Past projects 11
Greek Mythology Through "Percy Jackson"!
Funded Sep 16, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donations. You gave my students the gift of being engaged and involved in a suspenseful story. My students truly learned what it meant to be "on the edge of your seat" when it comes to reading! They couldn't put the book down!
My students also learned many life lessons from reading "Percy Jackson." They learned that teamwork and friendship are vitally important in being successful in life. They learned that sometimes we have to sacrifice things for the greater good. Finally, they learned that outward appearance does not show us who someone truly is!
I thank you deeply for giving this opportunity for my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
Help My Students Rise With "Esperanza Rising"!
Funded Sep 13, 2022I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your generous donations towards the class set of books titled "Esperanza Rising." In this novel, a young girl living on a ranch in Mexico loses everything when her father mysteriously dies. The main character, Esperanza, is used to living a lavish life style with servants waiting on her hand and foot. However, when her father dies, the rest of her family venture to California to work on the farms and make a living. Esperanza learns that money is not a necessity in living a happy life. As the students read this novel, they learned this important life lesson: there are many things more valuable than money.
The students truly enjoyed analyzing this text, and applying it to their own life. Their culminating project for this novel was an essay on the themes present in the book. Students dove really deep into this, and I am so proud of the work they produced! Thank you again so much for allowing my students the opportunity to read this novel!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
Towers Falling: A 9/11 Story
Funded Aug 12, 2021I can't thank you enough for the generous donations you provided for me and my students. With your donations, students were able to learn about the tragic events of September 11, 2001, through storytelling.
The kids could really relate to the book since the main character is the same age as them. Through her experiences, students were able to understand the everlasting impacts of that fateful day.
My students and I are so deeply appreciative of your kindness and generosity to ensure that they were able to learn about the day that changed America forever.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 6 other donors.Students in Need, Need Supplies!
Funded Aug 6, 2021Thank you so much for your generous donations last year to help my students get the basic supplies they needed to succeed throughout the year! They were extremely excited to know that the materials had been so kindly donated by patrons like yourself.
The supplies donated were necessary throughout the entirety fo the year. We used them for basic organization, a skill they needed to prepare for middle school, and so much more! The kids really loved using them for art projects as well.
Thanks to you, my students were able to have an amazing year with all the tools they needed to conquer 5th grade!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 4 other donors.Ground Zero: Teaching Students About Bravery and Sacrifice
Funded Mar 16, 2021I cannot thank you enough for the amazing experience that you provided for my students in reading the novel, "Ground Zero," about an American boy and an Afghani girl withstanding the tragedies and effects of 9/11. While reading, my students and I focused mostly on the actions and traits of the characters in the book. My students were able to deeply reflect on the two main characters, who were aged 9 and 11, because they are roughly the same age. My students were able to relate to these characters and ask themselves questions like : What would I have done in this situation? Would I be able to handle all of the difficulties this character went through? How would I feel if this happened to me? Questions like these promote the skill of real-life problem solving, as well as critical thinking. By reading this book, my students' skills in both of those areas grew tremendously.
While reading our novel, we would often read together as a whole class, and then discuss the events of the chapter in a small group. Students would reflect on the cliff-hanger endings of each chapter and make predictions about what would happen next. Students also completed a few projects based around the book, which got them engaged in the novel. Students had to write a narrative essay in which they were in the tower while the first plane hit. Students expanded on that idea in their essays, and described the events of what happened as if they were in the building. They were truly outstanding, creative, and innovative essays. Because of the events in this novel, and the way it was written, my students literally gobbled it up! Even when the reading was difficult for some of them, they kept reading because they were engaged with what would happen next! They really couldn't put it down.
This novel impacted many of my students and got them thinking about the difference between "right" and "wrong." One character, being an Afghani girl, told her side of the story, while an American boy told his. Many of my students, coming from very diverse areas and cultures, realized that life can be messy and many times the line between "right" and "wrong" can be blurred.
There aren't enough words to describe the tremendous impact this novel had on my students. By far, this has been the best reading experience I have had in the classroom as a teacher. Donations like yours greatly impact the classroom, and I cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 12 other donors.Students in Need: How to Stand Up For What's Right
Funded Aug 15, 2019I can't express the gratitude my students and I feel towards you and your generous donations. With your donations, my students have been able to access two of the greatest novels I've ever read!
We are currently reading "The One and Only Ivan." Students have enjoyed learning about the treatment of animals who are in captivity. They have been able to learn about the different perspectives of the animals in captivity, and their captors. The story is told from the point of view of a Silverback Gorilla named Ivan. Ivan speaks to the reader at times. Through Ivan's words, students are able to understand the actions of other animals in captivity, as well as their trainers and audience members.
After finishing "The One and Only Ivan" we will read "The City of Ember," which I am so excited about! With that novel, students will learn about bravery and sacrifice. Once again, we can't thank you enough for bringing the joy of reading to our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
This classroom project was brought to life by Montgomery Family Foundation and 11 other donors.WONDERful Citizens
Funded Jun 13, 2019My students and I have loved every minute of reading, analyzing, and discussing the novel "Wonder." This is truly one of my favorite books to teach because in addition to teaching reading analysis skills, students also get to learn life and social skills.
In terms of reading skills, students have analyzed a range of different concepts. They have studied and applied personality and physical traits of the characters, problem and solution structure, how to annotate important events in a section, and how to make connections from the text to their own lives.
For social skills, students have really discussed what it means to be a good and loyal citizen. Through events in the text, they have learned that good deeds are worthwhile and appreciated. They have learned the power of inner beauty and how to not judge a book by its cover. None of these lessons would be possibility without your generosity! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
Help Us Have a "Wonder"-Ful Time in Grade 5!
Funded Sep 14, 2017First off, I would like to say that the kids had an AMAZING time seeing "Wonder" in the movie theaters. It was a truly special experience that I know they will never forget. Thanks to your donations, you provided them with this wonderful memory that I know they will look back on, and smile, for the rest of their lives. I think the kids would say that the highlight of the trip was getting to be in an entire movie theater with their best friends, and only their best friends. Having the theater to ourselves made the experience so much more enjoyable. We smiled, laughed, "oohed", "aahed", and cried together. The movie "Wonder" taught all of the students the value of friendship, kindness, and acceptance. After seeing the movie, I have seen my students help one another more than I have ever seen this school year. I love how the kids have applied this novel that we read, and the movie that we saw, to their own lives. I know that this experience has changed them forever. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity. It is in large part to YOU, that my students are practicing kindness more than they ever have before. THANK YOU!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 6 other donors.Readers On Rugs!
Funded Aug 20, 2017When our new rug arrived, my students' faces lit up! Not only were they excited by the addition of more color in our room, but they were also excited to begin using it for different assignments and projects. The underwater theme of the carpet connected with the kids as well. If I remember correctly, one of them said, "it looks like an underwater oasis!" Comments like these made my day, and that is thanks to donors like you! From that day on, we began using the rug for many different activities.
As part of 5th grade, students are expected to read independently throughout the day. Whether it be after finishing an assignment early, or during our designated reading time, it is a part of our daily lives. The first time we used our carpet was for a read aloud of the novel, "Wonder." The kids cozied up next to each other on the carpet and it truly made us feel like a family and brought a welcoming environment to our read aloud. Additionally, I use the carpet to teach small group math lessons. The kids love using clipboards to do their math at the carpet with me! The rug really allows the kids to stretch their legs and really sit however they want. This "flexible seating" method is being employed by teachers everywhere because it lets the kids sit in a position that is most comfortable for them. Lastly, whenever we do group projects, I choose one group to work at the carpet. This is a mini reward for groups who are focused and listening to directions. I love that I can use the carpet as motivation in the classroom for students to do their best.
I truly and deeply want to thank all of you who donated. You have made a great impact in Room 8! This rug has magically turned my classroom into a warm, inviting, flexible, MOTIVATING, environment. Thank you!!!!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse
Readers Make Leaders
Funded Jul 20, 2016First of all, I need to thank all of you wonderful donors! Your kindness has made it possible for my students to think critically about the society we live in, how to improve our society, and discuss with each other how to make a difference in the world.
The books that we received focused on culture and tolerance. We have used these texts to examine the way that specific groups of people have been treated in our history. We then worked in small groups to talk about what we would have done to make a difference, had we lived in that time period. These texts have definitely improved the attitude of my students toward each other, as well as their attitude about the world that we live in. They are continuing to read and research and just become better people because of the books that you have donated. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Converse