Past projects 6
My Sped Students Love Trains!
Funded Feb 15, 2025I am so excited about our project! Thank you to all the generous people who donated! I will be able to work with my autistic population on sharing, cooperative play, and making friends. Our autistic population has increased dramatically and this project will help me to help them.
Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
Sensory Tools for My Children With Autism
Funded Oct 18, 2023I do apologize for the tardiness of this letter but I had a hard time trying to decide what the say. I work in a Title I school of over 800 students, most of whom are either a recent immigrant, living at the poverty level, living in a single parent household, are homeless or all of the above. When these students see new and fun things that are just for them, they are so excited that I don't know how to describe it. They absolutely love fun things.
My job is almost exclusively the preK to 2nd grade. The students who are using the materials the most are my K-1 special education class. Everyday they come in my room and 8 little boys with autism practically dive into the new blue sandbox. These little boys need to learn how to regulate and how to stimulate their brains through their senses. They bounce on the exercise ball when they are stressed and sometimes just when they want to feel good. Either way they leave happy.
I need to tell all the people who are so generous with these little guys that what they learn is priceless. I could never buy such materials without people like you. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
This classroom project was brought to life by A Donor Who Loves Teachers and 4 other donors.Working Together to Support Our Students
Funded Sep 29, 2022I am so immensely grateful for the generosity of people like you. I am able to better support my students and that makes all of us immensely happy. Our students are in such a difficult place and are demonstrating real feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness. With your help we will make school more of a place for not just learning but healing.
THANK YOU!!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Classroom Supporter.Back to School and Getting to Know Each Other Again!
Funded Nov 15, 2021I ended up getting different items than the ones I had originally requested and those items turned out to be perfect for us. Unfortunately, our students returned to school after being home for almost a year with many challenges. They returned to school with anxiety, fear, excitement and uncertainty. Our students needed even more support than anyone thought. So the gift of sensory items, storage bins, art supplies and activity sets were quickly shared and used.
For example, the special education first and second grade bridge class students were having a very challenging time being in class. This was their first time not taking classes online and being in person was very stressful for them. I gave the teacher many of the activity kits and some sensory sand. The students absolutely loved the fun and interesting resources and the teacher was able to use this fun as motivation for classwork and positive behavior choices.
I plan to make another request from Donors Choose based on the items that not only helped my students during mandated services but items that helped the teachers I work with. I realized that during the quarantine, students became dependent on ipads and cell phones, so the sensory items became a new and rewarding experience. I am excited to receive even more rewarding items for my students and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
This classroom project was brought to life by Valhalla Foundation.Remote Therapy Sensory Play Kits
Funded May 31, 2021The goal of the project has changed but it is no less important. We have found that students who were returning to school after almost 18 months of virtual classes were having a terrible time. The adjustment to school after so much trauma and uncertainty filled many of our students with anxiety, fear and an inability to sit in class and pay attention. This is where the supplies that were so generously donated came to good use.
My student A. saw all of the supplies and became very excited. A. is a special education student who has a very difficult time controlling himself. After over a year of virtual learning it became almost impossible for him to sit still for even a moment. We decided to make a calming box with the supplies received. He filled his box with playdoh, a sensory ball and a few other things he can use to regulate himself when he is feeling overwhelmed. It worked. I have given several students calming boxes and teachers have found them invaluable for students who have trouble with self-regulation. And the students love having some special items for themselves. We plan on continuing using calm boxes as a way for students to manage the stress and anxiety that have come this school year.
Thank you for giving us the tools to work with our students. My students and I are very grateful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
Feelings Art Projects Supplies
Funded Aug 13, 2020I am extremely grateful for the donation of supplies that we were able to receive. Due to COVID-19 and the reduction in funding available to schools, there would have been no way I could have gotten so many high quality supplies for my students. I normally purchase supplies from my own pocket and I have spent hundreds of dollars the past few years. I cannot afford to do that anymore. But thanks to you, they were excited to see my new big room with all of the goodies!
You see, I am the school social worker and my job is to work with students, individually and in groups, on topics such as getting in touch with your feelings, how to be a good friend, how to handle a bully and social skills. However, I work with grades K-4 and they are not very good at using their words most of the time. So the best way for us to communicate is through expressive play and artwork. For example, AB is a student in special education who I have been working with the past three years. She has a difficult time controlling herself but she loves to play and make pretty things to take home. Working on an art project has forced her to learn how to focus. And she knows that only when she has appropriate behavior can she explore the room and pick an activity. Kids always look forward to their time in my room.
My next project is to create kits for kids who are in remote learning to use. Many times these are the kids who miss projects the most. I was sending home stickers but it was not enough. If I can send home some activities, they can join their classmates online and participate with their friends. Then the hopefully don't feel so lonely.
Thank you again for thinking of us and contributing so much to the quality of our work. I am a play therapist and I know the value of quality materials and playthings to the cognitive, emotional and physical learning of a child. It is priceless.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sandoval
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex Brand.