Past projects 8
Financial Literacy and Cultural Awareness
Funded Sep 17, 2024I've been using the new resources to make financial literacy lessons more hands-on and fun for my students. The big magnetic money magnets have been really helpful. We use them to show different amounts of money, and the students get to count the coins and bills themselves. This makes the idea of money more real and easier to understand. They can touch and move the magnets around, which makes learning feel more active and engaging.
When the students first saw the materials, they were so excited! They couldn't wait to touch the magnets and start using them. I could see how happy they were to work with something new, and they really enjoyed counting the money together. It was a great moment, and I could tell the materials helped them feel more confident with the lessons. The hands-on approach seemed to make everything click for them.
Next, we'll build on what they've learned by practicing real-world situations. We'll use the magnetic money to pretend we're shopping, where students can practice budgeting and making change. The goal is to help them think about how to manage money in their daily lives. Thanks to the generous donations, my students are excited to keep learning and applying these skills in a fun and meaningful way.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
This classroom project was brought to life by Charles Schwab Foundation and 2 other donors.Room 7 Needs Some Help Again
Funded Apr 19, 2024I wanted to reach out with a huge thank you for the most recent project you have all made sure got funded. It is never with out a humble heart that I ask for help outside the walls of my classroom. Every single time I have though, you are all so quick and willing to provide assistance when I need it most!.
Each of the learning materials in this project helped our students with engagement. The farmers market set is a big hit for my students. We use the pretend fruits and veggies to model appropriate ways to hold to pretend to eat. We can also use them for sorting activities; either by color, or shape, or category. They love taking items out and putting back in the baskets that come with.
Another awesome item included in this project were the multicolored blank face mats. Some of my students are able to make marks on the faces with a dry erase marker, while other friends use playdough and create facial features like eyes and noses and then put them on the mats.
Again donors, I cannot thank you all enough for all of the continued support you have given to our program here at Lokrantz!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
Adapted Toys Created by Room 7
Funded Oct 1, 2023This particular project has given my students access to toys and activities that they would not normally have access to given the impact of their disabilities. As you will see in the photographs, simple toys that can be turned on and off and run on batteries can be adapted so that individuals with complex motor needs are able to participate and engage with them.
I am unable to share video, but the expressions on my students' faces as they engage with these adapted toys is priceless. There are some pics that you can see the effort these students have when activating the modified switch to turn on the toys. Again, Room 7 is forever thankful to Donorschoose for providing this platform whereby educators and other like-minded professionals are able to contribute to my work.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 2 other donors.Students With Extensive Support Needs Deserve Images in Color
Funded Sep 5, 2023Room 7 students appreciate your compassion and support as you continue to help fund the projects that we put on here. Color photos are a super big part of helping our students stay engaged in their learning and ink is not cheap!
The photos that I am sharing with you showcase our students within their respective learning environments. They are in color which should never be taken for granted.
Take a moment and think about the photos you may have in your home, of your family, your pets. Aren't they also in color?
Thank you again for making my students feel worthy of color pictures in their learning activities.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
Rainbows Are in Color; Help My Students See Those Rainbows!
Funded Apr 20, 2023Often times we take for granted images that are in color. Presenting brilliant color images helps to engage even the most complex learners. It has been incredibly beneficial having the ability to print with the classroom printer you all helped fund; truly gamechanging! We use symbol-supported vocabulary whenever possible in Room 7. The "Go" and the "Stop" cards are more impactful as green and red respectively than they would be in black and white.
My students each learn in their own way, but they all appreciate the extra effort their teacher puts in to create colorful classroom materials.
Room 7 thanks you for your continued support with these educational resources while giving us the opportunity to learn like our neurotypical peers.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
We Learn Better in Color!
Funded Oct 2, 2022I want to explain a little about why technology is so very important in our schools, and with my population in particular. Students with multiple disabilities and orthopedic impairments cannot access the learning materials in the same way that their typically developing peers can. They need added support, and often times that comes in the form of technology. For example, if I want to determine if a students is able to make purposeful intereactions with the material, I often use modified videos or otherwise adapted toys to see their level of engagement.
I am not sure whether the adapted books, the hot glue gun, or the velcro dots are most useful...oh yeah that printer! Pictures printed in color makes all the difference with engagement for my young learners. I cannot stress the importance of my students being able to see themselves represented in color photos or otherwise work with color copies.
The newest of my students is blind and the three adapted books that donors gave me were/are super successful to get him engaged in reading time. He has improved with his page turning skills and has been able to sit long enough to finish the entire book! I am truly thankful for all that you have done to help support my teaching and my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
We Want to Learn Like Our Friends
Funded Oct 9, 2020We in Room 1 are so very grateful to you all! During this time of Distance Learning it is just so difficult to engage some of our students impacted by their significant disabilities. That's why I want to thank you specifically for contributing to materials that are engaging while learners are at home!
The dry-erase pocket sheet protectors allow students to reuse printed worksheets over and over again. The bingo dabber are a great writing tool for students with fine motor challenges and the art that they have already created in these last weeks is amazing! Play-Doh is never a bad idea and went a long way with this group!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben
We Learn Better In Color!
Funded Sep 6, 2020These past 10 months or so with Distance Learning has been a challenge for many teachers. Without being able to provide structured hands-on activities Students with comprehensive multiple disabilities and orthopedic impairments are unable to access their learning environments without adult support. This is why we are so appreciative of you donors who have helped us to create engaging learning for our students.
Lamented picture cards are great for reusable materials, and the velcro strips are affixed to the back enabling multi-modal access to learning for students with disabilities. The Wikkistix worked great with the laminated speech boards allowed certain areas to be highlighted so students can locate the word.
Color pictures are often taken for granted but with students with special needs, color pictures help to engage these learners and tap into their prior knowledge with learning lessons reflective of their real life environments at home.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Ben