Ms. Neal-Peters' Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 6

• Wanted: YA Best Sellers for a Current Classroom Library

  Funded May 7, 2024

  This project has expanded the variety of books I can offer the students at our school. As an English teacher, my number one goal is for every student to become a skilled, passionate, habitual, critical reader. The only way to become a better reader is to read. A lot. Everyday. I believe that anyone who doesn't love reading just hasn't found the right book yet, and I have dedicated myself to helping kids discover those books for themselves. These donations have ensured there are over 60 new titles to hook them in!

  It's not enough to have access to a variety of excellent books, though. The nearest bookstore in the community is over three miles away. While there is a public library nearby, any new or popular title has a waitlist of months! Now my students have the latest titles right here in my room to read.

  Perhaps a not surprising turn of events is that the donations have impacted the students I see during lunch as well. Once word got out about the new books, students started coming by to see the books and enjoy some quite reading time. Students have been super excited about the new books. One student said her older sister was jealous because she wanted to read the books we now have, but they are too popular to get a hold of. I have updated my check-out system to make sure access to the titles is fair and organized. We also have two self-nominated class librarians to help with the task of maintaining order. I can't wait for the fall and for my next group of students to enjoy the fruits of generosity that this gift has created.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.

• Help Us Be Space Pirates with Andy Weir's The Martian!

  Funded Jul 7, 2022

  Thank you so much for your epic support in getting this funded! With the double donations we made it in record time! The students will be thrilled to read something so engaging, humorous and fun as an assignment! I also can't wait to plan for all the science and technology connections. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the science teacher so we can create exciting experiments to bring the story to life. I think the themes of solving one problem at a time is worth studying and the message comes in so clearly through this text. The original version, which is much less expensive, has some vocabulary that doesn't fit middle school so thank you again for helping me get the "school edition" all ages can enjoy!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters

  This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 2 other donors.

• PRIDE in Our Classroom Library!

  Funded Jun 6, 2022

  One of the goals I have for my students is to make them skilled, passionate, habitual, critical readers. The only way to get them to accomplish this goal is for them to read. A lot! High-interest texts are key to getting kids to read, especially in the digital age. This is one of the reasons my order included a lot of graphic novels and comic books. I also have designed part of my classroom to work as an attractive, comfortable library with a bean bag and other flexible seating so kids want to spend time there.

  At the middle school age, and indeed at most ages, many people want to read books about people like them. As rich as my library is, it needed more representation of LGBTQIA+ people, especially since the Skittles Club meets here every Thursday.

  THRILLED does not begin to describe how excited the students were to unbox and start reading the books today! I hadn't intended to create my thank you package for DonorsChoose until next fall but seeing them all crowded in our library, alternating between exclaiming over the new books and bouts of silence as they read, made me realize today was a great day to document the impact.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters

• Functional Furniture for the Front Porch!

  Funded Jan 12, 2022

  Student heads turn and they slow down to look when they see the wonderful, new SEL space outside my classroom! I set up the table with the umbrella, the chairs, and the BENCH (that was a bonus I hadn't expected, but was able to add when another item was unavailable) between my door and my history partner teacher's door.

  When students first saw the materials, they were excited! Now we have students rushing to class early just to get a chance to sit in the shade (or the sunshine!) for a few minutes before the bell. It goes without saying that the space is full of chatty, smiling kids during lunch. It is a relief for me as well, because while they get to enjoy the fresh air and garden views, I can supervise them from right inside my room with my door open.

  Additionally, the space has turned out to be useful during class time as well. I have a few students with special needs who some times struggle with focusing during a test. Recently, I put two of them outside at the table to complete their assessment and not only did they complete it, they actually worked really hard! It was like being outside provided the perfect vibe to incite effort :)

  This whole set up has me thinking about how I can bring the classroom outside more. The sunshine is wonderful, but it's hard to go outside without shade. This project has inspired my partner and I to work on getting one of those big tarp coverings to stretch from out bungalow roof to the trees across in the garden! It will go perfectly above our new bench :)”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 8 other donors.

• Hydration for Middle School Marathoners!

  Funded Dec 16, 2019

  The materials you purchased for our team have made SUCH a difference!

  The students were SO excited when they saw the new water bottle belts! They couldn't believe they got to use them. We checked them out to the students (so they will turn them in at the end of the season and we can sign them out to other runners next year) and they immediately began putting them on and adjusting them to wear on that day's practice run.

  As soon as we got the wagon and canopies, we unpacked them and passed them off to our parent volunteers to use at our 30K (18 + mile) race at Hansen Dam Recreation center. They used the wagon to carry the snacks and gatorade over a mile to a midway point on the route where they gave our runners the fuel and encouragement to keep going. Meanwhile, another group stayed and began setting up the canopies and table with the feast for after we finished our long race. The shelter was especially welcome since it actually RAINED after the race (a rarity in SoCal)! Having these tools really made a difference in the comfort of our kids and the families who support them.

  Lastly, it is definitely worth mentioning the KT tape. It's an expensive but literally essential SUPPORT for our runners. Ankles, knees (lots of knees), and shins all have already been taped. Running long distance is mentally and physically challenging and the coaches are so grateful for the tape especially since otherwise we would be paying for it for the kids out of our own pockets.

  To summarize, our team runs on positive energy and you have increased those vibes many times over.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters

  This classroom project was brought to life by Mission Tiger and one other donor.

• Comic Book Club to the Rescue!

  Funded Dec 2, 2019

  This project has expanded the variety of books and the place to enjoy them that I can offer the students at our school. As an English teacher, my number one goal is for every student to become a skilled, passionate, habitual, critical reader. The only way to become a better reader is to read. A lot. Everyday. I believe that anyone who doesn't love reading just hasn't found the right book yet, and I have dedicated myself to helping kids discover those books for themselves. These donations have ensured there are dozens and dozens of new titles to hook them in!

  It's not enough to have access to a variety of excellent books, though. Kids need a place to sit with a book and figure out if it might be a good one for them to try. I use the comic book club as a space to encourage kids to talk with each other about what they have read and spend some time sitting with the books before they commit. Having a warm and inviting room with comfy seats helps kids want to come and spend time getting to know each other and the books. Once a week on Thursdays students come in during lunch and do just that.

  Perhaps a not surprising turn of events is that the donations have impacted the students I see every day a lot as well. I teach 149 seventh and eighth graders throughout the day and they also have been super excited about the new seats and books! They've taken ownership of the space and are always encouraging each other to put things away and keep it organized. We also have two self-nominated class librarians to help with the task of maintaining order. Many students from my 6th period class in particular always show up early to check out titles to take home with them. One student, Andrea, was thrilled with the new Sailor moon set and has read through all 1-4 already!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Neal-Peters