Past projects 7
Bridging the Language Gap
Funded Nov 4, 2023Thank you so much for giving my students the tools they need to bridge the language gap and access grade level content. I am so incredibly excited to work with them on annotating and decoding language. I am even more excited to watch how this will help them soar academically.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
Making Learning Visible
Funded Oct 9, 2021Thank you so much for helping make learning visible for my students. I gained a large group of newcomer students—those brand new to the country. Through manipulatives and hexagonal thinking in addition to collaborative posters and fun college research projects like the ones pictured, every student had access to the content.
Students also had the opportunity to use the materials to do community service projects around campus and spread awareness about Deaf culture.
Without donors like you, none of this would be possible. We are so incredibly appreciative.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
A Writing Revolution
Funded Aug 18, 2019Because of your kindness, my students are more comfortable using advanced writing techniques, planning for prolonged writing tasks, and writing complex compound sentences. Additionally, with constant access to anchor charts and pencils, students are equipped to be successful writers.
With the materials provided, students have learned about and actively started using appositives, coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. These three things alone have allowed my students to soar on writing assignments in all their classes.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Consumables for Students
Funded Jan 25, 2018I can't begin to tell you how positively this simple printer has impacted our classroom. From the beginning of its arrival, students excited to have instant access to a printer in their class. When they realized they could actually access the printer from anywhere on campus while connected to the student WiFi, their appreciation of this item soared.
I've watched students make copies of their notes and print graphic organizers for their Project Based Learning assignments. I've seen students print out essays wirelessly from their phones, pick up their papers during the passing period, and experience success during their next class when the essay was due. Although our students are hard-working, they don't always have access to necessary technology at home to show their knowledge.
Most importantly, I've seen students with dyslexia, ADHD, and chronic absences due to deaths in the family make frequent use of the printer for notes and PowerPoint presentations. This basic item has enriched the lives and education of all of my students.
It is because of donors like you that quality education persists despite budget cuts or other challenges. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 2 other donors.Using Manipulatives to Learn ASL Classifiers
Funded Aug 14, 2017We are so incredibly grateful for your generosity! Although we began using the materials right away for various activities, I think my favorite activity has been using the poster paper, markers, and clipboards to do gallery walks for a PBL (Project Based Learning) activity. Students were asked questions to foster thinking about how deaf community members and students might be notified during a disaster. Upon realizing that most processes currently in place require the ability to hear, students were shown a video of a fake interpreter for Hurricane Irma in Florida a few weeks ago and were asked to create a new method or improve a current method of informing deaf community members during an emergency. With the supplies on hand, students were able to share their ideas anonymously, comment anonymously and therefor more honestly on other ideas, and ask questions they might not otherwise feel comfortable asking in front of the class through the use of gallery walks (as you can see in the pictures posted).
When my students first saw the supplies and heard who our donor was once again, they all cheered and suggested we invite her back to our school to honor and thank her since she once sat in those same desks. Our frequent donor has become a frequent topic of conversation in our classroom among all our students, and many of the students even feel like they know her. Words cannot express how truly grateful they are for the supplies she has donated.
It is because of our generous donor that students are now preparing a project to better inform deaf community members during an emergency that they will then present at either a City Council meeting or televised school board meeting. Because our city does have a deaf population, these supplies have not only helped change the students' learning experience, but they have also helped the students to change the lives of those in their community.
Again, thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
Interacting With the Deaf Community
Funded Dec 19, 2016Thank you so much for your kindness in donating Kindle tablets to my students. Although smartphones seem to be everywhere, that isn't always the case for my students. Additionally, many don't have access to computers or Internet outside of school. Worse, inside our classroom, we are rarely able to provide students with any technology. With this new technology, students have been able to learn at their own pace, interact with Deaf community members through Skype and videos, record and review their presentations, and research things they have questions about.
Each student was given a number and the tablets are numbered. Although we don't have enough Kindle tablets to be 1 to 1 with students, we do have enough for at least 1 to every 2 students. Students have really enjoyed being responsible for their own devices, looking up information, and completing assignments on Google Classroom when needed. Having technology at their fingertips like this has excited them and increased their engagement.
Additionally, some students have chosen to take such ownership of the tablets that they have even purchased their own cases and accessories. Although the tablets stay in the classroom and are used by multiple students throughout the day, watching the students take such ownership and pride in these items has been heartwarming.
Thank you so much for amazing generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon
Engaging Students in Literacy
Funded Dec 10, 2015We are so grateful for your donation! The novel donated has sparked the interest of a great number of students who have previously detested reading. As a result, I've been able to introduce them to new vocabulary, new literary concepts, and self-esteem. By providing students with a high interest book that is at their reading level, struggling students have finally taken an interest in reading.
The novel the students are currently reading offers them a safe way to discuss several uncomfortable topics that teens today face--drug and alcohol use, addictions, suicide, abusive relationships, and sex. This novel has allowed students a safe way to ask questions and get accurate information about how to get help with these topics.
In my classroom, students read for 20 minutes a day. After finishing a novel, they take a test on what they've read through the Accelerated Reader program that many schools use. Unfortunately, prior to this novel, many struggling readers had yet to finish a novel or take a test. Reading is 20% of a student's overall grade, so providing students with an intriguing and relevant book has not only increased students' literacy, but also their grades--and therefore their self-esteem.
Since the books have arrived, I have caught several of my struggling readers secretly trying to read the book under their desk during instruction time. I can't tell you how proud this makes me! Offering a student the opportunity to love reading is like offering students an open door to a whole new world.
Thank you again for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Obregon