Mrs. Ryan's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 35

• Students Thrive When Reading Culturally Inclusive Books!

  Funded Feb 10, 2021

  Thank you so much for your generous donation. Since my last letter I have switched postions and schools. I am now the reading interventionist at Obama Elementary which is a title one school. This means that I am now working with all grades helping all students to learn to read.

  The books you donated are now in the hands and being read to all grades K to 5. This impact is so powerful. Students need access to book that they can identify with and you gave this to them.

  This last set of books was all about famous african american illustrators and my students have loved these books. Thank you so much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

• Students who Read Multicultural Poetry Books Thrive!

  Funded Jan 24, 2021

  I grew up on Shell Silverstein but recently learned about these amazing multicultural poetry books that you gave us. The book, Woke, is an amazing collection of poems that speak to the struggle that African American people have gone through.

  My students love to rap, and most kids love writing raps, so explaining to them that poems were raps was fantastic. The look on their faces was priceless. They were excited. The love the book, Hey, Black Child.

  Also because poems often rhyme, these poems help my beginner readers with their reading skills. The best part though is that these poems are about children that are going through a lot of the same struggles my students go through and the pictures feature children who look like them and this means so much.

  As always we couldn't do this without you. Thank you.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by Amazon Business and 4 other donors.

• Multicultural and Growth Mindset Books Help Students Thrive!

  Funded Dec 1, 2020

  This year has been challenging, and kids are going through a lot with how to deal with learning on line and surviving a pandemic. Some of my students have lost loved ones to Covid and these Social Emotional Books are really helping them. I am so grateful that books are now being written that shows students of all races and openly discuss all emotions.

  Anger and Sadness are not a bad emotion, for so many years kids were told that anger or sadness should be hidden, that "being strong" meant keeping your emotions hidden. Burying these emotions is very bad for my kid and reading these books about kids who get angry and how it is okay to feel anger and to talk about strategies you can use when you do feel these emotions have been so helpful.

  Thanks to all your generous donations, our classroom library is on its way to becoming one of the most amazing diverse libraries I have every seen and I couldn't do this without your support. I am so grateful for all of your help.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 7 other donors.

• Using Google Computer Students Thrive During This Virtual Year!

  Funded Dec 2, 2020

  As we work together to get through this Virtual year due to Covid, I would not be able to do this job without your help and support. This new computer has allowed me to create lessons for my kids to keep instruction interesting and relevant. The computer arrived at the perfect time, my school computer had just completely failed, and I was at a loss of how I was going to teach my kids. Then I got the news that this project was funded. Thank you so much. My lessons and class has run so much more smoothly and I have had so much more engagement using this new computer. I am beyond grateful for your generosity. I honestly cried tears of happiness when I opened the computer up for the first time. Working together we can make sure all of our kids succeed during this virtual year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 3 other donors.

• Urgent Need for Distance Learning School Supplies!

  Funded Aug 7, 2020

  My students were very excited to hear about the new supplies. The majority of the supplies are still in my classroom and will be distributed to my students when their current supplies run out. Due to Covid, I will have to wait until its safe enough, but when it is I will drive out to everyone's apartment and drop off the supplies.

  The supply I was most grateful for was the teacher pay teacher gift card. I used this to purchase digital resources for teaching all subjects. Since my school system will be virtual all school year this gift has been a huge help. I have been able to provide my students with cool interactive digital lessons in all subjects.

  Thank you so much for supporting us during this difficult time.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and 7 other donors.

• Multicultural Books Needed to Help My Students Thrive!

  Funded Jun 8, 2020

  Thank you so much for your giving my class these new books. They absolutely love these stories. It is so important that my students are seeing kids that look like them represented in the books they read. My students have been so excited every time we read a new book.

  For example books like Not Quite Snow White talk about how everyone is beautiful and how you can become anything you want to be. Since we are currently teaching theme as we read these books we look at what is the author trying to teach us. In a lot of the wonderful new books the lesson is that diversity should be celebrated and that differences are wonderful.

  If you have never read the book Salt in my shoes, then I encourage you to look at. The kids love this book its all about Michael Jordan and how he never gave up. Most people don't know he wasn't chosen to play on his high school basketball team but he kept practicing. The lesson in this book is that you must work hard and practice to achieve your dreams.

  I will be putting together another list soon of more books my kids would love to have in our room. Any donations will be greatly appreciated”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 8 other donors.

• Self-Esteem and Confidence Rise when Kids Read Multicultural Books

  Funded Aug 12, 2020

  Thank you so much for all your generous donations. It means so much to my students for our classroom. We are still fully virtual so I have been sharing these books by reading them every morning to my students. They have loved hearing these new stories.

  These books are perfect because this year we also launched the program SEL (social emotional learning) in my school. These new books tie in with our character traits. Every morning we work the skill of the week and I read the book that matched this skill.

  My students have loved the book the color monster which is all about emotions, and how we all have them and its okay to feel angry or sad. During this difficult time this is a book that a lot of my students can relate to. Thank you so much for everything you have done to help us this year. I truly appreciate it.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.

• Students Who Read Growth Mindset Books Thrive!

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  I am beyond excited for all your generous donations. My classroom library continues to build and is becoming more and more diverse. My students deserve and need to see books that represent them and thanks to you I have been able to do that.

  One of my favorites has been Not Quite Snow White, its is about a little girl who is told she can't be snow white because of the color of her skin. She gathers the courage and auditions for the part and gets it. This book is a newer version of a similar story called Amazing Grace. These stories are so impactful and I am so grateful to add them to my library.

  Thank you all so much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.

• Multicultural Books Needed to Teach and Celebrate Diversity!

  Funded Jun 25, 2020

  Thank you so much for these multicultural books. Our first week of virtual learning I read many of these books to my kids. They loved seeing themselves represented in these books.

  The book that caught their attention the most was the Name jar we discussed how important everyone's name is and how special. This book was special since most of my kids have names that are unusual and this book was about a girl who at first was embarrassed no one could pronounce her name but then realizes how special her name is. The kids in the book also learn that all names are special and to accept each other. We talked about our name stories. The kids were eager to share their stories.

  We will continue over the year to add to our multicultural library so that my students have ample opportunities to see themselves and other cultures represented in books. I thank you so much for your generous donation.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.

• Combining Painting with Academics: Students Thrive Socially, Emotionally, and Academically

  Funded Mar 12, 2020

  Their faces as we unpacked these materials were priceless. They were so grateful for your donations. We had a painting party and the kids loved showing off their artwork.

  Covid hit before we were able to do more with your generous donations. The materials are currently in my classroom. When it is safe enough I will distribute the materials to my students' homes so we can use them in this virtual environment. Sadly, its not due to the virus that I haven't distributed the materials, violence has increased greatly and we have been asked to stop home visits for now. Hopefully soon I can distribute the materials you so so generously gave.

  I just wanted you to know how grateful we are. Pretty soon I promise these materials will be brought to their homes and at that point I will be able to post photos of their grateful faces. Thank you for everything, we appreciate it so much.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ryan

  This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and 4 other donors.