Past projects 14
Full STEM Ahead
Funded Apr 4, 2025I am forever in awe of the support I get for my projects! I aspire to create a caring, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. Getting students to engage in learning activities that they don't find easy, especially when the learning isn't presented digitally, is increasingly more challenging. With your help, I am teaching my students that they can do hard things. These materials are the catalysts for motivating them to engage in activities they think are too challenging. They are starting to believe they can do hard things and are learning how to persevere through the discomfort of meaningful learning!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 4 other donors.Mind Benders: Puzzles and Games Building Logical Brains
Funded Dec 17, 2024Thank you for your support of our project: Mind Benders: Puzzles and Games Building Logical Brains. My students have been utilizing these materials as we explore balance, and it's incredible to see their excitement with using the balance scales!
The Balance Beans; Seesaw Logic Game and the STEM Explorers: Brainometry puzzle challenges have enhanced their understanding of how to apply balance when solving math problems, introduced them to physics, encouraged them to build and think critically, and fueled their desire to challenge themselves.
My biggest teaching obstacle this year has been convincing my students that they can do hard things. Your contribution has played a crucial role in helping them develop a growth mindset and embrace challenges, moving from saying, "That is too hard!" to "I can do hard things!" While it is still uncomfortable, they are moving away from avoiding things they deem too hard. They are taking risks and making an effort and persevering through the urge to quit. This is where the real learning takes place! Thank you for enabling them to engage with learning in such innovative ways.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
Sound Affects 2
Funded Dec 23, 2021My students love their new headphones! They use them regularly to complete listening activities. Having quality headphones make these types of activities a much more pleasurable and enriching listening experience for everyone in our group.
The students were excited to see these headphones! They are much nicer than many of the ones they use in their classrooms. To prepare them for writing a thank you letter, I asked them to tell me why they liked these headphones. Here are some of the things they said:
They fit just right. They aren't too long or too short.
They help me hear better.
They keep me from hearing what everyone else is talking about.
I like them. They feel good on here (touching ears with hands).
Thank you for helping me keep my students actively engaged in listening activities!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by A Local Family Foundation and one other donor.Communication Through Creation
Funded Dec 13, 2021My students are loving the challenge of creating new projects with our new Lego sets! I have groups working on different creations and they are so eager to get all of their lessons and assignments completed so they can earn time to build!
They were curious when I presented them with unopened packages and asked if they would like to open them for me. However, when they realized there were Legos in the boxes or packages, they were so excited! It felt like I had just given each one of them a present. My groups have enjoyed working together to build projects. It is such a wonderful experience to watch and listen to them communicate with each other as they work!
I look forward to seeing the finished projects and then rotate the different kits between my groups. It will be like giving each of them another present!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by A Local Family Foundation and 2 other donors.Writing in Digital Stylus 2.0
Funded Oct 14, 2021Thanks to you, I now have enough styluses for each of my students to use when they come to me for English Language support! As we continue to dive into the world of digital learning, the need for materials that support this style of learning increases. The use of styluses greatly enhances the writing experience on an iPad or tablet screen. The accuracy of student writing drastically improves because they are using a device that mimics writing with a pencil rather than using their fingertips.
It is very exciting for my students to use these styluses because they can write and form letters neater and much smaller. These styluses handle like a pencil and help students write in a manner similar to writing with a pencil on paper. The improved accuracy reduces the tension and stress they feel as they try to write on the smaller iPad screens.
Some of my students have not had access to a stylus before coming to my groups. For them, there is still a sense of wonder and an element of magic as they use them!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Writing in Digital Stylus
Funded Jun 15, 2021Thank you so much for your continued support! As we continue to dive into the world of digital learning, the need for materials that support this style of learning increases. The use of styluses greatly enhances the writing experience on an iPad or tablet screen. The accuracy of student writing drastically improves because they are using a device that mimics writing with a pencil rather than using their fingertips.
It is very exciting for my students to use these styluses because they can write and form letters neater and much smaller. These styluses handle like a pencil and help students write in a manner similar to writing with a pencil on paper. The improved accuracy reduces the tension and stress they feel as they try to write on the smaller iPad screens.
Some of my students have not had access to a stylus before coming to my groups. For them, there is still a sense of wonder and an element of magic as they use them!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by UScellular and 6 other donors.Writing in Stylus (Just in Case)
Funded Jan 14, 2020Thank you so much for helping us get two more styluses. We now have a total of six student styluses. My goal is to have enough styluses that each student in my largest group will have access to one for completing writing activities on our iPads.
When my students use these styluses, they have more control over the images created on the screen of their iPads. These styluses make digital writing simulate using a pencil when writing on paper. Therefore, it is easier for young children to create legible writing and art on a digital screen. Styluses are also a lot more fun than using your finger or the generic styluses with the huge rubber tips!
The cases have been put to good use protecting two "loaner" iPads that I was able to borrow to use with my students while we continue to build our classroom set through DonorsChoose.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by A local foundation and 4 other donors.iPad Develops Language Pro 3.1
Funded Sep 16, 2020Since we returned to school in August, all of my work was being completed by my students independently in their classrooms using an app called Seesaw on Chromebooks. While Seesaw is compatible with Chromebooks, they simply aren't as user friendly for the types of activities my students need to complete. Thus, my students were not consistently signing in and completing my EL lessons and activities.
However, starting last week, I began pulling 1-3 students for face-to-face instruction in my room. Thanks to DonorsChoose, my students have been working on iPads, and with my support, they are quickly and easily signing in and completing activities that had been assigned since the second week of school. While my support has helped, I have no doubt that using our donated iPads has increased their motivation to complete these assignments! Thank you for your support! It truly is making a difference for my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 7 other donors.iPad Develops Language Pro 3.0
Funded Dec 20, 2019With everything that has been going on with Covid-19 and the school closings in March, I never described the impact that having this project funded has had. Please accept my apologies as these last seven months have been a very chaotic time.
For safety reasons, all of my work was being completed by my students independently in their classrooms using an app called Seesaw on Chromebooks. While Seesaw is compatible with Chromebooks, they simply aren't as user friendly for the types of activities my students need to complete. Thus, my students were not consistently signing in and completing my EL lessons and activities.
However, starting last week, I began pulling 1-3 students for face-to-face instruction in my room. Thanks to DonorsChoose, my students have been working on iPads, and with my support, they are quickly and easily signing in and completing activities that had been assigned since the second week of school. While my support has helped, I have no doubt that using our donated iPads has increased their motivation to complete these assignments! Thank you for your support! It truly is making a difference for my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by A local foundation and 6 other donors.Writing in Stylus
Funded Nov 25, 2019My students really enjoy writing and drawing with these styluses. They make writing on the iPad screen much more controlled and precise. Many of my students are still mastering the art of manipulating a pencil to form letters and neatly write on paper. These styluses allow them a more motivating and enjoyable way to practice!
When we first used these styluses, my students were very curious and excited because they had never seen a "pencil" like that for an iPad or tablet. They couldn't understand how the little tip would work on the screen. It has been a pleasure to watch them create drawings and learn to write with them.
I am looking forward to posting another project to meet our goal of eight styluses. This will be enough for each student to use a stylus during our groups. Currently, they have to share them, which limits the amount of time they get to use one. I am excited for the day when they can do more activities that incorporate the use of these styluses.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Stocks
This classroom project was brought to life by A local foundation and 5 other donors.