Past projects 5
Growing Compassion and Building Community on a Classroom Rug
Funded Jul 7, 2024I want to thank you again for your generous donations toward my Donors Choose project, Building a Classroom Community on a Classroom Rug. My students were so excited to see a clean, colorful, spacious rug when they began the school year. Parents were also complimentary when they came for Open House. The new rug has enhanced our classroom learning environment in many ways.
Students are able to comfortably sit on a square where they have space to listen and learn. Students enjoy being in their own spot to listen to stories, view educational clips on the Smart Board, and participate in our daily Morning Meeting. Morning Meeting is a time for Social Emotional Learning and for learning how to make positive behavior choices. We review our calendar and daily schedule during this time, as well.
Our beautiful new rug is also a comfortable place for children to participate in learning games and free play activities. They love to build with blocks, work on floor puzzles together, and read books with friends.
I am so grateful for this amazing gift! It is having a wonderful impact each day in our little classroom community!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wooldridge
We Can Hear! We Can Learn!
Funded Apr 8, 2021Technology plays a huge role in our classroom curriculum. Students are actively engaged as they work in our phonics program, Lexia, and IXL, our math program. These programs assess beginning levels of understanding, then enable students to progress through levels of "games" as their knowledge grows. Students love to celebrate when they "level up" and their classmates often cheer them on! As the teacher, I'm able to collect data that will help guide my instruction. It also helps me identify students who are in need of additional interventions.
Without the use of quality headphones, students would not be able to access these programs successfully. It is crucial for them to be able to hear clearly in order for them to follow the directions. With 26 students in one classroom, I am very grateful for headphones!
Recently, I got a new student who was worried that he didn't have headphones. His face lit up when I told him not to worry...we had headphones he could use. Students who are English Language Learners make up almost half of my class. These children are so excited when they are able to learn letter sounds and how to make words...this would not be possible without the gift of our wonderful new headphones. Thanks so much for making a huge impact with your generous gifts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wooldridge
Hearing is Believing in First Grade!
Funded Jun 14, 2019sThanks so much for giving towards my "Hearing Is Believing" Project. The headphones we received have helped us in so many ways.
Our classroom is fortunate to have five Ipads and students use them to practice Phonics/Reading Skills and Math Skills. As you can imagine, five Ipads being used at once without headphones in a room of 24 First Graders gets very noisy! It is very distracting for the students using them, as well as other students in the room. Students would ask to go out in the quiet hallway to work so they could hear directions on the Ipads. Now, students can stay in the room and are not disturbing others.
An unexpected benefit has been for my four students who are Non-English Speaking. Many times, they are able to use the headphones and Ipads to access programs that will meet their specific language learning needs while other students are participating in activities on their skill levels. These four boys are so excited to get to use the headphones!
Thank you for your support and generosity. Your gift has made a difference for my First Graders!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wooldridge
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 5 other donors.Crayons, Pencils, and Books, Oh My! Seat Sacks Needed!
Funded Jul 6, 2018My students were so excited to get their new Seat Sacks! They love having a special place right on the back of their chairs to store materials. The kids put their supply pouches containing pencils, crayons, scissors, and glue sticks in the Seat Sacks. This is wonderful for them and for me! When we begin an activity, they know right where their supplies are and are able to get started on their work quickly without having to find the tools they need.
Students also use their Seat Sacks to store the two library books they check out each week from our Media Center. We are encouraging the kids to read and develop a love for reading. Having the two books stored right with them allows them to read when they have extra time or finish an assignment early. It also cuts down on kids misplacing their books, which makes everyone happy!
An added benefit of the Seat Sacks is that it has enabled my first graders to take responsibility for their own materials. I am proud of them for taking pride in caring for their supplies. They are less dependent on me and becoming more mature kiddos!
As the year goes on, we may be adding more supplies to our Seat Sacks as students continue to mature.
Thanks again for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wooldridge
Building a Classroom Community
Funded Jun 29, 2018We were thrilled to receive the new tables for our classroom! They make our first grade room look so much more kid-friendly and inviting. Students, parents, and other teachers have all noticed the difference!
The tables have had a big impact on instruction and community in our room. Kids are able to work together on projects and games. They can talk to each other and share materials. The tables have really come in handy during Literacy and Math Centers. Students have been able to discuss leveled readers, work together to complete writing assignments, and play math games which reinforce the skills we've been working on. Our favorite games include: Sight Word Parking Lot, Domino Parking Lot, Pass the Paper, and Hundreds Chart Puzzles.
I would love to add more of these tables to our room in the future. We still have a few older desks which are wobbly and hard to use for group activities.
Thanks again for your donation and the impact you've made on our First Graders!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Wooldridge