Past projects 28
Empowering English Language Learners
Funded Jan 15, 2025I am deeply grateful to each of you for your incredible generosity and support. Thanks to your contributions, I was able to purchase essential tools that have made a remarkable difference in the lives of my students. Specifically, the funds have allowed me to provide my students with small recording devices and an AI-enhanced translation device that do more than just support learning – they foster inclusion, confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging in our classroom.
As an educator working with English Language Learners (ELLs), one of the most significant challenges I face is ensuring that my students not only understand the material but also feel confident in their ability to communicate effectively. For many of these students, the language barrier can be a source of anxiety and isolation. They often struggle to fully participate in class discussions, express their ideas, or even share their thoughts with peers due to their limited proficiency in English. The recording devices, funded by your generous donations, have made a significant impact in overcoming these challenges.
These small, portable recording devices allow my students to record themselves speaking, listen to their pronunciation, and track their progress over time. This invaluable tool gives them the opportunity to practice their speaking skills at their own pace. By reviewing their own recordings, students can become more aware of their language development, identify areas for improvement, and gain the confidence needed to speak up in class. This kind of practice not only boosts their speaking abilities but also empowers them to take ownership of their learning and progress.
Furthermore, your donations made it possible for me to provide an AI-enhanced translation device that has been transformative for my ELLs. This device, which works without the need for Wi-Fi, enables students to easily translate between English and Spanish in real-time. This technology serves as a bridge, allowing students to communicate more effectively with both their peers and me. For many of my students, the ability to converse in their native language while they are still acquiring English proficiency is a game-changer. It reduces the sense of frustration and isolation that often accompanies language barriers, providing a seamless way for students to interact and participate in the classroom.
The AI translation device has not only helped students break through language barriers but has also played a critical role in fostering a sense of belonging in our classroom. Language is a key part of culture, and when students are able to engage in conversations that reflect their linguistic identity, they feel more connected to the learning community. This device allows them to express themselves without fear of making mistakes or feeling misunderstood, which in turn promotes a more inclusive and supportive environment.
On behalf of my students, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the DonorsChoose community. Your generosity has had a profound impact on my classroom, and your support continues to inspire me every day. These tools have made an immeasurable difference in my students' lives, and for that, we are all incredibly grateful. Thank you for making such a meaningful investment in their education and futures.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
Communication Brings Meaning
Funded Sep 16, 2024Thank you so much for funding this incredibly important project that meets the needs of a special population of students, our multilingual learners. I have several students in my classroom this year who do not speak any English and the translators that this project funded have been able to take photos of worksheets and book pages and translate them into Spanish so that these students can learn our content immediately! The translators can of course be used to translate our verbal language, but this small device has the function to even teach my students common phrases. The translator went beyond what I had hoped!
This project also provided me as a teacher with several new English Language Learning teacher guides and student workbooks. I have used these to help plan lessons for my classes. The books have given me engaging and thoughtful ideas!
Thank you for funding this important project!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and one other donor.READING is for AWESOME PEOPLE
Funded Aug 14, 2024Thank you for funding this special reading project which allows my students an opportunity to choose books and practice reading skills. Students have quickly learned to love the ReadnQuiz online subscription, and I have seen an increase in reading fluency and reading comprehension because of its use.
Students have been busily reading books, taking quizzes, and earning prizes that were provided through this project. It has been a joy to watch them grow so quickly as readers.
Thank you for funding such an important project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Please Help Us Soar in 2024
Funded Aug 14, 2024The 2024/2025 school year was able to get off to a great start thanks to your donations that funded this wonderful beginning of the year project! I use my new portable computer desk on a daily basis. It gives me the ability to move around the classroom and to stand while I teach.
I created several special bulletin boards with the wooden push pins. With these handy devices, I have been able to quickly hang up student artwork that was created with paper which was also funded through this project!
The back of my classroom has the multiplication fact number posters displayed to aid with both multiplication and division. This has come in very handy for all students and has become a focal point in the room.
Thank you for funding such a great project! Once again, I am beyond thrilled.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Don't Worry, Be Happy
Funded Mar 11, 2024The end of the 2023/2024 school year ended with lots of learning, testing and fun! The Donors Choose project, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was able to help students navigate the challenges associated with this time of the year.
During our testing season, I created testing tags, both generic and personal, for each student. These tags connected with the items in the project such as "Blow the top off the test," to go along with bubble gum and "Rock the Test, Don't Stress, Just Do Your Best," and a stress ball to go along with it. The students were given these items during the three weeks of testing. The supplies helped to motivate and encourage students to work hard and not give up!
Believe it or not, I do have items remaining from the supplies I ordered in the Donors Choose project and I intend to use them for the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year. I have fruit rolls up that will be used with the saying, "Ready to roll into a new school year!" I hope it will help to bring a smile to the student's faces!
Thank you for donating to this special project and to public education!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
Sensory Support
Funded Oct 11, 2023The Sensory Support project that you funded was so important to the social and emotional health of the students in my fourth grade classroom. Items in this project include a weighted stuffed animal that provides a sense of "tactile grounding in the body" to aid in relieving anxiety. It helps children feel secure and more firmly rooted to the earth.
Another important purchased item was noise cancelling headphones. These help block out overwhelming noise and stimuli to provide a sense of calm and focus. These headphones can often help students communicate better.
Batteries and printer cartridges rounded out the purchases. The printer cartridges were of significant importance because they allow students to print stories they have written and even personal thoughts that students may need to process to help them continue their day on a positive note.
Thank you for supporting my students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and one other donor.Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader
Funded Sep 18, 2023Thank you for supporting literacy in education. This project specifically targets students who are non-readers and gets them excited to read! By setting goals for themselves, reading books on their own level, taking quizzes, and then earning prizes, students learn to enjoy reading! By motivating students in this way, I hope for them to become life long readers.
The program that I was able to purchase is called ReadnQuiz. Children read books on their own reading level and this program has a data base of hundreds of books that children want to read. It is the child's choice what book they read! It is authentic literature! Children move up reading levels by continuously reading and showing an understanding of what is read. The program is fantastic and children love it.
Thank you for supporting our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares.A New Beginning
Funded Aug 2, 2023This is the beginning of a new school year and students have set goals for the year. These goals include goals for reading fluency, learning multiplication facts, and goals for reading a certain amount of books. All of these goals require incentives along the way and that is what this project has provided for my students.
This projects has incentives such as fidget spinners, squishy balls, scented pencils, and watercolor paints. All of these students can earn when goals are reached!
Everything in this project is helping my new group of fourth graders become excited, stay organized, and learn as much as possible as they enter the new school year!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Learning is Fun!
Funded Aug 2, 2023Thank you for providing the items in this project that help promote growth in the English/Language Arts area. These educational games are being used both in my regular reading class and in my English as a Second Language class.
These games are providing an incredible learning opportunity for my students in the areas of learning new vocabulary words, creating sentences and stories, as well as learning how to cooperate and communicate with each other in a social setting! The students are loving playing and learning at the same time.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Could You Help Us Beat the Heat?
Funded Aug 2, 2023With temperatures soaring this summer, our classroom benefitted from the resources you provided. The cooling fans/evaporative coolers brought needed releif to a classroom that has west facing windows and is above the cafeteria kitchen.
It is a beautiful classroom with an abundance of cabinets, sound absorbing carpet, and large windows that let in sunlight to keep our moods happy, but along with that sunlight comes heat in the summer. This summer, we had some added assistance in lowering the temperature and we appreciate it so much!
Thank you for thinking of us and helping us beat the heat!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Novella Mutz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.