Past projects 6
Students Hear Feedback!
Funded Mar 16, 2021With your support, I was able to acquire technology that allows me to provide audio feedback to students on their work. Research indicates that providing feedback in this way has a stronger effect on student learning.
In addition, I am able to use voice to text with this technology, so can also provide written feedback more quickly, allowing me to provide feedback in a much quicker fashion. This is especially important when you consider how long it can take to provide feedback. For example, a minute of feedback on an assignment multiplied by 160 students (average student numbers for high school teacher), is 2 hours and 40 minutes.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy
Handwritten Encouragement Cards
Funded Dec 1, 2020This low-tech project has had a high impact. Supporting my efforts to reach out individually to students through hand-written cards of encouragement meant a lot to me.
Writing the cards allowed me to focus on each student through an asset-based lens, considering and recognizing their individual effort and strengths - such as resilience and flexibility. I have received numerous emails in return, thanking me for the letters.
I know these small and personal gestures can have a lasting impact, and I am ever so thankful for your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.Providing Timely Feedback During Distance Learning
Funded Dec 1, 2020This project has been such a WOW for providing feedback to students on their work. Because students submit their work online, when they upload a document I can actually write comments on their work.
When students misread a document, the Apple Pencil provides me with the ability to quickly highlight the correct answers or text. I can handwrite comments on the document, and if I make a mistake, I can quickly edit the comment!
Providing feedback and commenting in this manner is definitely one of the post-COVID educational improvements I will continue to incorporate in my teaching. Thank you for your support and generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.Ergonomic and Tech Savvy
Funded Dec 8, 2020Thank you for supporting this Ergonomic and Tech Savvy. During distance learning as required during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating ergonomic work stations has been important to maintain the physical health of teachers.
Your support has made a difference in keeping body, mind, and spirit aligned for this teacher. I know my creaky body would not have been as able to keep up with the demands of distance learning as well without your support.
It is with utmost thanks that I express my appreciation for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy
Staying Connected in a Virtual World
Funded Oct 24, 2020Adding an iPad to my teaching station during Distance Learning has been a game changer. In addition to my laptop screen and a large monitor where I can see presentations and my Zoom classroom, the iPad allows me to see real time engagement by students. Thanks to Donors, I use Pear Deck in class to get 1-1 engagement. But I can't monitor individual student engagement on my laptop or my monitor. This is where the iPad comes in.
With the iPad, not only can I see individual student responses, I can comment on them, and choose answers to anonymous share with the class. The iPad also allows me to see who is not engaging, and to reach out to those students individually. In a physical classroom I would be walking around, monitoring student engagement, redirecting student attention, and amplifying student voices in person. With the iPad, I am able to replicate some of that interaction and engagement in a remote learning setting. Thank you, Donors, for making this happen.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy
Engaging Student Voices to Create Stronger Community and Learning.
Funded Sep 24, 2020When I requested a project for Pear Deck, I had no idea it would be such a gamechanger for getting students involved. In a physical classroom, I work hard to get all students engaged by answering questions and sharing their views. With Pear Deck, I can not only engage students with questions, I can see all of their answers!
Pear Deck also allows me to highlight and share answers with the class. It does this anonymously, so students can shine without being nervous about their answers. It also allows students to tell me IDK, which provides helpful feedback.
In other words, in addition to providing engagement, Pear Deck provides me with the tool to do informal (or formative) assessment of student understanding. An example of Pear Deck engagement are the numbers I get each week that show the number of presentations, number of students who participate, and total number of engagements. In a recent week, I had presented 3 times, had 85 students engaged (out of 98) and 292 moments of engagement. Thank you so much for helping me acquire this tool!”
With gratitude,
Ms. McCarthy