Past projects 3
Play-Full Early Readers and Mathematicians!
Funded Aug 24, 2022I gladly write to describe how your donations allowed me to playfully integrate and strengthen the early literacy and math skills of my students.
The counting cookies jar, math cubes, and playdoh provided students opportunities to naturally explore concepts of addition and subtraction in meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways. The large magnetic letters appealed to their sense of touch - they are drawn to the letters "sticking" to the whiteboard - with each attempt to identify letters, duplicate, and spell words.
We exposed students to papel picado, the Mexican decorative folk art to support culturally responsive education. We created our own papel picado and strengthened our fine motor muscles at the same time. Students had so much fun reading the story "Owl Babies" and recreating it in dramatic play. The mystery box remains another favorite. Each week students anticipate what they will discover inside of it related to our unit of study.
Our students' play was "work" in disguise and they enjoyed each minute of it! I hope that you will enjoy viewing our slideshow and witnessing how your donations continue to support young children's learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hercules
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and one other donor.Bring the Joy of Play to Locked-Down Early Learners
Funded Aug 17, 2021This year is a year unlike any other for our students for several reasons. Just one of our 15 students has ever been in a school or daycare setting. Whether you know anything about early childhood, or remember what it was like for your own 3-year-old to be away from you - their primary caregiver - for an extended period of time, this is huge! Furthermore, sharing a small space with 14 other 3-year-olds is a bit much to handle for one with little impulse control. If you recall, our students had been in the confines of their homes with their caregivers for much of their short lives. Our classroom needed to be warm, inviting, aesthetically pleasing, and a home away from home for our little ones. You helped us achieve this.
The materials we were able to present were received with all the excitement and curiosity that we could have imagined. We saw their eyes light up and just knew that those little neurons lit up as well. We heard symphonies of "look, rainbows", "read this", "what's this", and "wow". Our little ones have loads of energy! At various points of the day, we see them just sit in the library to read or listen to audible books. They look up at the large beautiful photos of people from around the world - people who look like them. Many of our students love to build. We see them building with rainbows and arches in innovative ways each day.
We intend to keep pushing our students' social-emotional stability, curiosity, and independence in the coming months of this school year. We look forward to new projects in 2022 and thank you again for your invaluable donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hercules
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 7 other donors.We've Got A Feeling!
Funded Oct 19, 2021Your donations go so much further than our classroom. Your donations provide experiences that children will keep with them for years to come. It is often said, that children will forget what you said, but not how you make them feel. I wholeheartedly believe this and this is why I teach our youngest learners.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hercules