Past projects 8
Really Cool Reinforcers!
Funded Apr 21, 2023Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity when donating to my project. To quote one of my kindergartener students describing the items we received: "THIS IS AWESOME!"
I was able to get so many fun reinforcers for my students. These have been used during speech-language therapy sessions as items to help teach speech and language-based skills. For example, describing specific dog figurines by adjective, verb, and/or preposition (e.g. "Please put the dog standing up behind the other dog sitting down.").
At the end of this school year, my students were able to make their own individualized goodie bags to take home. This activity was particularly special this year for my students since I am moving out of state this summer. I was able to break the sad news to my students by following it with goodie bags to help cheer them up. Thank you all donors for being able to support me and my students - we appreciate all of you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
Let's Create and Laminate!
Funded May 5, 2022Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in donating to our project. We were able to purchase classroom and office supplies that will be used by students and the other special education clinicians that I share my room with (school occupational therapist, school social worker, school psychologist, and another school speech-language pathologist).
We have already benefited from many of the supplies you have provided! Students created their own bookmarks during speech-language therapy sessions. During this activity, we targeted speech and language skills (following directions, listening comprehension, describing, formulating sentences, learning new vocabulary words, targeting specific speech sounds, etc.) in addition to making a fun, self-created, individualized project my students were able to take home to further their love of reading. We used our laminator to keep our bookmarks safe from spills and messes at home and school. This is just one of the items you allowed us to get with your generous donations. Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
Special Sensory Supplies
Funded Oct 26, 2021My students have been thrilled with the materials that you have provided to us. They have been incredibly helpful for a number of reasons.
These materials have been used as motivators during speech/language therapy sessions. My students have been more than eager to work if they're then able to be rewarded with use of the super cool glowing orb or pop-it fidget. The materials have also been used to increase communication opportunities with my students like describing using new vocabulary words, formulating longer sentences, and asking and answering questions. These materials have also been used to have calming and/or sensory breaks, especially when looking up at the starry sky on the ceiling. Although I did not upload images of the bubble maker or sensory fish tube, I am eager to set these up ASAP to use with my students - they're going to be so excited!
Thank you for all of your generous donations. You have made so many children incredibly happy!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 5 other donors.Reading: Diversity & Inclusion
Funded Nov 21, 2020Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donations to my Donors Choose project. I requested a variety of books that are inclusive of my many students' races, cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles. It is so important for all school staff members to embrace diversity and inclusion and to allow for all of our students to feel cared for and accepted for who they are. Unfortunately, all of the books I had initially requested were not all available, so I added a few other items that are necessary during COVID-19, like additional boxes of surgical face masks.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 7 other donors.Cool Cricut Creations
Funded Oct 7, 2020Thank you for your very generous donation to my Donors Choose project: "Cool Cricut Creations." I have carefully selected items and accessories for my Cricut machine that will be used to help create materials to target my students' individualized IEP goals. These materials will be used for speech/language therapy sessions to target the following communication skills: expressive language, receptive language, social/pragmatic language, speech fluency, articulation/phonology, voice, and alternative/augmentative communication skills.
It has been a very challenging transition for speech/language pathologists to create new materials that can be used for virtual services. Luckily, my Cricut machine can make items that can be used for both in-person to online services. My students have been very excited to have new games/activities for the new school year. Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
Virtual Speech & Language Therapy Materials
Funded Aug 31, 2020Thank you for your very generous donation to my Donors Choose project: "Virtual Speech & Language Therapy Materials." I have carefully selected materials that target my students' individualized IEP goals. These materials have successfully been used for therapy, screening, evaluation/assessment, and IEP/goal formulation purposes. It has been a very challenging transition for speech/language pathologists to move from in-person to online services and these materials have been incredibly helpful. My students have been very excited to have new games/activities for the virtual school year. Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and 3 other donors.Creative Cricut Crafts for Communication
Funded Mar 9, 2020I am so very thankful for your incredibly generous donation to my project. It allowed me to purchase a Cricut Explore Air 2 machine.
I am incredibly excited to use this machine with my speech/language students. At this time, my district has sadly but appropriately shut down all schools due to 'Act of God' days for the Coronavirus/COVID-9 global pandemic. I'm eager to allow my students to work together (with adult supervision, of course) to experience the Cricut machine. We will use the machine to create academic-related items, materials specific for speech/language therapy materials, and positive reinforcement items.
Thank you again for your kindness and generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis
Bouncy Bands for Super Students
Funded Nov 1, 2019Today, I opened up the box of Bouncy Bands with my first group of speech therapy students. All my students quickly agreed: We love our Bouncy Bands!!
They allowed my students to move while working on targeted speech therapy interventions. They will be very beneficial when used by my students with special needs who have a particularly difficult time sitting still.
I'm so excited to continue to use Bouncy Bands with all of my students. This year, the Bouncy Bands will service all of my students who attend speech/language therapy sessions (which is about 60 students this year. Because the Bouncy Bands are so sturdy, they will last for years and will easily help out 100s of students.
Thank you, donors, for your kindness. You brought smiles to many children today!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ellis