Past projects 34
Smiles for Super Star Birthday Students
Funded Jul 16, 2022Birthdays in our classroom are super special this school year!
The students who have celebrated their birthdays so far were delighted to receive their birthday gift bag with their wholesome treats. I added a book, a birthday card, and birthday bookmark to each gift bag.
Each celebration started off with the birthday boy or girl sitting in the special birthday chair in front of the class with the beautiful birthday banner on the Promethean board, while the class sang to the student. I presented the gift with much fanfare, took photos, and then the student returned to his/her desk with the birthday chair. Did the students feel extra special? The answer is a resounding YES! This was evident with the beaming smiles and the excitement the students showed as they eagerly checked out the gifts in the bag.
I believe in engaging parents in what I do in the classroom, so when the Amazon boxes arrived, I reached out to a parent to assist me with putting together the gifts in plastic bags ahead of time. A day before the student's birthday, I simply placed the gifts in the colored bag and I was ready to start the next day prepared to witness joy.
I am truly grateful to all the donors who donated to this project. Your generosity is bringing joy and making my students feel extra special! The parents in my classroom are also grateful to you for added smiles you give their children.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 5 other donors.Sturdy Headphones for Super Star Second Graders
Funded Aug 25, 2022Thank for your generous donation to my classroom! When I wrote this project in the summer, I was assigned a second-grade class, but a week before school reopened, I got a change of assignment to teach first grade. Nonetheless, the purpose for writing a project for the headphones did not change with my new assignment.
My students love their headphones! Prior to the delivery, I shared with the class what will be coming, so when our boxes arrived, there were loud cheers in the classroom. The excitement was evident in their bright smiles and their eagerness to help me unpack the boxes.
Each student got the opportunity to choose the color he or she preferred. This is important because it adds value to how they will each take care of their choice. The students are very happy with their headphones and they are taking good care of these gifts that they use 3-4 times each week for their computer based learning.
My students use their headphones for state-wide tests, school district tests, mandated i-ready reading and math, accessing their text books, IXL math, Discovery Education, and other learning programs. In a class of 26 students, these sturdy headphones help students to start their lessons without the hassle of fixing parts and untangling cords. The headphones also help them to stay on task and focused on their learning because they stay firmly on their ears.
I am deeply grateful to all of you for donating to my "Sturdy Headphones" project. Your donation is making a significant impact on learning and teaching in my classroom. Thank you for believing in the work that I do every day with my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 5 other donors.Taking Learning to Infinity and Beyond!
Funded Jul 5, 2022Thank for your generous donation to my classroom! When I wrote this project in the summer, I was assigned a second-grade class, but a week before school reopened, I got a change of assignment to teach first grade. Nonetheless, everything I asked for in my project was just as perfect for a first-grade class. I am thankful that every single item helped me to create a nurturing and positive classroom for my fabulous first grade students.
There were some hiccups with the delivery of the boxes, but with the assistance of a DonorsChoose representative, I was able to get the items reordered and shipped again to my school. I kept checking the office every day for the boxes and I was so happy and excited when all my items arrived!
When my students arrived on the first day of school on August 17th, they were greeted with an environment that reflected the theme of our school "Taking learning to Infinity and Beyond". The beautiful blue bulletin board paper added life to our classroom. The students like seeing their photographs on the "birthday bulletin board". They love when I read the growth mind-set cards to them. They were so excited to receive their galaxy pencils, erasers, bracelets, and all the other items that added to a great beginning.
At Open House in mid-September, I was sure to include in my presentation that DonorsChoose gave me a wonderful, positive, and a happy start to the school year!
I am deeply grateful to all of you for donating to my project. Your donation is making a significant impact on learning and teaching in my classroom. Thank you for believing in the work that I do every day with my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 5 other donors.Classroom Store for Super-Star Students
Funded Jul 10, 2022Our Classroom Store is a hit!
When this project was funded, I was assigned to teach a second grade class, but a week before school reopened, my assignment was changed to first grade.
My students are super excited about our classroom store, and they are already learning how to manage their tickets, their money. I am so happy that I am able to have this fun, educational concept in my classroom.
I introduced the concept to my students in August, followed by a soft launch at the end of the first week of September. During the soft launch, one student made a single purchase and her face just beamed with delight as she purchased her pencil for four (4) tickets.
At the beginning of the week of September 12, I decided to explore the idea of changing the pricing on the pencils. Sharpened pencils = 4 tickets. Unsharpened pencils = 2 tickets. On the first shopping day, September 16, students waited expectantly to visit the store. They all got out their little ziplock bag of tickets and sat patiently as their names were randomly selected. One student didn't get to shop because he left his tickets at home. However, he did get the opportunity to "window shop" and eye up what he would like to purchase at a later date.
It was very interesting to observe my students as my "Assistant Store Manager" tried to convince some students to buy the unsharpened pencils in order to save their "money".
Most students purchased pencils or gel pens because they didn't earn enough tickets to buy the higher priced items. Two students didn't buy anything at all because they wanted to "save" their tickets for the next shopping day. One student picked up an expensive item, but with the help of a fellow student, she realized that she didn't have enough money.
In a conversation about the store with my first-grade colleague, she suggested that I add a Buy One, Get One (BOGO) section to the store and she even supplied the items for me – fancy stickers. I shared with the students at the end of the day the latest addition to the store and now it's my turn to wait patiently for the next shopping day to see what happens.
I am truly excited about how this reward system in my classroom in the form of a classroom store is reaching new heights in financial literacy.
At Open House, parents shared with me their own excitement about the classroom store.
I am deeply grateful for everyone who donated so generously to my classroom store!
I am truly a proud DonorsChoose teacher!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 4 other donors.Monthly Mindfulness Hands-on Activities
Funded Aug 16, 2021I am truly grateful for art supplies and art activities you donated to my class. We didn't engage with the mindful activities the first month because we were getting settled in and learning the routines of the new school year. When we started, it was evident that your generous donations have helped my students to spend some quiet moments to connect with their creativity.
The students were delighted to get the time once per month for their mindful activities. We normally play quiet instrumental music during our lunchtime, and they requested the same type of music during their design time.
As a teacher, I am very pleased that I am helping my students to the see value of mindfulness. It is my fervent hope that this practice stays with them.
Many thanks again for you support of what I do with my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Osmo and one other donor.Simple Supplies for Super Second Graders
Funded Aug 13, 2021Many thanks for the supplies for my second-grade classroom! The supplies have truly benefited my students and helped me to keep moving along during the teaching day. Students who did not bring in sufficient materials at the beginning of the school year got what they needed. Students who arrived from other countries or states after the school year begun were able to settle in quickly because I was able to offer them some much needed supplies.
I have a stack of pencils by the pencil sharpener readily available for those students who need one. Students feel good when they get a freshly sharpened pencil to do their assignments.
Thank you again for your generosity to our classroom. Thank for your faith and confidence in teachers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and one other donor.The More We See, the More We Learn!
Funded Aug 13, 2021Thank you so very much for our classroom document camera! I kept checking our school's office daily in anticipation of its arrival, and when it did, it was a "hip, hip, hooray" moment. The document camera arrived at a time when I was super busy getting students into a routine, so I reached out to our tech to help me set it up. He was pretty impressed with it! Once it was set up, the students and I dove right into using it. Before we made it a part of our lessons, we "played" with it. We all took turns to put our fingers, hands, or an object of choice to see the projection. There were a lot of "cool" and "wow" expressions from the students.
The document camera is an essential technology in our classroom. My students are able to see everything I place under it clearly. We use it for all subject areas. The students especially like using it when we are doing science!
When nine (9) of my students were placed in quarantine, they were able to participate (as much as online class allows) with the other students in the brick-and-mortar classroom.
Again, thank you for enhancing our daily teaching and learning experiences!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Rampersaud
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and one other donor.