Past projects 5
Everyday Essentials for Our Lillypad!
Funded Mar 28, 2023"I wanna open this one!!" Each time a new box of materials from this project arrived in my room students clambered to open it and check out the contents. The markers, magnets, erasers, and more brought so much excitement to our room those first few days.
After the joy of new stuff had faded, what remained was the absolute necessity for these materials. As we all know, America's public schools are historically underfunded. My school is no different. We receive the necessities, but sometimes not enough and very few replacements throughout the year as wear and tear take their toll on materials. A refreshing burst of new tools helped our spring work to really soar.
Thank you, donors, for the helping my class have that excitement, the joy, and their educational needs' met each day.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
We Can Hear Clearly Now The Static is Gone!
Funded Sep 24, 2022My students and I want to send you our sincere thanks for your donation allowing us to get a new class set of headphones. Earlier this year we were dealing with a headphone disaster. Our old headphones were kept in a crate and over the summer they were tossed around and became a big, tangled mess. Students would become incredibly frustrated trying to use a set of headphones each day for our blended learning time.
Now, students each have their own set of headphones to use each day. Allowing students to each receive a brand new set of headphones created a great opportunity to discuss responsibility and caring for our classroom materials. I have been amazed at the changes I've seen in how students handle our new headphones. Students keep their headphones safely in their lockers. They retrieve them when they need them and return them safely after each use.
Most importantly, our new headphones have allowed for increased focus and progress on our blended learning apps. Now, that headphones work efficiently and without incident, students can get right to work and have more time and energy to improve their online skills and to learn the content taught on these apps.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words
Funded Oct 20, 2017Thank you for your generous donation to my project. Because of you I was able to purchase a Boardmaker program that helps my students access grade level instruction, as well as other school-based experiences.
Boardmaker is a computer based software that creates picture symbols for students with learning disabilities. When you enter the program you are offered different board types. With these templates you can make task analysis (step by step instructions for students to complete tasks) graphic organizers (which helps students organize what they have learned), visual communication symbols (which allows adults and students to communicate using picture in addition to words) and so much more. These boards can support students through each part of the school day. These symbols are especially useful during daily activities like bathroom and lunch, as well as when giving instructions to students. I have already seen the difference these symbols make to my students. Each time I implement these visual supports students respond with a look of relief and understanding. In addition, their newly gained abilities show that these symbols are making an impact.
One quick note isn't enough to thank you for what you've donated to my students' learning. Please take a minute to look at the project photos I've posted that show first hand the impact this new software has had on my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
Help My Kids Stay Connected
Funded Jan 16, 2017How does technology help you connect to the world? Some of your first thoughts might be the way you use phones and computers to talk to friends, family, and stay on top of you work. But there is another way we all use technology: to learn. When you can't remember the name of an actor on a TV show? You google it! How about when you have a new project at work? Maybe something has been asked of you that you don't you know about yet. It is likely you will use some form of technology to help you learn more about this new topic. Students are asked to explore new concepts and try new things every day. Tablets, and the programs they support, provide a multi modal opportunity for learning in which students experience new information visually, aurally, and intellectually.
My students use their new tablets for educational programs, including Lexia Core 5 and ST Math. These programs are especially supportive of students with varied learning needs like the students with special needs that I work with. ST Math and Lexia both allow students to see and hear challenges. They also allow students to explore possible solutions independently. Most importantly they provide students with new technology skills that they were not otherwise learn.
I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation. My students are thrilled when I say it is tablet time and those smiles wouldn't have happened with out! Please know that your donation will be a gift that continues to contribute to the lives of children every day.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.
Story Books Make A Difference
Funded Nov 10, 2015Thank you for the generosity you showed my little readers. Where would we be without you? In the past few months since I received the materials from my Donors Choose project I have been able to teach in a whole new way. Interactive lessons and independent reading have become an integral part of each day in my classroom.
With the use of the books we received from this project I've introduced several important early reading skills. One of these skills is listening to comprehend. I've been working with my little learners to increase their focus while we read. To do this, I ask them questions about the story. I also ask them to make predictions about the text. What will happen next? Where did the little boy go? What is George going to do? For students with developmental delays or learning disabilities these questions can be challenging. Providing visuals can support different learning styles and help all students succeed. In my classroom, we use the magnetic white board, also provided by your generosity, to display these visuals. The white board is also used to offer a different response method. If a student is struggling to answer a question verbally, they will draw their answer instead. Not only does this allow all students to meet the lesson objective, but it's fun!
The books provided in this project are especially important to my youngest learners, the Pre-kindergarten students. These books provide an opportunity for quiet, one on one time with a teacher. We sit in a small, cushioned corner and read together. We can talk about pictures and how those pictures make them feel or what experiences those pictures help them to remember. These little learners value books and reading, but most importantly they value the quality time those books guarantee.
Thank you again for your time and kindness. It means so much to my students and me. Please take a look at the pictures included on my project page to see students enjoying the materials you provided.”
With gratitude,
Ms. D.