Mr. Straus' Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 55

• Pencils and Classroom Essentials

  Funded Feb 9, 2022

  Thank you so much for supporting the students in my classroom. As students enter class, there is an activity for them to work on independently and a container full of pencils. If the students need a pencil, they can take one. At the end of class, they can return it if they don't need it for the rest of their classes. At the beginning of the pandemic, districts scrambled to provide chromebooks and laptops for every student to promote distance learning. One-to-one is the standard because it gives every student additional access to education. Just as we provide chromebooks, schools should provide classroom essentials like pencils. You've helped relieve any burden students may have for not having a pencil. Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by Black History Month Partners and 5 other donors.

• Building a Classroom Library

  Funded Nov 17, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting this project. Each day, students in my classroom spend time reading independently. It brings a lot of joy to my heart to see students engaged in a book or to ask to take one home after having read it in class. One of my students last week excitedly walked up to me in the morning to tell me about what they had read the night before. The books in this project have helped expand the options that students have to read in my classroom. Thank you for supporting public education!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

• Extra Masks and Materials for Classroom Organization

  Funded Nov 5, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting this project. Although my school district supplies PPE, there are times when we run out. The supplies in this project have been hugely helpful in those moments. I usually wear a satchel that I carry masks and pencils in. You have helped my students and me not have to worry about having a pencil for the day or replacing a broken mask. The materials in this project are crucial for the day-to-day operations of my classroom! I can't express enough my gratitude for your support of public education.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

• Classroom Masks, Sanitizer, and Pencils

  Funded Nov 30, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting this project. Although my school district supplies PPE, there are times when we run out. The supplies in this project have been hugely helpful in those moments. I usually wear a satchel that I carry masks and pencils in. You have helped my students and me not have to worry about having a pencil for the day or replacing a broken mask. The materials in this project are crucial for the day-to-day operations of my classroom! I can't express enough my gratitude for your support of public education.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by #TeachHealthy with Nature Made and 4 other donors.

• Reuseable Water Bottles for the Classroom and Track

  Funded Nov 23, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting this project. Each member of our school track team and my classroom got a water bottle. They were excited about the different bottle colors. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, students are only able to use water bottle refill stations. Having a reusable water bottle can help cut down on plastic waste. Reusable water bottles have helped me save money that I spend on plastic water bottles for students in my classroom. I can't express enough my gratitude for your support of public education.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by Mission Tiger and 4 other donors.

• Class Books! They Called Us Enemy: Studying Narratives & History

  Funded Aug 13, 2021

  Thank you so much for donating to our classroom library. I can't express how much it means to me to see people support public education.

  They Called Us Enemy engaged my students more than any other book last year. Students fought to read it aloud. I am excited to read it later in the year when students are learning about WWII in their history class. It examines history that is sometimes overlooked through personal narrative. The joy that students found in reading They Called Us Enemy is testament to our responsibility to create more opportunities within our schools for students to access literature that speaks to them.

  Thank you so much for helping to make this project come to life!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 8 other donors.

• Reading John Lewis's March: Encouraging Informed Civic Action

  Funded Feb 4, 2021

  I can't express how much it means to me to see people support public education.

  This summer I took a course at Yale University to further my understanding of John Lewis and the Civil Rights Movement. I read primary and secondary accounts while planning activities for my students. I am very excited to begin this unit and know my students will enjoy it, as well.

  Last year, students fought over taking turns to read March when I piloted the book in an after-school reading program. The joy that students have found in reading is testament to our responsibility to create more opportunities within our schools for students to access literature that speaks to them.

  Thank you so much for helping to bring this project to life!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by Equal Justice Initiative and one other donor.

• Write Me a Letter!

  Funded Feb 10, 2021

  I can't express how much it means to me to see people support public education.

  My students and I are both excited about this project. Students wrote letters to themselves at the beginning of the year. For many of them, it was the first time they wrote letters. We went over how to address an envelope and how to write a letter. Some of my students wrote more during this activity than they had before.

  I have done this project before and can say students really enjoy reading these letters. Thank you so much for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

• Classroom Supplies for Active Engagement!

  Funded Jun 1, 2021

  I can't express how much it means to me to see people support public education.

  Students have enjoyed the bouncy bands. On the first day of school, many of my students were confused when they saw the bouncy bands. "What are these things for?" When I demonstrated, they were immediately excited. Many of my students use them daily. In a 90-minute class period, the bouncy bands let students burn energy quietly.

  Materials for active learning and flexible seating have a positive impact on student learning. Thank you for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by Born This Way Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Building a Classroom Library and Getting Ready for Back-to-School

  Funded Sep 9, 2021

  Thank you so much for donating to our classroom library. I can't express how much it means to me to see people support public education.

  During the first week of school, my collection of manga and graphic novels was cleaned out. At one point, a student checked out several copies of Dragon Ball Super; one of his friends said to him, "I never saw you check out a book in elementary." Students will read when they find something that speaks to them. The joy that students have found in these books is testament to our responsibility to create more opportunities within our schools for students to access relevant literature.

  The masks and other supplies in this project have helped keep students safe and our classroom organized.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Straus

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 4 other donors.