Past projects 5
Teachers Pay Teachers Helps Teachers!
Funded Jan 7, 2023Teachers Pay Teachers is a site that dedicates a space for teachers to upload resources they have created for use by other teachers. Many of the resources we need and spend time creating are common resources needed by our national colleagues. Teachers Pay Teachers gives us the space share. While many of the resources are free, teachers can choose to charge for resources-allowing us to make money for the time and resources we are creating and sharing.
I will attach pictures of some ways I have used Teacher Pay Teacher Resources to decorate my classroom and create an engaging learning environment, but I'd like to note that it is not the only way that I have used Teacher Pay Teachers. Oftentimes, there are times we need to modify assignments that are presented in a way that we don't prefer or tools to deepen learning (i.e number lines, counting grids, multiplication charts, etc.) One item that I have purchased is a rotation schedule for students to refer to as they independently manage classroom small group learning. It is particularly exciting to students to be aware of what is coming next. Many times they watch the timer and refer to the chart so they can anticipate the next activity. Thank you for your help.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Underwood
This classroom project was brought to life by Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation and 2 other donors.Self Regulation is the Key!
Funded Oct 27, 2022I have always been an advocate for a "calm space" in the classroom. In times past, we had a beanbag in the corner and students were offered the option to cool down there as both as a proactive and reactive measure. However, sometimes students need a moment where all eyes are not on them. They need to feel alone with their thoughts and feelings and the beanbag area could not provide that. Students were not able to decompress without having all eyes on them, and it proved to be a distraction to our learning at times. In those times, students would sometimes choose to leave the classroom, and miss valuable classroom instruction and directions. Many times, it's hard to re-acclimated after having to be removed from the classroom or having to leave for any reason. With our calm corner, students are in control and sometimes choose when they are ready to begin learning with the group again. Of course, they have to be taught not to abuse it, but you would be surprised how they catch on, and show integrity.
With our new and improved "calm corner", students can still be monitored but have some semblance of privacy while they make sense of how they are feeling. This allows them to still be in tune with the activities of the classroom, and the other students can be less prone to watch them as they calm themselves.
Your donation was so timely because it came the day before I was planning to do a huge classroom reorganization project. I had some free time without students on Tuesday and went to work on it. When students returned to class on Wednesday last week, the classroom was completely rearranged, and the new "Calm Corner" was the highlight of the room-thanks to your donations. I introduced all of the donated and classroom materials that are available in the space(i.e books about emotions, affirmation coloring books, blank paper, coloring materials, etc) and it was a hit. We worked out a system for the first few days where everyone could take a turn exploring it. We had some mini discussions about how identifying what you are feeling isn't always easy, and we discussed how these materials can help. We are all so excited to have this addition to our new and improved space. Thank you so much for your donation. Learning self-regulation is so important for children, and your donation is making it possible for us to have the space to do it.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Underwood
A Colorful Classroom Without Distractions Helps Us to Learn
Funded Aug 6, 2022Due to budget cuts, our school administrators have decided to cut Kleenex out of the budget among other things like lysol wipes, hand sanitizer. While we have been able to make do with donations from parents or non-profit organizations, it is extremely hard. This project included a large box of Kleenex and it is one of the harder donations to come by in bulk, nowadays. My students have not had to worry about whether or not we are going to run out of Kleenex, especially during a time like this when coughs and sneezing are a common place amongst the season change.
This project also included ink cartridges to allow me to print colorful items for the classroom. Our school used to have access to a color printer, but they have all been removed, and the only way to print in color is to send a request to an administrator to have things printed. Needless to say, this doesn't help when I am using my weekends to get caught up on printing necessary materials for the classroom that need to be ready for use first thing Monday morning. The same is the case for our lamination machine. Only some people have access to it, and the periods they are available to print do not always coincide with when I have supplies that need laminated. I probably spend over $300 dollars a year on ink cartridges and laminating materials to have the ease of access to create a colorful and engaging environment for my students. However, I knew this year, I would not be able to do that since everything is becoming so expensive. Now, I can worry about more important and pressing issues in the classroom without the worry of buying expensive ink and Kleenex hanging over my head.
Lastly, this project contained breakfast bars that REALLY came in handy that first week of school when the previous year's 2nd graders didn't realize that they no longer eat lunch 5th period, but would have to wait until 6th period this year. We split the bars and had a small snack to get us through week 1, and the kids were excited to hear that someone was gracious enough to donate them. There are still plenty of breakfast bars left, and we continue to use them for students who are arriving late and didn't have an opportunity to eat. We cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Underwood
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 4 other donors.We Want to Learn About Climate Change
Funded Aug 3, 2022My students are engaging in a unit of learning that I wrote myself by attending a fellowship at Yale University. I wrote the unit on the impacts of climate change on urban environments, and I am teaching using the cross-curricular approach. This means we will study some Science, Math, and History concepts around one central topic.
I believe climate change is a very important issue that my students should learn about because, not only does it have world impacts, but it currently impacts their health and the health of their families. If interested, you can read more about these impacts in the unit I wrote for them at the following link: https://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_22.05.05_u
With your help, my students have been able to be immersed in interesting and grade-appropriate literature to help them understand climate change and its impact. After building some background knowledge on it, we were able to explore math concepts such as graphing to track important pollen, air quality, and weather data. The pollen count is worsened in urban areas due to climate change and it triggers asthma and allergy episodes that result in school absenteeism and hospital visits. The air quality is impacted by the same factors that impact climate change and they are very closely related. The students have an opportunity to learn about all of these connections, and how it impacts the world and themselves. These are connections we are still making as we continue our learning.
Another part of the unit that we have not started yet are the conversations about the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized groups. We are going to delve into a history lesson on housing and urban environments, and it is my hope that we inspire the young minds of my scholars to become advocates for their own communities. I hope their desire to join mitigation efforts against climate change exceed my expectations-as climate change is an important issue that will impact future generations.
Without your support, this would have never been possible. Thank you so much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Underwood
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 5 other donors.Mice for Kids
Funded Oct 22, 2020Due to the Covid-19 school closures, I wasn't able to personally be there when my students received the mice that you funded for them. However, one day while online one student mentioned that he picked up his mouse from the school and other students began to chime in and show the mice they received. I didn't realize that the mice lit up and as the students began to show them the screen looked like a Christmas tree.
A few of them mentioned how it was easier for them to do drag and drop online assignments that require them to click on virtual objects and move them somewhere else. They were quite excited about the light up feature.
The mice are fairly new, so I am excited to hear more feedback on the upcoming assignments and how the mice provide more ease of use and access to the virtual environments.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Underwood