Past projects 61
A Safe Classroom!
Funded Apr 2, 2021Over this week, we had several students return to in-person learning. This project was essential for that transition to happen. Every part of the project has already been in use already. Let me share the great news.
First, the students just love the masks. Once given out the first day, the next day every student arrived to school wearing their new mask with their lanyard. The lanyards are so helpful with eating and keeping track of their mask! The floor tape has been used for the markings in the classroom to support social distancing. The wipes are used constantly to clean surfaces to ensure the safety of our learners.
Lastly, the fidgets are a hit! The kids use them to sharpen their focus! You are all amazing!!!!!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 3 other donors.The Time Is Now to Act!
Funded Mar 21, 2021I would like to begin my impact letter with this quote:
"School is a place where many issues facing our nation rise to the forefront. As teachers, how do we best prepare our students to face and discuss social justice concerns? For many of us, books offer a solid place to start." – Katherine Bassett, National Network of State Teachers of the Year
In a first and second grade classroom, pictures books are a great place to start teaching about activism and social justice. Our students in our classroom are learning to recognize and act on the inequalities of the world. Books in our classroom are just not about teaching reading, but used in all content areas like health, environmental education, and social studies.
Here an example: A few weeks ago, we learned about Malala Yousafzai in our morning meeting. Through reading the book, "Malala's Magic Pen", students learned that children can be agents of change, standing up for something you believe in, recognized the inequality that Malala faced with education. Moments like this build and teach empathy to students.
You have made a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 8 other donors.Earth Day is Every Day!
Funded Mar 18, 2021First, I want to say the books from this project has complemented our green classroom mission, which will really getting moving as students are coming back in-person on April 14th. We will continue to read a different book from this project each day in April. Good environmental citizenship can easily be a year-round practice for students to learn For next school year, we will read one weekly. Building on commitment to make a healthier and cleaner school and community around us daily.
Recently, our students are working on Earth Day Unit around the 3Rs. Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. "Earth Ninja" was an instant favorite in our classroom. The book reviewed the concepts taught in our integrated unit around taking care of environment. Other books in the future will build on other science and reading concepts in the future.
These books are so awesome! The kids love them! I love them! I share them daily with other classroom teachers. We are making a difference together.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 5 other donors.Just The Basics!
Funded Feb 26, 2021I am writing to give you an update regarding this project. I wanted to give you a breakdown how these materials are being used now and in the future.
Purple Plastic Folders- unified take-home folders for each student for their leveled reader, sight words, and homework. These will be used in the fall of 2021.
As for all other items in this project, they will be used to support our students return on April 14th. They will be so excited to see they have the materials needed to support a classroom that is safe during this pandemic time.
Each child will have.....
-a folder to keep writing work organized.
-pencils with a holder to keep them organized and not shared with other students.
-The zipper poaches will be used to store their supplies like their colored pencils, fidgets, counters, and more. Also, I working with our Special Education teacher to make personalized learning bags for her students that target their IEP goals.
They materials will be put into action! Ensuring safety and organization for our students return. You have made a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 3 other donors.Math at the Touch of Their Hands!
Funded Mar 9, 2021As I continue to label and organize these materials, I think it's important knowing how these resources will be used in the future in teaching mathematics in our classroom. Visual and concreate representations of mathematics is essential when working with younger students. Think about this way, it provides another way for a student to learn the math concepts. It deepens their understanding, plus it's more engaging for them.
Here is what each part will be intended to be used for:
1. Number Lines: In our math curriculum, number lines are used to teach adding and subtraction strategies. Now students have numbers lines that they can access to support their learning and work of addition and subtraction.
2. 2 -Sided Counters - These will be used to support problem solving and helps students understand base-10 numbering system with the use of ten frames. Also, used for adding and subtracting strategies.
3. Unfix Cubes- helps teach the math concepts of making ten, patterns, concepts of measurements, and adding & subtracting.
4. Foam Geometric Solid Blocks- to provide a hands-on and visual approach to teaching the properties of 3D shapes.
5. Mini Geometric Solids-also will be used to teach properties of 3D shapes with sorting activities of like and unlike properties. These all will be used to promote creativity in free play and STEM related activities.
6. Number Line Activities: the plan for these activities will be used to teach and support the learning of a number line.
7. Film Canisters with Caps- these are used create classroom and house sets of counters for each student to use.
Finally, your generosity towards this project will support math learning for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 2 other donors.Green Classroom: A Environmentally Conscious Learning Home
Funded Feb 11, 2021The students are very excited about all the new resources that have been part of this great project. We are currently virtual so many of these materials will be used in the future. This project has motivated other teachers to do similar projects in the future around environmental learning. I plan to start growing some plants next week with showing the progress daily. Students can still see and track progress by the use of a webcam in our Google Meets. The Sprout & Grow window will allow the students to see the roots growing. It's going to be awesome. During this time, I might try to use the lights to support plant growth as well. The light will be extremely beneficial once we start working our classroom garden outside hopefully in fall.
The picture books will all be showcased in April with an writing and science unit centered around Earth Day. The big essential question will be: Why it's important to care forthe Earth? The students will be writing an opinion paper addressing the topic. The books will help provide different perspectives and reasons why we must take care of the Earth.
Today, we got the greenhouse assembled. It's so awesome! The plan for the greenhouse is to support growth for plants that will be then planted in our garden outside. But also, I will be purchasing some classroom plants that we will take care of in our room all year. Instead of classroom pet, we will have classroom plants. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by our classroom. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies.Keeping Virtual Learning Engaging!
Funded Feb 8, 2021The students are using the resources from this project on a daily basis. For example, the units purchased with the gift cards have made virtual learning in science and social studies so engaging. We recently just finished a unit on Geography, where students built their own maps with keys. Right now, we are learning about rocks and minerals through a unit I bought with gift cards from Teachers Pay Teachers. Also with the gift cards, I have been able to purchase support items for struggling readers and also math small group activities to build on whole group instruction.
As for the other resources, the watercolors will be handed out at the end of the month. They will be used throughout the rest of the school year in Art Class. The learners are super excited to start painting. The markers will be given out as well for their dry erase boards to support instruction. Currently, the clocks will be used to replace the ones I gave out in fall to teach time. Most of them will stay in the classroom for future years to come.
Our classroom wishes everyone an amazing 2021! Thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
Celebrating Poetry and Diversity!
Funded Feb 28, 2021Reading books to my class goes beyond teaching essential skills in reading, but so much more. With these books in particular, we will expand on learning about poetry. In April, we will reading each of the new titles to celebrate poetry month.
The best part of these poetry books, they are used in particular of developing a respect and appreciation for others.
My favorite book right now from the collection is "Voices of Justice: Poems about People Working for a Better World." This book is great as it teaches aspects of poetry with learning about activists. It works so well with Women's History Month! Each day, I try to highlight one woman from the book during the month of March. Great teachable moments!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and one other donor.Keep Learning Going!
Funded Dec 18, 2020You wouldn't believe the impact that you have made on our children. COVID-19 has been a very hard on all us, but especially kids in urban areas like ours. These materials have been used to support distance learning, and restock in classroom supplies needed when the students come back to in-person. The students use resources daily!
As we move into the end of the year, our learners continue to blossom in all areas. Our next big classroom project with be a integrated unit around Earth Day.
Our classroom continues to grow everyday!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and one other donor.Bringing Virtual Learning to Life!
Funded Sep 6, 2020The impact that this project made has probably been the most successful since doing projects. First, the students love using their learner bags, which had many of the items that were donated in this project. I love seeing the students using their notebooks to work on their writing projects, then share their work through Seesaw. It's been awesome.
The Teachers Pay Teachers gift card has provided engaging units in Science and Social Studies that the students have learned about Families, Responsible Citizenship, and next will be Space. Also, it has provided extra resources in math small group learning. We did amazing on our last unit test with these extra practice activities. You made a difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Steger
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 7 other donors.