Past projects 4
Learning Time in Small Groups
Funded Jan 15, 2025Thank you your donations! Wow ! I can’t believe how quickly this project was funded ! I am very excited to show my students the new flexible seating chairs and phonics games that will continue to engage and make learning fun !
We love donors choose for helping teachers across the nation !”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aranjo
This classroom project was brought to life by Chesmar Foundation and 3 other donors.21st Century Tech for 21st Century Kids
Funded Apr 15, 2021We thank you for you contributions for materials and resources for our school . The set of headphones has been available for use for students in the classroom , during assignments or centers, and during testing. The quality of headphones has been superb and they have been available to be shared with other teachers during testing.
The stylus has positively impacted student work by using a pencil for their tablet and chrome book assignments that mimics pencil and paper. Students are engaged and are able to complete assignments or activities independently.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aranjo
Stop and Listen to Books!
Funded Dec 31, 2019I want to take the time to thank you for funding our classroom project this year. Thank you for taking the time to read about what our classroom needs. My students will benefit tremendously from the technology that will now be available for them . I can not wait to start using the technology in my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aranjo
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 6 other donors.Active Minds Actively Learning
Funded Aug 22, 2018I am completely grateful for your support in my student's well being and education. As an educator I am always searching for the best environment for my students to learn in . As well what resources or materials they need to better accommodate their needs. Programs like donors choose help teachers across the United States fulfill projects for their students that they would not be able to afford themselves. Thank you for donating , sharing, and fulfilling my classroom project that gave my students a comfortable place to read and share books. As well as a place to hold their materials and bounce their feet when they work . My students were excited to receive them and are still very glad that they get to use them daily in our classroom. They are all amazing resources that we will be using all year and for years to come with future students in the classroom.
The first items that arrived were the bean bag chairs. I still remember opening the boxes and setting them up in our classroom library after school . I couldn't wait for them to see them the next morning. Once they arrived, I talked to them about how we received the bean bags. We talked about how to take care of them and share the bean bags. Afterward , my students took turns reading on the four bean bags we had. What a difference it made ! My students were excited to choose a book and read the whole time in a comfy spot. The bean bags have helped our classroom as a great reading spot and as a calming corner. In first grade, our students are still learning to cope with their social and emotional needs. We have used the bean bags as a place for my students to take a quick break , read a book, and then come back to the classroom ready to work . What an amazing addition to our classroom !
The next items we received were the chair bands . As the students walked in, and sat in their chairs, they immediately noticed the bands. As other students walked in , the ones already enjoying the chair bands exclaimed " Look ! There's something under your chair ! It's for your feet ! " After introducing the chair bands, and talking about the best ways to take care of them, my first graders have used them every day while completing work at their seats. The chair bands are a choice, they can choose to use them or not. Most of the time they choose them ! Whether they are bouncing both feet, one feet, or just letting their feet hang off them. I have seen an improvement in my students focus . Most of them are able to work sitting down, while bouncing their feet, instead of having the need to move around their table or classroom.
The last items we received were the book bins and pencil grippers. My students use the book bins to hold their own materials, writing and reading journals, and we also use them in our classroom library . Our first graders sit in tables instead of desks. Therefore , there is no place to put away their notebooks under the tables. We started off the year collecting and distributing the notebooks every day . We were wasting a lot of time passing out 20 notebooks twice a day . Now each student has an individual book bin where they store their notebooks and classroom folder. When they arrive they bring their book bin to their desk and during dismissal they place their book bin on a shelf. We have saved a lot of time and have had fewer incidents of losing notebooks . We also use book bins in our library . My first graders choose books to read according to their interests and reading levels . With the book bins I was able to separate the Spanish books according to reading levels. This is a great way for my students to choose books that interest them and are just right for them .
My first grade students are still in their early years of their writing careers. Many of them are still practicing their handwriting and how to hold a pencil correctly . I use the pencil grippers so that my students hold their pencils better. Some of my students still need this support. These pencil grippers are some of the best I have ever used ! My students love using them and some of my parents have even asked me where we found them.
This semester my students have been so fortunate to receive these materials for our classroom . I am looking forward to share these materials with my future first grade classrooms. As the semester has progressed I have started to think about what other materials my students are in need of . As a dual language classroom , many of our reading materials need to be in Spanish. I have noticed that my students do not have enough book CD's in Spanish for our listening center. I can't wait to start another project soon to help my students receive Spanish materials to help them grow as biliterate scholars.
Thank you, once again, from all of us in our first grade bilingual classroom .”
With gratitude,
Ms. Aranjo
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.