Past projects 12
Totally Tidy Totes
Funded Jun 27, 2018Thank you so much for supporting this grant that provided my class with these totes. We use the totes throughout our day, everyday. The totes keep our journals, our writing folders, our pencil pouches, and our class work all organized. The ability to take the tote with us to different places in our classroom and different places in our school helps us to be flexible with our seating and still keep are materials with us and organized. We use the different colors of the totes to organize our tables into groups. This allows us to smooth out our transition times. We've been using the totes for a few weeks and I'm extremely happy with how well they are holding up. I believe these totes will last for a few years and that makes me very happy! It's always good to make an investment that last more than one school year and these totes will do that. Thank you for supporting me, my students, and our classroom. I'm very thankful for you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Composting: Let's Break It Down!
Funded Feb 5, 2018Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping us learn to compost. We placed the compost bin in an outside area between the cafeteria and our wing of the building, so we passed it every day. Students added lunch materials, such as salad greens, apple cores, and orange peels. We also added brown materials such as twigs, leaves, and even brown paper towels. The students loved turning the bin and watching the materials change over time. We used our first batch of compost to grow radishes in our classroom garden. We also made posters teaching the rest of the school about composting, what to add to the bin, what not to add to the bin, and how compost helps plants grow. A few other classes have since began their own composting. Your donation is having a ripple effect and has touched many children!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Digital Kindergarten
Funded Apr 11, 2016We used our tablets every single day as we learned to read. By giving students tablets I was able to give them literally thousands of books at their fingertips. This helped every child find books like liked. It helped me find books on each child's level. It helped save paper by not making copies of printable books. It was engaging and helped my class achieve the highest reading scores I've ever had.
The students used the tablets for things other than reading too. They used them for apps and games that helped them in math and science. They used them to take photos when we went on nature walks, and then we used those photos for journaling. Probably the student's favorite thing was using the tablets during STEM. In our last big STEM unit of the year we used the tablets and voice over program to take photos of models of plants we had engineering and made the plants "talk". The kids were crazy about it!
These tablets are still being used today, in a new school year. I believe they will be used for many years to come and that dozens, possibly hundreds, of children will learn to read thanks to these tools. As a side note, most of my students that didn't have a tablet of their own had it as their #1 item on their Christmas lists! They are hooked thanks to these tablets!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Tablets for Teaching
Funded Feb 17, 2016We have been enjoying these tablets just a couple of weeks and they have already had a great impact! We now have enough tablets to use at our guided reading groups. This means students have instant access to hundreds of books right at their level every day. Using an app we are able to track how much time they spend reading, what type of book they like the most, as well as monitor their comprehension through the quizzes.
But reading isn't the only area that has been impacted! Our school recently had a social studies event and we used the tablets to create QR codes of videos to teach the rest of our school about doctors. We also used the tablets to take photos as we traveled the school and learned from the displays other students made. The students were the photographers and this helped them stay engaged and focused!
These are just 2 examples, but every day the students find new ways to use the tablets. They love them so much and they help keep learning fun and in the student's hands! Thank you again for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Reading Rocks!
Funded Oct 15, 2013Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! We have used the materials provided by this grant daily. The children really love the computer games. They are so great at balancing the fun of technology with the academic rigor needed in school today. They make the students feel successful and help them learn the skills they need to be successful readers.
We also use the games and manipulatives in our centers weekly. Having the hands-on materials makes learning fun keeps the students interested. They are also easy to differentiate to varying levels and learning styles, and they grow with the children through out the year. I know I will use these games for years to come.
I also use these materials in my Response to Intervention groups. Even my students who are struggling love "RTI" time because of the materials you have provided. It is fun, and other students often want to participate just because of the games! Usually these students are more difficult to motivate, but thanks to your support and generosity, I don't have that problem. Please continue to support Donor's Choose and other classrooms in the future. It means so very much to teachers and our students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Kindergarten Kindness
Funded May 4, 2012My students really love these materials! When we received the materials they were very excited! It felt like Christmas morning! We are very appreciative and promise to take good care of our materials and use them to learn, learn, learn!
We are able to use the computer games daily and they are a huge hit! We use the alphabet tubs in many different ways including sound sorts, learning beginning sounds, building vocabulary, and creative writing. We use the word puzzles at centers to practice sounding out words, learning blends and digraphs, and learn to spell words correctly. We use these materials as individuals, in groups, and the teacher uses them in whole group instruction too.
These materials really helped us learn more about sounds, improve our decoding skills, and phonological awareness. I know that the use of the materials is one reason we are becoming READERS! Thank you for helping us build these skills that will last a lifetime!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
A, B, Si!
Funded Nov 3, 2010Thank you so much for the ESL materials for my class. We are enjoying them every day, and we are very grateful for you and your generosity. You helped make our education this year richer!
These materials are of benefit to the entire classroom community. The students love playing Bi-Lingual Bingo. The classroom labels are helping both the students and the teachers learn both English and Spanish. We send home the Weekly Readers every week, and we send home bi-lingual alphabet books every day. They are perfect for helping us learn our alphabet, as well as learn a new language.
Again, thank you for your generosity. We will be using these materials for years to come and will always be grateful for your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 13 other donors.Let's Have a Ball!
Funded Oct 1, 2010I can not begin to express my gratitude for the support given to the Pre-Kindergarten students of CES. The very second I announced that our grant had been funded, the children erupted into cheers. The request to use the balls every single day. We have seen so many great teachable moments emerge while simply "shooting hoops", and the teachers are even playing ball with the students! It's been so much fun!
My favorite moment occurred when one of my Hispanic students, who never talks, started playing soccer. Now I have several students who speak Spanish in my class, but this one particular child was deep within his shell. Once the soccer balls and soccer goals came out, his face lit up, and he smiled a smile that communicates happiness, no matter what language you speak!
Again, on behalf of all of the staff at CES, and especially the Pre-K staff, we say "THANK YOU"!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Building Bridges: Reaching out to Families in Survival Mode
Funded Jun 8, 2010Wow! Where would I be without these hands-on activities!? Eight of my twenty students are learning English, and that means eight families are too! My first parent night is in October and I am very excited to be using these materials with parents, and teaching them how to use them at home, and making them available for parent check out. Thank you for helping me bridge the gap between home and school. With our support I know these students and their families will feel successful and important! I appreciate you so very much.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek
Let Your Fingers Do Some Talking-Fingerpaints!
Funded Apr 20, 2010Thank you so much for the art supplies! We use them every single day and the students just love them! I am so fortunate to have friends who support me in my endeavors, but who also see the value in art education. I am very grateful for you and for every drop of paint, every sheet of paper, and every stick of crayon in my classroom. Thank you for making a difference in my classroom and in the education of all these students and the students to come who will still be reaping the benefits of this grant being funded. I am humbled by your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cleek