Past projects 11
Essential Tools for Everyday Success
Funded Dec 3, 2024Thank you for helping us with basic supplies. The students have been so excited not to have to scrounge around for a spare pencil! Seriously, I think there is a pencil monster hiding in our room! The same goes for erasers. The erasers on the pencils themselves seem to wear out before long, leaving us with pencils, but no erasers! This is a great way to finish out the school year strong and make our biggest impact yet as learners. As a small, rural school with many students of need, this takes the burden off of both families and myself as a teacher.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.Organization is Key!
Funded Oct 17, 2024The new shelf and organizing bins for the classroom are so helpful! An organized, clean space does a lot for improving the learning environment and helping to motivate the students to BE organized and caring for our centers! It's harder to put things away when space is limited and materials don't fit easily in the spaces that are there. Now, it's so easy! There is definitely something about having an organized space to encourage organization.
I am so thankful for you, the people and groups, that are investing in our future! Please know that small steps lead to great things!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by Hawai'i State Dept. of Ed and Marc & Lynne Benioff.Focus Tools That Work!
Funded Oct 7, 2024I had previously ordered a set of six noise-reducing headphones to help our most inattentive students focus better when working independently, but after receiving them, the demand skyrocketed! I had underestimated how many students could benefit from using them. At school, we try to incorporate "Universal Design for Learning," which strives to optimize learning for ALL students. It is often said, that what helps some students with needs, benefits all students. And so it goes with these attention supports!
Needless to say, when they arrived, the students were excited since they wouldn't have to share. The impact has been superb and students use them when reading or working independently. It is satisfying as a teacher to see the students whip those headphones out and get to work while simultaneously not having to answer the constant question of whether another student can get to use a set of headphones!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
Focus Fundamentals
Funded Sep 18, 2024The noise-reducing headphones and weighted lap blanket are amazing! Although I had certain students in mind who would most-likely benefit from the materials, there was so much more demand for them!
One by one, students started asking if they could use the headphones, too! We were soon sharing pairs of headphones. Then our grade-level teachers started discussing how we'd be able to get more. In this fast-paced world we live in, it seems more and more students are facing attention problems, whether or not they are a neurodivergent learner.
Teaching was never like this before, and I'm glad that I can adapt to students' needs as they arise. Thanks for partnering with me to keep learning on track regardless of the challenges our students face!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and one other donor.Helping All Kinds of Learners
Funded Aug 2, 2024Thank you for your contribution to our classroom. The visual timers help keep distractible students on task. There is also a student who needs more movement breaks through the day, so this helps manage those times!
The biggest effect on the class was from the new rugs! They are just the right size for a student to comfortably lie down to read. When the students saw them, they were so excited! Now, when there's less exciting work to do, the students who typically lack motivation to complete them are buckling down in order to be able to read on the rug.
It's a "win" for diverse students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
Ready, Set, Organized!
Funded Apr 5, 2024The organizers for the classroom are so helpful! The students were a little quizzical about them, especially since it's only been partly stocked. (What can I say, it's the end of the school year!) However, they've enjoyed the new spot for our scissors, glue, and paper. Needless to say, it has inspired the students to be a little more responsible with putting things away. One student even took time to organize our markers (see the picture!). There is definitely something about having an organized space to encourage organization.
It is with deep gratitude that I acknowledge you, the people and groups, that are investing in our future! Please know that small steps lead to great things!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
Learning Through Games and Centers
Funded Feb 17, 2024One part of learning includes a great deal of practice. Educators know that practice shouldn't be worksheet upon worksheet. We use games to practice those key skills.
Students love it because it is fun. Teachers love it because students look forward to that practice and engage in social skill-building at the same time. We have a "centers" shelf that students can practice their math and problem-solving skills through the week.
With our new materials, I was able to replenish some of the worn game pieces, plus add in a few new games. Any new game is met with excitement (even if it is practicing some of the same skills!) because a new game means they might be using different strategies to "win" or that they have a renewed sense of competitiveness (for some).
Thanks for contributing small (and often, basic) supplies to support the less thrilling aspects of learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by Hawai'i State Department of Education."Books? Woohoo!" said Every Kid in Class
Funded Nov 17, 2023Teaching reading is a complex blend of science and art. I support a variety of levels of learners in my classes. There are structured lessons to build students' skills and lots of practice. I bring an enthusiasm for the joy of reading through teacher read-alouds and my own love of reading. BUT, I cannot make students love (or even like) reading. Yet, as an educator, I know that more time in reading makes for better readers.
This is where your donation really created sparks! Before I placed my order, I surveyed the students on what kinds of books they would like to include in our class library. Using that list, I ordered the books. Once they arrived, the students have been voraciously reading them. Even better, the more reluctant readers have "caught" the spark and been reading them, as well. They still complain when it's time to read, but they ALSO complain when having to put the books away! Many have discovered that wonderful feeling of getting lost in a good book and not wanting to put it down.
Thank you for helping me connect my students with engaging books!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by Hawai'i State Department of Education.Basics Make the Day
Funded Mar 4, 2023My students were familiar with Donors Choose projects because we had one fulfilled earlier this school year. So, when the supplies arrived, the thermometer immediately drew their attention while the new pencil sharpener did not.....until they started using it! Our old sharpener (may it rest in peace!) took about a full 30 seconds to sharpen a pencil and it wasn't always the best result. The new one: 5 seconds flat with a well-pointed tip!! We had a container of classroom colored pencils that went mostly unsharpened to mostly sharpened because one student just sharpened pencil after pencil in no time!
The additional Legos to our collection has allowed more students to enjoy that center, with less disagreements.
It doesn't seem like a lot, but those small things matter!!! We are so grateful to enjoy the small things in (classroom) life!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by Hawai'i State Department of Education.Helping Students to Help Each Other!
Funded Nov 29, 2022I was able to set-up our new furniture for flexible spaces over a school break. When the students returned, the new classroom arrangement could not be missed. The students were awed and excited. We moved all of their school materials into the storage center, so students would be less "tied" to their desks.
Since then, the students have normalized the use of the furniture. It is now a natural part of the classroom to grab a stool and join a group already working together. It is rewarding, as a teacher, to see students collaborate with and help each other with assignments and projects! Although I shouldn't have been surprised, some students used the stools to carve out their own quiet little study niche in unexpected areas!
With so much that doesn't work well in the current educational environment, it is touching that people care and donate to make learning better, one classroom at a time!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gusman
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 13 other donors.