Past projects 6
Bringing Literature to Life with Color
Funded Jun 18, 2010Thank you so much for donating towards the purchase of a color printer for my classroom! It arrived just in time for the school year to begin and the students were elated when they saw it! My push for my students this year is to incorporate technology as much as possible into the curriculum. As a teacher in an inner-city school we struggle to provide our students with the resources they need to be successful life long learners. It is because of donors like you that my students can now write, edit, publish and print their hard work to share with their peers and their family. This is just a small thank you for the LARGE impact you have had on my classroom!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam
Help Tomorrow's Leaders- They'll Need a Computer
Funded Mar 28, 2009Thank you for the gift that you have given my class. Each part has had a huge impact on my students' learning. From the paper, to the ink, to the mouse, to the router and computer; all of it has added an element of learning that just wasn't there before. This year has been hard for everyone, but it has been especially hard for many teachers, as most of the necessities we once had seem to have become luxuries. The economy has had devastating results in field of education and I'm sure teachers all over the country are feeling it in their pockets. However, in a neighborhood where only half of my class brought in their basic school supplies, I was especially feeling the recession. Couple that with the scaling back of each schools' budget and my class was facing huge adversity this year. From October on, we realized that things wouldn't get much easier; we had run out of copy paper early in the year. By December, my copying budget was often $50 weekly, and that was mainly for homework and writing paper. At one point staff was using hand-cut drawing paper to make copies! Your donation of paper came right in time. That box of paper is still serving us today, and has been shared by numerous students and teachers.
The ink has given my class the opportunity to publish their writing by typing. In April, the students were able to type their letters to various leaders including Barack Obama, the Governor and Mayor of New York City, our congressional delegate and the local police precinct about a problem they identified and wanted to change. The letters came out beautifully and made much more of an impact.
Finally, the router and computer have opened doors for my students in so many ways. Just today a little boy was reading about a kimono dragon in the Science Times and found that it could kill a water buffalo. Curious about what a water buffalo was, he didn't ask me, he immediately went to the computer and knew to google it. This is the true impact of your gift. Children are not only experiencing how to love learning, seek knowledge and be independent in their quest for information, but they are gaining confidence through the use of the tools they will need to be the leaders of tomorrow. Sincerest thanks from all of us! Your donation has truly enriched lives of my students, particularly those of them who do not have this type of access to technology in their homes, and given them the opportunities for learning that they deserve. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam
Extending Learning Through Photography
Funded Mar 25, 2008I can't say THANK YOU enough for the gift you've given my class. As the year has progressed, I can see just how talented these little learners are. While only in first grade, they have a wealth of information to share. I've made great efforts to give them the type of learning they need to extend and enrich their learning. One of our projects included their trial and error method of making bread. With each attempt, we took pictures with the old Polaroid cameras I have in my class. Their pride, curiosity and enthusiasm about the project was only magnified by the use of the cameras. I can only imagine their delight when they have real cameras and a printer to document our upcoming Earth Day and insect units.
My sincerest thanks!
Sabriya ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam
Making Books Magical Through Making Books
Funded Nov 22, 2006I sincerely thank you for your generous gift to the students in my school.
Each month students have the chance to publish one of their favorite writing pieces. So far this year we've published two pieces. Each time, we break out the markers and the good paper. But the novelty of using the stapler has worn off and there's only so much we can do with the supplies I have. Furthermore, some of the children in my class are struggling writers and need some extra incentive to work on their writing.
By having the tools to bind their published pieces into books, I know my students will feel more successful and have more pride in their writing. I am just one of ten first grade teachers in my school and this will be a tool we can all share- a tool that will boost the spirits of over 200 children this year alone.
Thanks again for your donation!
Sabriya ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam
Friendly First Grade Science Microscopes!
Funded Apr 4, 2006Studying nature in the South Bronx has been a challenge. I have been trying to find a way to allow my students to have the opportunity to study insects and use scientific apparatus. Many students don't have the opportunity to use such tools as microscopes until high school, and there's a possibility some of my students will not make it to high school. By having these microscopes available to my students now, I hope to expand their understanding of what learning is and how much fun science can be.
A world of thanks from me and my students,
Sabriya ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam
Reading Through Listening
Funded Mar 29, 2006When I found my old fisher price tape player from when I was a little girl, the listening center was a huge hit in the class. With many of my children reading very low level texts, they are often bored by the content. Furthermore, their minds aren't really stimulated by the simple text they can access in the books on their levels- limiting the conversations to be had about the text. The tape player allowed the kids to listen to literature independently.
Watching my students interact with each other and the text at the listening center has been fulfilling. The only problem until now was there were only two choices- and it was getting a little boring for them. Now my students can choose from a variety of texts and can enjoy reading with a sense of autonomy; any enjoyment of literature is a huge step in the right direction.
A world of thanks from me and my students,
Sabriya ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Elam