Past projects 11
Happy Times at the Listening Center!
Funded Aug 24, 2013My sweet students are so excited about our new listening center and wireless headphones! They could hardly wait for me to open the box when it arrived. Of course we made guesses as to what was in the boxes. They may have been a little disappointed at first because it was not a live unicorn, but they soon got over that! Little did they know it is what the classroom was needing to allow them to listen to music and books. My students love to dance and do movement exercises to music. Now we dance our hearts out! Before we got the listening center, we took a chance that the old tape player would work. Now I can turn on music from across the room. When the children sit with a book and tape/CD, I can manage the activity from anywhere I happen to be in the room. The headphones give my children the chance to listen by themselves and enjoy some alone time with a good book. Thank you so much for your kind generosity. Your caring spirit means so much to my students. This act of kindness will not be forgotten.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Jump Into Reading With LeapFrog Tag Readers!
Funded Mar 15, 2012Our Tag Readers and new books are so much fun! The children feel like real readers when using them. They have given the children a feeling of independence and self-confidence. It is so nice to see the children find a quiet spot and sit down with a book or ask a friend to sit and read with them. It's exciting when I hear them tell their friends that they will read a story to them. The Tag system gives my students the opportunity to experiment with words, letter sounds, and blending sounds.Thank you for helping provide these books to children you haven't met. Your kindness has touched the lives of some very sweet and deserving children. You are very special.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Lots of Cooks in the Kitchen!
Funded Feb 1, 2012Our wonderful oven has provided so many fun experiences for my students. The last week of school we had a party and made pizzas from English Muffins. Each child ate two and wanted more! They stood in front of the oven and watched the pizzas cook. They were so excited when the cheese started to melt and turn brown. It gave them a feeling of independence knowing they were the cooks. The room smells so good when we make cookies. I know the entire building is wondering where that good smell is coming from.You have given my students the opportunity to learn about measuring, mixing, how things change while cooking, trying new food items and nutrition. They love to cook but don't realize how much they are actually learning about math, following instructions, taking turns and patience.
Thank you for caring for a classroom of children you don't know. You have touched the lives of some very sweet little ones. We consider you our friends and talk about you when we are using the oven and the play kitchen toys you helped provide. I know your kindness will return to you in many ways!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Let Me See Your Beautiful Smile!
Funded Dec 1, 2011Our new camera came at the perfect time. We had a snow right after we received the package with our camera. Even though it was cold outside, I had to take my boys out to play in the snow. I have photos of them rolling around like puppies in the grass! They fell down and made snow angels and buried their faces in the drifts. We now have photos documenting this fun experience. This camera had documented the children writing letters to a little girl struggling with cancer treatments. We have photos of them eating a cake she and her mom made for the classroom. Now she can see how her new friends look and see how much they enjoyed her treat.
We are going on a field trip on two weeks. I will be able to take photos of the fun the children are having. When we get back, we will write a book about their experiences. The book will be full of color photos.
This camera will provide years of photos documenting the lives of children. I use photos for daily schedules in the classroom for children who have difficulty following the daily routine. Pictures help remind my students what comes next, what we will do in the morning and afternoon and reminds them of classroom procedures.
My students love seeing themselves working on projects and showing off what they have accomplished. Photos really do help build self esteem and encourages them to do their best. The parents are so thankful to have photos of their child's kindergarten year. Many of my parents do not have the financial resources to afford a camera. I can now provide them with those memories.
Thank your for your kindness and dedication to these special little ones. They are worth it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Let's Get Balanced - Yoga and the Special Needs Child
Funded Jul 11, 2011As you know, many of our children are in need of physical exercise. Also, many of our children are in home situations that cause stress and anxiety. The use of the yoga materials has been a wonderful way to address both of these areas. We practice yoga for 10-15 minutes each day as a way to combat tension and help with movement. The children are learning how to balance their bodies and minds. They are building on their listening and attention skills as we do the movements. I can see such an improvement in their posture when sitting and standing. I can see their anxiety levels lessen and see them making good choices throughout the day. They love the yoga picture cards. There are times they get them out and work as small groups on their own. This material has made such a positive impact on the classroom. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of my students. They are wonderful children and deserve every opportunity to grow and expand their knowledge. I know your kindness will return to you in many ways. Thank you! Many blessings!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Fun With Letters, Numbers, Sounds and Following Directions!
Funded Apr 7, 2011The materials my classroom got from this project are wonderful. There is a wide variety of learning materials for my students to use. The children are working on beginning and ending sounds in words, blends, letter recognition, categories, counting, number recognition and rhyming. Of course I haven't told them that what they see as fun is actually classroom work! Isn't it wonderful what children can learn when they are having fun!
I have been looking at these items in the Kaplan catalog for a long time and am very excited to be able to offer them in centers, group time and playtime to my students. The Hot Dots have been a huge hit with all of the children. The students are counting, recognizing numbers and demonstrating understanding of letter sounds. The listening lotto games have been fun for the students. They get so excited when they guess the correct sound. The room gets so quiet when I turn on the tape with the sounds! These materials have allowed my students to work in small groups, promoting cooperation and sharing.
Knowing there are people and companies like Kaplan who care for children they have never met is heartwarming. You have touched the lives of my current students and the materials you provided will continue to touch the lives of many special needs children in the years to come. I know your kindness will return to you in special ways. You are a true blessing to these children and your act of love will not be forgotten. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
This classroom project was brought to life by Kaplan Early Learning Company and 8 other donors.Bringing Color to Our Classroom!
Funded Feb 23, 2011The students are so excited to see color photos coming from our HP printer! The HP ink you purchased for our classroom had added a sense of excitement and wonder to our day. Now that it is spring, we are working with the many colors nature has to offer. I have taken many photos that we are using for book illustrations, posters and writing exercises. I can now print them out on my printer in the room! It is wonderful having these photos in color and having enough ink to write text!
We have planted seeds and are anxiously waiting to see what happens. We have color photos of the seeds and their progress in the hallway for the entire school to enjoy. They children are waiting for photos of the blooms. The entire school gets a chance to visually enjoy what is happening in our classroom.
I have done a photo shoot with each of my students on the front lawn. I have them looking around trees, sitting on a stump and sitting in the grass. It has really been fun. The children love seeing these photos I print of them around the classroom. Many of my families don't have the funds to take photos. I will send these prints home with each child at the end of the year. You have made it possible for these families to have cherished memories of their child's school year. Our district is on a very tight budget and I have had to send photos to our copier. This only makes black and white copies. Your generosity and caring spirit has brought color to our classroom! Thank you. You are very special to us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
This classroom project was brought to life by The Horace Mann Companies and 2 other donors.Let's Move and Shake to Get Our Bodies in Shape!
Funded Jan 27, 2011This DonorsChoose Project has been such a hit with my students. We have danced until our feet hurt! The kids put the wrist ribbons on up to their elbows and then get scarves to add that extra magical touch. I wish there were more boxes to put photos of the students dancing and participating in all the exercise songs.
Many of the CDs teach math concepts, social skills, listening skills, following directions and reading concepts. The children retain information for a longer period of time when we use music and movement together. I hear the kids singing the songs and acting out our calendar activities during their playtime. They take turns acting as the teacher! It's great fun to watch.
Our old CD/tape player would not have lasted the year. It was eating tapes and was refusing to play when I put in a CD. The timing was perfect for the new one.
The Hopscotch Carpet has been so much fun. The children are identifying the numbers and colors on the rug and beanbags. They have learned to take turns and help each other gather the beanbags. Their balance has improved from hopping from square to square. This simple game has helped teach them responsibility and how to play in a group.
Many of my students don't get to play outside because their neighborhood is dangerous. All the movement, dance and exercise songs have given them the opportunity to stretch, move and get in that very important exercise. They don't always get proper nutrition at home. We are stressing exercise as a way to fight obesity in these children. They now know that exercise can be fun.
Thank you for your kindness and willingness to help these special education students. We talk about all of you as our friends each time we use one of the items you helped purchase. The kids don't know who you are, but they do know that you are kind and care for them. They need that! Because of your donation for these materials, you will continue to touch the lives of many other children in the years to come. Please know how special you are to a classroom of some really sweet kids. I know your kindness will come back to you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Remember Those Great Albums? We Do But We Need A Turntable!
Funded Mar 9, 2010It was so much fun opening the turntable you donated to our classroom! It came in a very large box. I told the students that the item in it made music. We had guesses from a CD player to a violin. When we opened it the children thought it was a television. Then I opened the cover. Silence filled the room. They didn't have a clue what it was. I brought over an album and one of my students told me I had a really big CD! When I plugged it in and moved the arm over to the album the kids were mesmerized. They watched the album spin around and around, then the music started. The surprise on their faces was priceless!
The students got up and danced up a storm. Every now and then they would come over and put their heads right over the album and just watch it spin. This has been a magical experience for them.
We have used it to play albums with songs, movement, math and literacy concepts, stories and marching music. It has been great to pull out my albums from the past. These old albums are as relevant today as they were years ago. I recently went to a yard sale and there were 45s and albums. I got a stack for 10 cents. The people asked what I was going to do with all those old records. I told them about my classroom's fantastic turntable!
Thank you for bringing music, learning activities, listening/following direction activities, bean bag games, stories and movement to my classroom in a very fun and exciting way. Your generosity will touch the lives of many students for many year to come. Thank you for the time you took to look on DonorsChoose.org to find this project and help fund it. I will never forget your kind hearts. I know your kindness will be returned to you in many ways. Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green
Memories are Priceless!
Funded Feb 19, 2010I wish you could see all the smiles that flash across the faces of my students when I get our new camera out! I can't tell you how many times the kids ask me to take a picture of their work, project, block building or them with their friend. The last check of photos on the SD card was over 1,000 already! The camera can also take video so the children can watch themselves perform, sing, read and play. This has really helped some children with their speech and willingness to have a conversation. This is so exciting for them! I am already on my second set of lithium batteries!
I have used the camera to take photos for books, writing exercises, science projects, positive behavior pictures, room pictures, student assessments and posters. We have photos with text outside of our classroom so other children and parents can see what we are doing in the room.
In a few weeks we will be hatching chick and duck eggs. I know I will have some very exciting pictures and video of this experience! The children always get to hold a chick egg while it is hatching out of the shell. You can only imagine the wonder in their eyes when this happens. I will be able to capture that moment now. I will also be able to take video of the hatching process so we can watch it over and over.
Memories really are priceless. The gift of this camera has touched, and will continue to touch, many little lives. There aren't words to adequately describe how much the SD cards and camera mean to my classroom and to my students. This special year of their lives will be captured and shared with the ones they love. They will learn and grow from all the educational activities photos create. I only wish I could share more photos with you so you could see how much this has meant to us. Your kindness will never be forgotten. I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I have one of those big smiles on my face right now!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Green