Past projects 10
Story Time with the Warriors!
Funded Sep 12, 2023This wonderful project has delighted the students for the past few months. They can't wait for the Storyworks magazines to arrive so they can dive into the stories inside. In addition, there are comics, nonfiction, letters, and more. This is a perfect addition to our classroom reading program and a great way for the kids to practice reading during their "down time".
At the end of each month, the magazines are sent home with instructions to keep reading and enjoying the stories at home. Some of the children keep the magazines as a collection and can't wait to see how many magazines they will have by the end of second grade. Other students have shown a much greater interest in reading because of the magazines.
Thank you again for your donation. It has truly made a great addition to our classroom library.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
Morning Makeover!
Funded Aug 3, 2023The Morning Makeover reading rockers and STEM builders have really motivated my students. First of all, they LOVE the rockers and can't get enough of them. I had to make a schedule for when they get to use them because so many kids wanted to use them. The rockers are just a nice little place where the kids can "unwind" for a bit and read quietly or with a partner. They LOVE them!
On Fridays students who have finished with their tech goals for the week get to use the STEM tubs. This new STEM tub is very easy to use because it allows the kids to build using materials that are simple to put together and take apart. They are extremely appropriate for second grade and well constructed! Once students who had not finished their tech goals noticed the other children were using them, they immediately got to work to finish up their work so they could use the STEM blocks.
As a whole, my morning is SO much more organized. Students know their expectations and they work hard to reach their goals so they can have time to use their imagination with the STEM blocks. My next step is to have students construct a city or village out of the STEM blocks, since we are studying communities. I think that will be a great way to extend the use of the STEM blocks, and will keep the children focused .
Thank you so much for this awesome DONORS Choose project! Your kindness is so generously appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Getting Comfy in the Classroom
Funded Aug 9, 2022Thank you so very much for our new rug. This has been our meeting place this fall and an area where kids can talk, create, listen, and write. When we first received the rug, the kids and I were amazed at how colorful and beautiful it is. Since there are dots on the rug, each student has their own space and it helps us stay organized.
Some activities we have used the rug for include reader's theatre practices, phonics and spelling activities, listening to stories, solving math problems in subtraction and addition, and spending time playing learning games. The rug is well cared for and the kids love having a space where the class can meet. It really helps keep them focused and comfortable.
To keep the rug in good shape, several students are wearing slippers in the classroom. It helps keep our learning more comfortable, and the rug stays clean. Please know that your contribution has greatly impacted my students' well-being and classroom management. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 2 other donors.All The News That's Fit To Print!
Funded Aug 17, 2019Thank you very much for your generous contribution to allow my students to receive a year-long subscription of Time For Kids. Learning about our world is crucial for students to succeed, and Time For Kids gives students a lot of opportunity to do just that! We have been reading the articles weekly and discussing the problems and solutions associated with the articles. Students have also been learning about non-fiction text features and we have also used the news articles as springboards for discussion about many different social issues such as empathy, self worth, and showing kindness toward others. Please know that the kids are so excited every time I tell them it's time for Time For Kids! Your generosity means the world to us, and I appreciate your help in getting the kids to learn more about our world!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
Chrome Books for My Superheroes!
Funded Mar 1, 2019Thank you so very much for your generous donations for our Chrome Books for Superheroes project. Due to your generosity, we have three brand new Chrome Books which are being used on a daily basis in the classroom. These Chrome Books help our students learn because they can be used for reading and math fluency and research. Since this is a technologically competitive world, the students need to have every advantage available to them. Using Chrome Books will help students as they get ready to work on research projects in the upper grades. I am so grateful for your kindness and all of your help. My students are eternally grateful and so excited to know that their community supports them and encourages them to do their best work!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 7 other donors.The Book Stop: All Aboard to Read Independently!
Funded Aug 22, 2018From the minute the boxes of books were opened, the students have taken a much greater interest in reading. Because of your generosity, my students are being exposed to many new books covering genres such as narrative fiction, historical fiction, and expository text. Last week we celebrated the end of the week with "Flashlight Friday", and the kids absolutely LOVED reading the books in a comfy space with the lights dimmed. I am going to make "Flashlight Friday" a bi-weekly part of the schedule, and I know their new books will be the ones students will go to. Tomorrow all students will be receiving book bags, and will be able to go "shopping" for books. They will be able to keep several books in a bag inside their cubby. At the end of each week, students will put their old books away and go shopping for new books. I know that these books will make a great addition to the book selection, and the kids love Mary Pope Osborn and Jerry Pallotta books! Thank you so much for your generosity. You are making a huge impact on the lives of many, many students in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Just the basics....PLEASE!
Funded May 17, 2018Thank you so very much for the donations to my classroom project "Just the basics....PLEASE!" Pencil sharpeners are becoming overall more fragile and easily broken because more and more pencils aren't made with as great a quality as they once were. This new heavy duty pencil sharpener works GREAT! The students and I are able to make sure that they can start the day off the right way with a pencil that works well. The Dixon TICONDEROGA pencils are fabulous and work very well with the new industrial pencil sharpener. In addition, the new chairs are fantastic. The kids love sitting in them and they don't take up a lot of room. In fact, using these chairs instead of the old ones makes the room look and feel larger. They are also colorful, and the kids really like how they look. When the materials first arrived, the kids went crazy! They were so excited. We really appreciate your donations. Please know that you have made a HUGE impact on my students, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
Little House in the Big Woods Project
Funded Feb 3, 2018Thank you for the huge impact you made on my students due to your generosity. We have been busily reading all about Laura Ingalls Wilder's young life and students have been learning about what it was like to live during the 1800s in the Big Woods. Students have also been practicing fluency by reading the books with partners, and we have also been talking about some of the literary styles of the author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am so excited because the students feel important and more grown up knowing that they can read a chapter book. Little House in the Big Woods has been a challenging read for many students, and they love to find out what is going to happen next. Your impact has helped my students improve their reading skills, social studies knowledge, and love of reading. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
It's All About a Comfy Place to Sit!
Funded Nov 1, 2017Thank you so much for your donation for our new rug. The rug has changed the makeup of my classroom in that students have a comfortable place to collaborate, listen to a story, and do their work.
When the rug first arrived, students immediately deviated to the rug and they actually prefer to do their work there instead of at their desks. They love how comfortable that it feels, and it helps them feel like they are "at home". The rug also is a great addition to the classroom in that it makes the classroom look beautiful, and other teachers have decided to try and get rugs because of the impact they have seen it in my class.
My next step is to use the rug as a station during math so that the students can regularly go to a math station and work with a partner. The rug works well because when students are using dice, there is no noise which can be very distracting.
The students appreciate the rug so much and it gets use every hour of each day! Thank you so much for making an impact in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson
Superhero Students Soar with Technology
Funded Nov 20, 2016My students would like to thank you all for your generous donations to help us purchase three Chrome books for our classroom. As you know, technology is everywhere in our society. It is used daily by millions of people. Students today are technologically savvy, and they know how to obtain information using computers. These Chrome books have been such a lifesaver for us all because they are giving the students a window of opportunity to explore new avenues and pathways.
This month our class is studying different types of changes that occur in our world: quick changes and slow changes. Students created posters showing examples of these changes, such as volcanoes, ice erosion, wind erosion, floods, and earthquakes. By using the Chrome books, students were able to research information and record data on recording sheets. Then they used the information they obtained to make their posters. Students also collaborated with partners, which helped them learn how to work with a peer effectively.
Students are also using the Chrome books to help their math fluency and reading fluency. Students regularly log onto websites such as Reflex Math and Lexia. These two programs are effective because they help students gain fluency in their addition and subtraction facts, as well as reinforcing important phonics skills being taught in the class. These programs are making an impact on the students' progress in these areas. Thank you for helping to make each day an exciting adventure for my students. When the Chrome books arrived, they were so excited and happy! Please also know that the students are taking very good care of these computers, and we appreciate your generosity more than you'll ever know.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wilson