Past projects 7
Read to Learn While Learning to Read!
Funded Jun 8, 2022Thank you so much for providing my students with more books to choose from for independent reading level purposes. The variety encouraged many more students to be active readers and learners.
While I teach skills in a whole group and small group setting, the individual attempt needs to be at an appropriate level and the variety of books available to the students is key to seeing true success.
It was phenomenal to see the students excited to read independently and to use their skills as needed to be successful in fluency and comprehension.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by Center for Disaster Philanthropy and 3 other donors.A Whole New World Filled With Books, Positivity, and Love!
Funded Jun 15, 2022Thank you so very much for giving my students the opportunity to learn about what they are interested in, to develop their own tests to answer their questions, and for providing an opportunity to build on collaboration and team work. I came into the new year wanting to give the kids jobs in their groups and to allow them the opportunity to practice their roles. I put out a bunch of the investigations and related information cards and each group of kids were able to choose their interest. The kids loved the freedom and their feedback on how they tested and what they learned was inspiring. Now, many kids want the opportunity to try a new station again! Thank you for helping my students to be collaborators, questioners, testers, and problem solvers!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by Center for Disaster Philanthropy and one other donor.Hands On Problem Solving for STEAM!
Funded Nov 6, 2023Thank you so very much for giving my students the opportunity to learn about what they are interested in, to develop their own tests to answer their questions, and for providing an opportunity to build on collaboration and team work. I came into the new year wanting to give the kids jobs in their groups and to allow them the opportunity to practice their roles. I put out a bunch of the investigations and related information cards and each group of kids were able to choose their interest. The kids loved the freedom and their feedback on how they tested and what they learned was inspiring. Now, many kids want the opportunity to try a new station again! Thank you for helping my students to be collaborators, questioners, testers, and problem solvers!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by Nevada Department of Education.Fun Friday - Academic and Fun
Funded Feb 6, 2022Thank you very much for helping the kids to enjoy coming to school more and for providing them with a variety of activities so that they could grow academically, emotionally, and socially.
Each Fun Friday, kids had the opportunity to use their new games and to have fun after a long week of hard work. It was beautiful to see the kids playing kindly together and to work out strategies to be successful in their games. Kids enjoyed playing the games as intended and started to come up with their own, imaginative ways to play the games as well.
Many of the domino games enticed the kids to stay on track during independent reading time and small group math time. It also helped them to build their reading and math fluency. After playing the games for a month, the kids begged to do math races against each other and other classes!
Thank you for helping to make our classroom an effective, fun environment where the kids wanted to be!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 3 other donors.Let the Readers Read!
Funded Sep 24, 2021It is with much gratitude and appreciation, that my first grade students and I say, "thank you, thank you, and thank you again" for helping to build our classroom library. Your donations gave the kids the opportunity to have an abundance of fiction, non-fiction, and chapters books to dive into during independent reading time. Each kid grew abundantly in their reading levels and more importantly started on their journey of loving books in order to become lifelong readers and explorers.
The kids spent at least 20 to 30 minutes daily simply enjoying books. Sometimes, I'd have to put a timer on because some kids were so enthralled by the idea of so many choices that they would want to read the back of 50 books before they could find one that was just right for them!
Thank you so much for your donations, for improving our classroom library, and for helping to provide these kids with a stronger future full of books!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.Lego Club!
Funded Jan 11, 2022From the bottom of our hearts, my first grade kiddos and I thank you for your generous donations that provided Lego bricks galore to the kids!
The kids were beyond excited when they saw box after box of Lego bricks be delivered to the classroom. During Fun Friday time, kids built homes, swimming pools, phones, helicopters, dinosaurs, and even a castle. Their creativity was inspiring, so I was inspired to allow the Lego bricks to be used academically too. To link in science, kids created both parents and "realistic" baby animals to represent how the babies had some similar and some different traits from the parents.
Next school year, I am looking to expand on teamwork and engineering skills by finding more ways to tie in academics, engineering, and Lego bricks. For example, in science, students will be challenged to work in teams to build boats that can stay afloat in the water. During a fairy tale unit, teams will be challenged to build an epic fantasy land out of Lego bricks. Stories like The Three Little Pigs will provide a challenge for the kids to be imaginative and hardworking in order to attempt to build a house that can withstand the Big Bad Wolf and his huffing and puffing. While learning about food groups, students will be challenged to build a Lego brick meals that follows nutritional guideline and meets food group requirements.
Thank you so much for helping these kids and future students to recognize that learning can be enjoyable and fun!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 5 other donors.Flexible Seating and Learning Through High-Engagement, Fun Activities
Funded Oct 10, 2021From the bottom of our hearts, my first grade kiddos and I thank you for your generous donations and gifts that have encouraged these amazing kids to continue to learn, read, explore, build relationships, and have fun at school.
The kids were beyond excited to receive a parachute, multiple flexible seating options (chairs and cushions), a microscope, games, books, easels, and building materials (to name just a few). Five kids started jumping up and down when they saw the chairs and cushions and one kid stated, "Oh man.....I can't wait to get to Reading Trailblazer time today! I'm going to use that cool, blue chair definitely!" The flexible seating options have changed our reading time. The kids are much quicker about choosing a book and getting right to reading, and it's because they want the chairs and cushions to use! Equally important, they have learned how to share. Originally, I picked a few kids a day to use the seats. After a month, two friends came up and asked if they could have 2 days to use the Flex-Space Balance Ball Seat. They explained that they would both sit on it together both days, so that they could read with a friend and so they could get more turns. I couldn't argue because it was a great idea and it started a positive trend in the classroom!
We have used the parachute to build teamwork, social-skills, and math skills. We work on math and reading fluency using the parachute. Each kid gets a number and I will call out an addition or subtraction problem. Whomever has the number that equals the sum, difference, or missing number, gets to run under the parachute to the other side! We also work on phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling using the parachute using the same concept! Now the kids always want to go outside and parachute versus having a race inside!
Thank you so much for helping these kids and future students to recognize that learning can be enjoyable and fun!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Martin