Mr. Cotman-el's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 5

• Teaching Tomorrow's Engineers One 3D Shape At a Time

  Funded Feb 8, 2023

  Thank you so much for the 3d shapes. It was a joy watching my students explore shapes with these manipulatives. My students were able to see the different attributes of 3d shapes by turning, stacking, and feeling each and every one.

  They were also very helpful when assessing my students learning. My students looked at and held the shapes when they were being asked to identify each shaped by name. It was often confusing to my students to use 2d rendering of 3ds shapes when sorting between the two, but with the large manipulatives, my students scored significantly higher than before.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Cotman-el

  This classroom project was brought to life by Black History Month Partners and one other donor.

• Fostering the Joy of Reading in Emergent Readers!

  Funded Mar 23, 2022

  Thank you so much for the reading bench. My students love it. The library center has become a very popular center to go to, and that is large part thanks to your generosity. The bench is comfy, cozy, and relaxing. The reading bench has also served doubled duty as a conference space with students. If a student is having a hard time or is upset about something, I now have a comfortable place to go and talk with them. It has been so helpful. I also use the bench for conflict resolution. When students are arguing with each other, I can take them to the bench and talk it out with them.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Cotman-el

  This classroom project was brought to life by Male Teachers of Color Initiative and 4 other donors.

• Project Getting students to learn their ABCs!

  Funded Feb 9, 2022

  I was so pleasantly surprised to get my project funded. The alphabet puppets were such a big ticket item that I wanted for a long time, but I didn't think I would get it funded. I used the K king when I introduced the concept of ing. I told the students that the king came from the land of ing. The students were so excited about the puppet, and I believe that the this made the learning so much more effective.

  my students were able to make connections between the concrete puppet and the abstract concept of ing. Thank you so much for making this learning opportunity possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Cotman-el

  This classroom project was brought to life by Black History Month Partners and 4 other donors.

• Variety is the spice of life: teaching diverse learners.

  Funded Feb 9, 2022

  Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. I have several students that exhibit behavioral challenges and emotional ones as well. The emotion mirrors, and other sensory materials have been to so helpful in calming my students that are not able to regulate emotions on their own. A couple of weeks ago my school had an all school assembly. Two of my students who usually have a hard time sitting for long periods of time and who often act out where able to enjoy the assembly like the other students without needing to leave the event and go for a walk. I was so proud of them, and thankful to the generosity of the donors for making this happen.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Cotman-el

  This classroom project was brought to life by Black History Month Partners and 2 other donors.

• Creating the Next Generation of Mathematicians and Engineers!

  Funded Dec 13, 2021

  When I first showed the students the magnatiles they were excited, yet apprehensive. They didn't quite know what to make of them. I modeled how to use the magnatiles and the students became very excited.

  I then put the tiles out as a center without instructions, and just allowed the students to explore. I wanted them to build and create freely. I think in the future I will use the magnatiles in a discovery center, and I will also use them during the shapes unit. they are perfect for demonstrating the difference between 2D flat shapes and 3D solid shapes. Thank you so much for your contribution to my classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Cotman-el