Past projects 9
Reading Roadrunners
Funded Mar 4, 2025I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredibly generous donations to our classroom. Your contributions towards purchasing books and special seats have made a meaningful difference in the learning environment for all my students.
Thank you again for your kindness and support—it means the world to us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
Treasure Boost
Funded Sep 20, 2024I've integrated the treasure box items, like squishies, play dough, and fidget toys, into my classroom routine as rewards and tools for engagement. For instance, during a recent creative writing session, I had students use play dough to sculpt characters from their stories, which helped them visualize their narratives and made the writing process more interactive and fun.
My students couldn't wait to explore the squishies and fidget toys! Moving forward, I plan to incorporate the treasure box items into my upcoming mindfulness activities. I'll have students use fidget toys during quiet reflection time, which I believe will help them concentrate better during lessons. I'm excited to see how these tools enhance their learning experience and promote a positive classroom environment.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and 4 other donors.Select Your Seat!
Funded Sep 6, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation of our special seats. My students and I are thrilled with the new addition to our classroom!
The soft saucer seats have transformed our learning environment. We're using them during group activities and reading sessions, and the comfort they provide has really enhanced our classroom experience. For instance, in our recent project on collaborative storytelling, the students were more engaged and enthusiastic, thanks in part to the cozy and inviting seating.
When the students first saw the new seats, their excitement was palpable. They immediately started choosing their favorite spots and were eager to share their thoughts about how comfy and fun they felt. Thank you again for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 5 other donors.Welcome Back Second Grade Superstars
Funded Aug 3, 2023My students are so happy to have received all of the new materials. Students deserve incentives to continue the great work that they do in second grade. With your help we were able to get that.
My students were so excited to be able to shop for the prizes on the days I opened my store. Students were super excited about the foam that one was chosen first. Students also really loved the bookmarks that they can draw on and use for their library books. They ask me constantly when the next time they will be able to choose from the treasure box.
Thank you again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.Totally Tech Savvy
Funded May 10, 2023I wanted to start off by saying thank you so much for your generous donations. My students were so excited about receiving new headphones and a microphone for our classroom. With the headphones they have already used their devices to listen to their apps better. The students are able to concentrate so much better now because the noises of other devices are unable to be heard when they use the headphones. The microphone has been so useful during our presentations. Students feel so comfortable talking to the class using the microphone and have told me they feel "famous". Again, thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors Corporation and 7 other donors.Flexible and Fun Seats
Funded Nov 30, 2022Have you ever noticed how much more focused children are when they're allowed to move while they work? These flexible seating choices have given all of my students the opportunity to choose where they feel they will get the best work done. Every day my students have the opportunity to choose a new seat. The bean bags and rubber bands for the legs of the chairs p are first to get chosen daily.
My students were so confused but excited when they first saw the materials. Allowing students to choose where they would like to sit is definitely something new but my students love the opportunity.
My next steps with the materials are to continue using them to help my students move while they work.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 7 other donors.Totally Tactile
Funded Sep 21, 2022Thank you so much for helping get my project "Totally Tactile" funded. My students and I are using it during our small group time. We practice our sight words, spelling words, and challenge words with the special materials. On one specific week we had a particularly difficult spelling list. After reviewing the words I noticed that my students still needed more practice. We went right into small groups and got working. Some students used the dough to spell out their spelling words. Some students used the connecting cubes to spell out spelling words and sentences. Some students were able to test each other using the shaving cream on their tables. When I assessed them again I could see some great improvement.
I want to see my students enjoying their learning and I have definitely seen them enjoying their time with these tactile resources. My students are much more motivated and enjoy working on challenging spelling and high frequency words. My students were so excited when they first saw the materials. They kept asking if they could get into small groups right away.
As we continue with the school year we are going to continue using them during small groups. I have students that are working with different spellings and some that need to refine certain skills. My teacher's assistant and myself are going to call our students that need the most help and use the materials. Again, thank you so much for the donations please enjoy the pictures of my students using the materials.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.The "Write" School Supplies
Funded Jul 21, 2020Distance learning has taken us on a very unexpected adventure. I am so proud of my students and their resilience. With the resources that were donated my students are able to complete the assignments that I give them each day. Last year when we first started with distance learning a lot of my students did not have colored pencils or even pens at home but this year with the help of donors I can say that my students had those materials. We have art projects every week and my students were so excited to see they had colored pencils, paper, and pens in their materials bag.
I was able to see the reaction of some students when they first opened their bags. My favorite reactions were "Cool! There's a jumprope in here!" and "We got a lot of stuff in this bag!" Because of distance learning, I did not get to see the reactions of all of my students but during class they are prepared with their materials and that is amazing!
We use the materials that we received every day. We use the whiteboards for our daily math problems and ELD sentences. We use the notebooks to create amazing narratives and research essays. My students are starting a new research essay in their notebooks about famous civil rights activists. Without these materials my students would have run out of paper to write on by the second week of school! I am so grateful to all of the donors that made distance learning a little easier for my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 2 other donors.Tablets for Thrilling Technology!
Funded Oct 9, 2019My students have been thrilled to use technology in the classroom every single day and are so thankful that they each have their own tablets to use. My students are able to go on apps such as, RAZ kids, Prodigy, and Merriam Webster's Dictionary. My students are able to use the tablets during small groups while I am working with another group. My students are learning responsibility using their own tablets because they need to keep their tablets charged and in their appropriate places to be able to use them every day.
I think what is most exciting to my students is that they have their own tablets which is something many of them do not have at home. They are being exposed to new apps that they have never heard of. My students are getting the opportunity to learn how to code, something they may not have been able to do without these tablets.
I have several students that are extremely shy and they have been able to show me their skills through the technology. I have one particular student that has messy handwriting but with the tablet he is able to type out his work making it easier for both of us to read his work. I am so thankful that my students are able to use technology every day because of donors like you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Miriam Galan
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School and one other donor.