Mrs. Bajaj's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 14

• Cozy in Class

  Funded Mar 24, 2025

  Thanks to your generous donation of sweatshirts for my students, their learning environment has been greatly enhanced. By ensuring they stay warm and comfortable, students are now able to focus more on their lessons instead of worrying about the cold. This simple addition has not only improved their concentration but has also contributed to a sense of belonging and confidence within the classroom.

  Before receiving these sweatshirts, many students struggled with distractions caused by temperature changes, which negatively impacted their ability to engage fully in lessons. Now, with a warm, reliable sweatshirt, they can stay focused and participate with enthusiasm. Additionally, the act of receiving these sweatshirts has promoted inclusivity, as no student feels left out or self-conscious about their clothing.

  The warmth provided by the sweatshirts has had a direct effect on their well-being, which, in turn, fosters a positive learning environment. Your support has contributed not only to their physical comfort but to their overall success in the classroom. Thank you for making a significant impact on their education and making them feel valued every day. Your kindness has truly transformed their learning experience.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bajaj

  This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT.

• "Interactive Storytelling: Exploring Creativity and Literacy with Mo Willems!

  Funded Dec 13, 2024

  I cannot express enough gratitude for your support in providing Mo Willems books for my kindergarten classroom. These books have made a tremendous impact on my students' love for reading, their literacy development, and the overall atmosphere of our classroom. Your generosity has truly brought joy, engagement, and learning to life in ways I could not have imagined.

  Mo Willems' books, including the beloved *Elephant & Piggie* series , have captivated my young readers from the moment they arrived. The engaging stories, simple yet expressive illustrations, and relatable characters immediately drew my students in. Many of them came into kindergarten with limited exposure to books, and these stories have opened up a whole new world for them. I have witnessed students who were initially hesitant about reading become excited to pick up a book on their own.

  One of the biggest impacts has been on early literacy skills. The repetitive text, sight words, and conversational style of Mo Willems' books have provided my students with a sense of confidence as emerging readers. They eagerly participate in shared reading experiences, pointing to words and predicting what will happen next. Some students who struggled with recognizing words at the beginning of the year are now reading short sentences independently, thanks to the accessibility and fun nature of these books. Seeing their progress and enthusiasm has been incredibly rewarding.

  Beyond literacy skills, these books have also fostered important social-emotional learning. The characters in Mo Willems' books navigate friendships, emotions, and problem-solving in ways that resonate with my young learners. *Elephant & Piggie* books, for example, highlight themes of kindness, sharing, and perseverance. My students have had meaningful discussions about how Gerald and Piggie handle their emotions and solve conflicts, helping them reflect on their own interactions with classmates. These stories have given us a natural and engaging way to talk about feelings and friendship in a way that truly connects with five-year-olds.

  Another exciting development has been the boost in student engagement. Mo Willems' books have inspired storytelling, dramatic play, and creative expression in our classroom. My students love acting out the stories, using puppets to recreate their favorite scenes, and even writing their own "Pigeon" or "Elephant & Piggie" books. Their excitement about these books has extended beyond our classroom as well—parents have shared with me that their children are requesting Mo Willems books at home and pretending to be the characters during playtime.

  Because of your generosity, my students have access to books that are not only fun and engaging but also deeply impactful in their learning and social development. You have helped create a classroom where reading is exciting, learning is joyful, and every child feels like a reader. Thank you for making this possible. Your kindness has made a lasting difference in the lives of my students, and I am truly grateful.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bajaj

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Mo & Cher Willems Foundation and one other donor.

• Celebrating Chinese New Year: A Cultural Journey for Young Learners

  Funded Jan 6, 2025

  Teaching your kindergarten students about Lunar New Year through engaging activities such as red envelopes, fortune cookies, pancake cookies, and Asian candy has likely had a meaningful impact on your classroom culture and learning environment. Here's how:

  **1. Fostering Cultural Awareness and Respect**

  Introducing Lunar New Year traditions has expanded your students' understanding of different cultures, fostering an appreciation for diversity. Young children are naturally curious, and experiencing elements of a culture firsthand—like receiving red envelopes or tasting traditional treats—helps them connect emotionally and intellectually. This hands-on approach nurtures a sense of respect for cultural differences and highlights the importance of inclusion.

  **2. Building a Positive Classroom Community**

  Participating in these activities likely strengthened bonds within your class. For example, giving red envelopes emphasizes the importance of generosity and sharing, values that align with teaching social-emotional skills. Sharing candies or cookies also encourages collaboration and positive interactions among students, which contributes to a warm and supportive classroom environment.

  **3. Enhancing Student Engagement**

  Children thrive when they can learn through multisensory experiences. By incorporating food, crafts, and stories about Lunar New Year, you created opportunities for active participation and hands-on learning. Activities like decorating red envelopes or exploring the symbolism of fortune cookies make abstract concepts tangible, capturing the students' attention and making lessons memorable.

  **4. Connecting to Broader Educational Goals**

  Lessons about Lunar New Year naturally tie into key educational themes such as storytelling, math, and social studies. For instance, counting candies or the coins in red envelopes strengthens early math skills, while learning about the Chinese zodiac introduces storytelling and sequencing. These activities not only celebrate culture but also align with curriculum objectives, making learning fun and purposeful.

  **5. Encouraging Family Involvement**

  If you involved students' families in the celebration, perhaps by inviting them to share their own traditions or send in related items, it likely deepened connections between home and school. Family involvement reinforces the idea that the classroom is a space that values all cultures and perspectives, fostering a sense of pride in children from diverse backgrounds.

  By introducing Lunar New Year traditions, you've not only taught your students about a vibrant holiday but also laid the groundwork for a classroom that values diversity, kindness, and shared experiences. The impact of these lessons will extend beyond this holiday, helping your students grow into empathetic and globally aware individuals.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bajaj

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Express and one other donor.

• Water Bottle Bank: Learning to Save and Spend Wisely

  Funded Oct 11, 2024

  I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your generosity and support in bringing financial literacy lessons to our kindergarten classroom. Your contribution has made a real difference in helping our youngest learners begin to understand and appreciate concepts like saving, sharing, and spending wisely.

  Introducing financial literacy at such an early stage can be challenging, but with your support, we have been able to make these lessons accessible, engaging, and fun for our students. Through interactive games, stories, and hands-on activities, our kindergartners are learning to think about money in ways that connect with their daily lives. They're practicing counting and recognizing coins, learning about the importance of setting goals, and exploring what it means to make choices about spending and saving.

  Your donation has provided us with essential materials, from colorful play money and piggy banks to storybooks and visual aids that make these lessons come alive. These resources allow us to create a vibrant learning environment where students can explore financial concepts in a playful, age-appropriate way.

  The impact of these early lessons is already clear. Many of our students are excited to talk about saving up for something special or how they might share with others in need. They are beginning to understand that money isn't just about spending—it's also about planning, helping others, and making thoughtful decisions.

  Thank you for believing in the importance of financial literacy for even the youngest learners. Your kindness is empowering these children to build confidence in their abilities and helping them develop skills they'll carry with them as they grow. We are so grateful for your partnership in giving our students a strong foundation that will support them now and in the future.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bajaj

  This classroom project was brought to life by Charles Schwab Foundation and 6 other donors.