. This project has provided them with the example that good people are out there!
Their thank you letters will soon be on their way!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Policarpo
This classroom project was brought to life by Life Essentials Supporters and 3 other donors.Always Running
Funded Feb 12, 2016My class's journey through Always Running has been inspiring to me as an educator and an encouraging experience to my students. As we learned about Luis' experiences growing up in East Los Angeles, my students were able to easily make text-to-self connections, something they previously struggled with, as well as understand the point of view of each character. I began to not only think more critically about the novel as they shared their experiences but also get to know my students on a more personal level, as they shared some of their own intimate experiences. When we created visual representations of the characters from another character's point of view I realized that although my students struggled with the reading and higher level thinking, they were able to comprehend and independently use new skills such as analyzing language, making inferences, and creating original arguments. We are not yet finished with the book but my scholars are now feeling encouraged to engage with rigorous assignment and are finally starting to see themselves as scholars.
Reading in my classroom is a shared experience as we read the novel as a collective. My students still struggle with reading independently but as we take turns reading and acting out the chapters, Luis' experiences come alive. This text has made reading an enjoyable but rigorous process for my students. They now understand the purpose of annotating and often are the ones who tell me to "stop! Annotate that!" So, if anyone were to step foot in my classroom during a reading they would see my students engrossed in our reading and ready, with highlighters in their hands, to stop me when they think they've uncovered something key to the novel.
Thankfully, each and every one of my students has found some connection to this novel. Two of my boys have begun to see that some of their experiences are common and have found solace in this. Therefore, they tend to be the students with the most investment in this text. They read it at home and come up to me individually to share how their experiences to the narrator are similar. My boys have begun to vocalize their needs and fears and as an educator that is powerful because I would've never imagined that a book would provide them with the key to begin expressing their emotions.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Policarpo
This classroom project was brought to life by Tony and Nanar Yoseloff and 3 other donors.