Past projects 25
Exploration of Race to Inspire Original Playwriting
Funded Aug 13, 2020Thank you so much for your generous donation. Although much of the news lately has been about the pandemic, race relations are still a paramount discussion in our nation. Having these texts allow our students to further explore issues related to race and have a more complete discussion.
My students come from very diverse backgrounds, and many have very important stories related to race that they share. These texts help allow the students to open up about their own experiences and we have found that discussions of race help students to understand the role of race in our nation.
Thank you so much for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex Brand and 2 other donors.Accurate Journalism = Professional Journalism
Funded Nov 8, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donation! Students were so excited to receive these journalism notebooks. They quickly utilized their new books to interview teachers and peers around the school which aided their notetaking. Students have been more organized and fact checking has been improved since students submit their books with their articles.
Students who are not currently in the journalism class have expressed interest in joining so they can be true journalists. Seeing students walking around with the journalism books has allowed them to be seen as "professional" journalists, which has impressed.
Thank you so much!!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
I Follow Malala: I Can Inspire!
Funded Feb 13, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donations. We have had so much success with literature this semester. Using the story of Malala, students were able to explore a myriad of issues. We used this text as the basis of a journalism unit where students explored feature writing and news writing.
The message of the novel is such a powerful one which had a strong impact on my students. My students were able to explore issues like discrimination and injustice in ways not previously pondered. Students have created editorials based on these topics.
Thank you again for all that you do for our youth!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Donor and 2 other donors.Taking the F Word (Fake) Out of the News
Funded Aug 22, 2018I wanted to thank you on behalf of my students for your generosity. The Time Magazines (Upfront) have been very useful in the classroom, and have helped to spur numerous debates in our journalism class. By allowing for these debates, students have become more engaged and have developed their debate and argumentation skills.
Allowing students to become better thinkers is essential for our current society. Students are realizing they can't just take statement as fact, even if it comes from the mouth of a top government official. In addition, students have come to realize that throwing the word "fake" in front of news doesn't necessarily discredit the information. Students have learned to independently verify what they hear and read. As a banner says in our classroom, "Ask questions and say, 'prove it to me.'"
Thank you again for your support and for allowing us to have this valuable resource.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous funder and 23 other donors.He Named Me Malala
Funded Sep 14, 2015After recently completing a unit on universal rights, and examining the efforts of leaders such as Malala Yousafzai, 100 of my students were able to watch the film He Named Me Malala. This opportunity was made possible by your funding and it was a perfect culmination to our unit. The students who went are students who are often apathetic about their education and need to be truly inspired to be active learners. The idea of going on a class trip was an inspiration and the students sought to learn everything they could about Malala. Multiple students went to local libraries to check out the related book, and the ten copies of the I Am Malala book that I purchased (hoping students would show an interest) become highly desired -- such a desire that I have had to created a lending schedule so all interested students can have a chance.
The private screening of the movie for which your generosity allowed, permitted students to learn even more about this incredible Nobel winning leader. Immediately after the movie, I had a student come to me asking if we can have a class debate based on a line from the movie -- "It's better to live like a lion for one day, than to live like a slave for 100 years." Other students informed me that they didn't know there were so many cases of inequity in terms of education around the world. I had multiple students asking me about Boko Haram and if we could do something as a class to make a difference. The main question I was asked was, "why aren't there more people like Malala?" We are going to continue to complete writing assignments related to this -- since argumentative essays are now a large part of the English Regents, we are examining aspects of the movie and utilizing them to create argumentative essays.
I was curious how the students would react after watching the movie, and the standing ovation they provided "Malala" at the end of the screening showed me how moving the experience was. Students found this opportunity to be so rewarding, and I am so appreciative that you would help to fund the activity. Generosity like this truly benefits the students and the story of Malala will certainly influence the students in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
Exploring Journalism Through Literature
Funded Jan 6, 2014I want to thank each of you for helping make this endeavor a reality. This journalism unit was a huge success and the theater production was the perfect ending for the unit. As I had hoped, the students were all actively engaged as we read The Kite Runner and utilized various journalism activities. The fact that the students knew that they were going to see a live production of the novel at the end of the unit was a large motivating factor for the students.
Due to the funding, I was able to take my journalism class to see the Literature To Life production of The Kite Runner on April 24th. The students were so excited during the performance, and couldn't wait until the end when they knew they would be able to use their journalism skills to interview the actor and the production staff. After giving the actor a standing ovation, the students were eager to ask questions both about the craft of acting and about details in the novel. The actor and staff expressed to me how impressed they were with the in-depth questions the students had, which were rooted in the type of journalism unit we had completed.
The true sign that this unit was successful was that my students kept asking me what novel we were going to read next and how we were going to tie it into the journalism curriculum. I have students who are researching different plays that are coming to Broadway and Off-Broadway, and inquiring how to get student-priced tickets. This grant has inspired the students to examine the field of journalism and theater.
Thank you again for helping to inspire my students. With such limited school funding, enrichment events like the one we just completed are almost impossible without outside support.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
No Reason To Fear...Shakespeare is Here!
Funded Apr 27, 2012The phrase "thank you" doesn't even begin to cover the feelings of gratitude that I have for your generous donation. I have often sought the resources necessary to teach the play Othello, but budgetary issues have not allowed us to purchase new titles over the past few years. Donors Choose was our answer, and you quickly came to our aid!
The students were eager not only to read the play in class but to act it out as well. Since many of the students are ESL learners, the modern translation provided in these texts allowed them to feel more comfortable as they read aloud. I certainly saw their oratory skills improve over the course of the unit and many students who were chronically shy were often volunteering for major reading parts by the climax of the play.
One student in a thank you letter said that people like you made her feel better about the world after reading about the manipulativeness of the antagonist, Iago. Please be assured that you you clearly have made a difference in the lives of these children.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
Inspire Our Open Mic Friday Poetry Readings
Funded Mar 23, 2010Thank you again for funding this project for our class. The effects were just as I hoped -- students who were mostly apathetic about poetry, develop[ing a love for verse. The discovered how poetry can be a window to the soul. The students (and I) learned a great deal about the other students in the class, and we began to realize how similar we all were.
The books will be used for future years so that other students will be able to experience Open Mike Fridays, and all the benefits it brings with it.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
This classroom project was brought to life by Pershing Square Foundation and 2 other donors.Allow Multicultural Literature to Fly with The Kite Runner
Funded Feb 9, 2010We offer you our sincerest thanks for providing us with the opportunity to not only read The Kite Runner, but to learn about what has happened (and continues to happen) thousands of miles away. Our students are almost done with the novel and many have expressed their inability to put the book down at night. Students who have been reluctant readers have become inspired.
Students are currently looking for ways to help those who have been affected by governments who do not share the sense of liberty embraced by the United States. Our school has just completed a fundraiser to help women in third-world nations attend college and expand their horizons. Over $500 has been collected. This will no doubt continue. Our students have a desire to help those who lack their opportunities.
It is incredible to know there are organizations like yours willing to assist the future generation. The amounts may seem insignificant to some, but they truly make a difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Silver
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.