Past projects 7
Help our 4th Grade Girls Navigate Life's Challenges!
Funded Aug 2, 2024Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! We feel so lucky to be on the receiving end of your support. In our ever changing world, it is increasingly more important than ever to take care of the social and emotional needs of our little ones, especially our girls and young women. The books in this American Girls' collection are geared at doing just that- supporting our girls through difficult periods in their lives, teaching them the skills to navigate life's challenges, and providing them with tools to grow into amazing, confident young women.
These books now proudly live in our classroom library, where they can be accessed at any time by anyone wanting to read about a variety of topics- how to manage big feelings, complicated friendships, parent troubles and more.
Our girls are benefitting greatly from your generosity. THANK YOU!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
Our Artists in the Spotlight: Art Inspired By Famous Artists!
Funded Apr 2, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation! Your support has allowed our students to participate in multiple art projects over the last few weeks.
Students were most excited about collaging with tiles, as this is a medium that they had not previously been able to use. Using the cardstock and the tiles, students created beautiful mosaic collages based on the work of Nek Chand. They worked together to design, draw, and choose the tiles for their mosaics. They carefully glued each one into a thoughtful pattern, and the result was amazing. They were so excited to show off their flower collages to one another!
Students also recently used the color pastels to create designs inspired by Kehinde Wile. They drew backgrounds and drew themselves in the foreground.
Their excitement over the use of their new materials was electric and catching. We love to see our students inspired by artists, and then be able to execute a design with the right tools.
THANK YOU for supporting our classroom, and for supporting the arts!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT and 4 other donors.Battle of the Books!
Funded Jan 1, 2024Our March Madness: Battle of the Books project is underway! The students are SO excited to participate in a book competition! Each day of the competition we read one of our brand new storybooks. After two days, the students vote on which book they like better- based on all the things we've learned this year in reading. Did they like the theme better? The illustrations? The characters? They choose, and they vote!
After a riveting first round (Our "Round of 16", for those of you who are NCAA fans! ; ) the books are narrowed down to our favorite "Elite 8"! From there we compare the books in order to determine our Final Four, our Semifinalists and then finally- our championship winner!
The students are so excited to read each book and then have the opportunity to discuss and write about each one. The incredible selection of books allows all of our students to feel represented and valued. We are fortunate to live in a district that values diversity, and have donors who support our selection of diverse books.
Thank you!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
Flexible Workspaces Inspire Creativity!
Funded Nov 29, 2023Thank you so much for our incredible classroom materials! We absolutely love them, and they have quickly and easily become part of our daily lives in our classroom.
When we first introduced the new flexible seating options to students, they were thrilled. They realized that this meant more choices for them, more opportunities to sit in exciting work spaces, and more chances to be out of their rigid desks. Whenever students go off to work, they eagerly ask, "Can we use flexible seating materials??" Whenever we reply yes- which is most of the time!- they are thrilled to choose their seats.
Our students have wiggly bodies and active minds. They absolutely love cozy reading time- when, on a rainy, dark day, students can choose a flexible seating spot and curl up with a good book listening to classical music. They are so excited to meet with their math partners and use a lapdesk to complete their work. And they love using our new blue cushions to talk about their books!
Thank you again for all you've done!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 15 other donors.Journey through Time with Historical Fiction Book Clubs!
Funded Jun 4, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project! Our students were so excited to dig into their historical fiction book clubs and read "Blood on the River", "George Washington's Socks" and "Fever"!
Since we were able to have multiple copies of the book, this lent itself to our book club reading unit. Students were able to engage and interact with their books and learn important skills such as talking about a book, supporting ideas with evidence, and writing about their reading.
Students were most engaged in lively conversations around the historical aspects of the books. As we had previously studied the American Revolution, their understanding of the historical content was strong and the novels helped to bring that history alive.
Thank you again for supporting our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle!
Funded Dec 9, 2015I can't thank you enough for your generous support of my fourth grade classroom! At first, I was unsure of how the standing desks would work. They have been better than I expected!! Not only do they provide students with a physical place in the classroom to do their work, but they have also helped to contribute to a welcoming and diverse classroom environment that welcomes and celebrates differences and choice.
We use the standing desks everyday. I often use them as a place to confer with students. It's so simple to meet with a student at a standing desk in the middle of the classroom! You don't feel weighed down and confined to a seat or table. Instead, it feels more welcoming to be able to meet when you are standing and facing one another. We use the standing desks during lessons, group work and independent work. They are much loved, cared for and sought after as places to work.
During lessons, as many as four students can enjoy the standing desks at a time. Students discovered that two of them can both fit, and that they are great places for partner work. If students get tired, the stools that we have in the classroom are a perfect size for sitting and resting, while not being confined to a chair. The swinging bar on the desk allows my "wiggly" students to move their feet without distracting other students (or themselves).
The standing desks have contributed to the welcoming atmosphere that I try to create for my students. I have many opportunities in my classroom for different seating choices- bean bag chairs, small tables, rug squares, cushions, crazy creek chairs, etc... The standing desks have provided one more opportunity for students who prefer options other than a traditional table and chair. I feel so lucky to have donors who believe in what I do (and create) for my students, and who decided to help us to purchase these standing desks.
Whether it is Isabella and Noa working on their math together, or Noah and Ian standing, focused, during a lesson, or Maxwell telling Iris "You can have the standing desk now, I'll use it later", I have been so proud to watch my students enjoying this new resource. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your contribution!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
Help Our Kids Clean The Earth!
Funded Dec 13, 2010My students and I are incredibly grateful for your generosity. We recently received beautiful new picture books about the water cycle, environment and our planet for us to use in our environmental science fair. After studying the water cycle, my students came up with the idea on their own to create a Recycling Task Force. They wanted to have an impact on their world, starting in their own community. They built a recycling box, created different materials out of scrap cardboard, and created posters to share their message. All of this would not have been possible without our brand new non-fiction books.
Our current selection of books were unappealing; covers were falling off and the wear and tear was obvious. Because of your generosity, our students were able to read, research and learn about how to save our environment with brand new, brightly colored, engaging texts. There is nothing quite like a new book- nothing, that is, except for a child reading a new book with excited and eager eyes.
Each one of the students in my class decided to join a group that they were interested in. The different groups included a recycling task force, a Save the Environment Fair, a posters group, and a recycled materials group. Each group decided on their own what their project would be, and then watched it come to life. This was a true example of inquiry- students formed questions and used research, through their new books, to find and display answers.
As a school with a large English Language Learner population and most of our students receiving free lunch, engagement is a huge factor in success. With the continued budget cuts, there are rarely opportunities for purchasing new materials, including books. Our students will be tested by the state this spring on how well they have acquired skills in the field of science. I have no doubt that their recent inquiry project, supported by our new learning materials, will enhance their science skills and therefore translate into success on our state exams.
I cannot thank you enough for the materials you sent. My kids love the books and I love their enthusiasm! ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lazarow
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney's Planet Challenge and one other donor.