Past projects 21
Comfortable Learning Away From Our Desks!
Funded Dec 21, 2016I'm so excited about getting a rug for our classroom. Albany gets cold and tile floors are uncomfortable. Thank you for giving us a place to gather and work in groups. Can't wait for you to see pictures of our students enjoying our new rug. The students are going to be so excited about this new addition to our room.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
Glue Sticks No Longer Stick!
Funded Jul 22, 2013I want to thank you for your donation to my classroom. I left for a maternity leave earlier and longer than I expected. It was nice to know that my substitute and students were left with enough adequate supplies to maintain lesson throughout my leave.
So much of what we do in Kindergarten involves cutting and gluing. Students learn hand eye coordination while engaging in meaningful activities. Some lessons are art based, some math, and some literacy.
I never have to worry when a child says their glue stick is dry or empty, I just tell them to throw it away and get a new one. It is a small thing but one less thing on my plate I have to think about.
It is your generosity that I am most thankful for. At a time when education is a hot topic, it is nice to know that there are people who support what teachers try everyday to do!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
Writing Rainbow
Funded Sep 26, 2010We thank you for your tremendous donation to our classes. Because of you all three of the third grade classes were able to use colored paper to teach the organization of essay writing. When our students come up to us we are often told they have trouble writing sentences, let alone paragraphs and essays. Before they leave our rooms, at the end of the year, we have taught them to write not just paragraphs but a five paragraph essays.
We start students with personal essays in their notebooks where they write ideas they would be interested in writing about. When students have a thesis statement developed and paragraphs drafted we then move out onto colored paper. A different color represents a different paragraph. Students then know if a mini-lesson is taught about the introduction paragraph that is the color they go back to. Since these are the first essays they have ever written there are often a lot of revisions and editing that needs to be done. When you do so with colored paper, students don't seem to mind as much.
It seems like a simple supply. We have to teach writing and have said that colored paper helps our students to organize. When it comes time for supply orders we are told it is not a necessity therefore does not get ordered. You have helped to fill that gap for us. Thank you for providing all the third graders at our school a visual way they can organize essays. Your generosity is truly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
A Sharp Pencil Leads to a Sharp Mind!
Funded Aug 11, 2010Pencils are the single most important resource in any classroom. Pencils that sharpen well and a pencil sharpener that works are two very important resources to any classroom teachers' sanity. I sharpen at least 75 pencils every day. Everyday every student gets 3 pencils to use throughout the day. Usually they last and sometimes they have to get more. So I have to make sure that there are at least 3 pencils sharpened for each of my 25 students, plus some extras.
You have helped make it possible for us to have these resources. You have put the traditional school supply into the hands of my class so they can create their best work. We actually decided to make pencils our science fair project this year. We are testing two types to pencils to see if the cost of the pencil is related to the quality. My class assumes that the more expensive pencil will sharpen best and last longer without the point breaking. We have not gotten the results as of yet but you have helped generate some excitement over a simple tool they have used for years.
I thank you again for your generosity. Individuals like you make it possible for teachers to provide students with the best possible education. It may seem like just pencils but really you have helped open up a world of opportunity. Pencils have now turned into science. Imagine what else could come of this simple school supply.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
Is There TIME FOR KIDS To Read About Current Events?
Funded Aug 18, 2010Time for Kids is an amazing resource in my classroom. Every week, my class is able to read up on current events, practice reading non-fiction and have discussions about articles they have read. Reading and understanding non-fiction is a true test of reading comprehension. Time for Kids makes reading non-fiction enjoyable.
I thank you so much for making this resource available to us. We get so excited to look at the cover when the bundle comes in the mail. Before we even open the plastic wrap up, we briefly chat about what we think we will read about and if we think we are going to enjoy it.
At the beginning of 2011, the magazine had the best inventions of 2010. Everyone was really excited to read about that. Anything having to do with technology or cars is a big hit with the boys. My girls love to read about famous people. Everyone loves pictures of animals or anything I call "gross". Like snakes or funny looking creatures.
Your generosity is deeply appreciated!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
3D Geography Part II
Funded Oct 23, 2009I can't thank you enough for your donation to our class. Model Magic is one of the best products I have used in my class in a long time. Students love the way it feels to mold it and I love how clean it is in a room without a sink! We were able to make our make our land form molds and move on to another subject without having to stop to do a lot of clean-up. Most days there is so much to do with so little time to complete. A few extra minutes mean a lot.
My students were excited to learn the different kind of land forms. The molds helped them to remember what they have learned. It gave them a great visual when they had to label the different land forms. Reinforcing their learning is so important to me. Some of my students learn material from books, some from videos and some learn it by listening to me. Every one of them was able to use the visual model to reinforce what the learned previously. For that I thank your generosity.
Individuals like you give my students a chance at success. The resources they aren't provided with at home have to be made up somewhere in order for them to find success. I thank you again for being one of those resources by providing them with materials to help enjoy school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
"Time" for Kids
Funded Sep 8, 2009Thank you so very much for the additional resources you have provided our classroom. Time for Kids is an exciting way for kids to read about current events. Since it is written on their level, with their interests in mind, every issue is an enjoyment for them to explore.
Even though the magazine is used during independent time, they are able to engage in conversations with each other about what they read. When we review what we have done during independent time, they will often talk about what they have read.
We appreciate your generosity. People like you help me provide rich and exciting experiences that students would not have otherwise enjoyed. We are honored that you choose our class to help. Thank you again!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
This classroom project was brought to life by Korein Family Foundation and one other donor.Eco-Friendly Writing
Funded Jul 17, 2009Dry erase boards have added a tool to my classroom that student LOVE to use. Even those students who dislike writing, produce great work when given a board and marker. Students ask for the boards in order to complete math problems, practice vocabulary words and many other activities.
We have used a lot less paper and students are able to see the impact they can have on the environment. It has been a great learning tool that goes along with our schools new recycling program.
I thank you for the generosity and compassion you have shown my students. You make it possible to teachers like me to make the school day just a little more interesting for students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
This classroom project was brought to life by Korein Foundation and 2 other donors.Can I Have A New Notebook Please??
Funded Jul 17, 2009I want to thank you so much for the impact you have had on my students. We constantly come up with new ways to use a notebook and thanks to you we have plenty in supply.
After working with words in grammar and vocabulary, we decided to create our own taxonomy notebooks. Students are able to keep track of the new words they learn in an organized manner. I love that when students use up their writing books we have new ones to start so they don't have to wait for a parent to get to the store.
Often my students come to school with no supplies and you have helped me to make sure they have what they need to be successful daily. Thank you for you generosity and compassion toward my class.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro
This classroom project was brought to life by Korein Foundation and 2 other donors.3D Geography
Funded Dec 12, 2008Wow!! Thank you so much for your generous donation. Thanks to you I am able to implement a hands-on way to teach geography. My students learn better when they can explore with their senses. Creating maps using their hands will help them to better retain necessary information. It means less worksheets for us...thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ferro