Past projects 11
Pencils, Quality Pencils and Primary Journals
Funded Dec 29, 2024Pencils, quality pencils and primary journals! Wow! With much joy each student received their new supplies. While I rejoiced over the primary journals and the writing journey we would go on, they squealed and clapped when I showed them the new jumbo pencils, colored pencils and an electric pencil sharpener! The back story is, I have been using a manual pencil sharpeners for weeks. Thus it was taking a long time to get pencils ready for the day.
I threw away the box of dry rotted colored pencils we had been using and gave each student new colored pencils. My little ones now have vibrant colors to showcase their ideas in their new journals. They will leave kindergarten with a collection of drawings and writings that tell their story. Thank you so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
Paper Please?
Funded Apr 3, 2025Wow! What a way to close-out my spring break! I can't wait to tell the good news to my little ones and tell my grade level teammates. So many things we cut back on because we needed to save what little paper available for assessments. Because of your generous gift we can print, print, print!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.No More Wobbles, Scratches and Stackable Please!
Funded Dec 4, 2024The stackable blue chairs are a hit! They are cute, comfortable and very easy to move around! I actually rotate the chairs each week so for a week students have turns sitting all day in the special chair.
I must say that my colleagues also admire the chairs. When I have a visitor, they always try to grab an occupied blue chair. "These are nice," is a common comment.
The chairs are kid friendly; easy to manipulate quickly. For special group sessions, my classroom helpers easily rearrange the chairs as needed. I do not cringe and worry that they will drop the chair, scratch-up the floor nor hurt themselves as they move them around. Thank you so much for helping me replace some of the old and very heavy classroom chairs.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.Just Rugs
Funded Nov 28, 2023Thank you for supporting my "Just Rugs" Project! I must admit. It has taken a bit of practice to get my kiddos to remember to put down their work mats and/or rugs before pulling items from the shelf for use. Yet, the rugs help them define their work space and also helps them keep track of the materials they are responsible for. No more manipulatives dumped and mixed on the floor! Yeah!
The rugs are also used as a quick reading island. Our floors are hard and cold. Some students grab a rug or two, find a quiet space away from everyone else, hideout and work silently on their little island or merely stretch out and read. Thank you for supporting my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Jump Start With Bugs and Phonics!!!
Funded Aug 11, 2023Thank you for contributing to our "Jump Start With Bugs and Phonics" project. It has truly been the gift that keeps on giving.
The hands-on instant learning centers was an immediate hit with the kiddos! When I pull them out, they get excited. They say, "Yeah, we are doing ____ today!" Now they have their favorites and ask for them by name. As a matter of fact, it is sooo tempting to give in to their requests. I mean, they are excited about a phonics station?!! Somehow I manage to teach to the demands our pacing guide and give them their favorites.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Play! Read! Repeat!
Funded Oct 5, 2021We have definitely done a lot of PLAYING and READING! Where do I begin?
1. The sight word bingo is still a hit! Everyone wants to play.
2. We have had many days of indoor recess. When I first pulled out the puzzles, I did not get any takers! The next day, I baited the girls by pulling out the pink and purple puzzle. The girls made a dive for it and the boys decided to play alongside. They put together the giant fire truck puzzle. After that, they were open to putting together the puzzles.
3. Wikki Sticks and play dough are ALWAYS welcomed! A weekly activity now is play dough spelling and free play dough adventures during recess. I have a Spring Wikki Stick project planned. They are reserved for special occasions because they are not in abundance but always welcome.
4. The the reading resources help with the differentiated lessons. A time saver, yes and YES!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.Declutter! Destress!
Funded Sep 10, 2021I wish I could have shown the faces of my students as they tried to manipulate the beaded dough. They were soooo excited. They said, "what is this? Ahhhh....it's sticky, Wow!....." Truly they had never seen the product. Excitement was indeed in the air! "This is the best day ever," one of them replied. I rejoice at those words because, I do not hear them everyday!
How about the fort my students built with the very large manipulatives? They climbed around, under, and stood within the structure carefully putting the pieces together. It is a rainy day activity now and I get no complaints about not being able to go outside.
Now my favorite are the Magna Tiles!!!! I was so excited watching my little ones construct with them that I found some over the holiday and purchased them for my home.
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by Clorox and 5 other donors.Safe and Soft!
Funded Sep 9, 2021We love our new resources! In the classroom, each week is a time of discovery and play. My little guys move swiftly from one activity to the next.
I must say when I first put the mats down there was a big shift to traffic patterns. I'd ask a student to put something away and he would glide and BOUNCE to and from the destination. I had to have a conversation about the purpose of the mats and of course how to take care of them.
The students enjoy getting down on the mats to work. Prior to getting them, they really never sat on the hard floor. Thank you for bringing a little "bounce" into my classroom. Thank you for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and one other donor.Reading to Succeed
Funded Dec 31, 2020My little ones were elated to receive their new books. It was a great desire of mine that the students would have physical copies of the books we were reading in small group. To my surprise, they were very excited about their level readers AND they were reading them!!! I have one student who hangs back after school and often asks, "Mrs. Walker, can I read to you? Can I pick the book? I want to read...It is my favorite?" How refreshing. Actually, I discovered that many of my students had already perused the books before our small group sessions AND they could find them!!! A big plus in the virtual setting. Thank you for fueling their desire to read.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
Set the Environment for Success!
Funded Oct 1, 2020I told my students in advance that they were getting a lap desk. I set a pick-up for textbooks, supplies and their new desk. They were all smiles as I handed them their brightly colored lap desk! The next day, those who had not picked up their materials stood with mouths gaped open. "Yours is waiting for you," I replied. Needless to say, the others told their parents to go to school for their desk.
Taking pictures of the lap desk in use has been a challenge! I did spy the desks on coffee tables, on sofas, on beds and on the floor. One day, I spoke to a student about placing his Chromebook so that I could get a better view of his face. He replied, "Oh, I have that desk, I can use that!" "Great idea," I replied. Then others chimed in to tell me that they were using their desks also.
Setting the environment for success was about creating a workspace for the kiddos. I wanted to get those tablets and Chromebooks off of the floor. Funny as I think about it, sometimes my students use their lap desk the same way I use mine. I sit in front of a computer for many hours a day. During my off times, I sit on the floor with my lap desk (my happy place). They likewise sometimes transition to the floor with their lap desk during independent work times and get lost in their work (find their happy place).
Thank you kindly for your donations and for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Walker
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 14 other donors.