Ms. Podesta's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 10

• Heat It Up

  Funded May 6, 2022

  Thank you so much for supporting my project. Your continued support throughout the school year has really paid off! We have five more school days left, and the scholars and I are going on our first field trips since the pandemic started. We are moving towards a more normal next year!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 7 other donors.

• Reading to Learn

  Funded Dec 22, 2021

  Thank you so much for your support of my scholars. I am so excited to share my own love of reading with my students. One of the greatest gifts that school has given me is a lifelong love of reading. Students who read in their free time have been shown to have higher reading comprehension, better test scores, and better engagement in their education. I chose a book by an author many of us remember from our own childhoods: Kate DiCamillo. I remember reading her books as a student myself, and I want to share that with my own students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Michael Jordan and The Jordan Brand and 2 other donors.

• Class Consumables

  Funded Dec 22, 2021

  A classroom without color might include a rigorous curriculum, but it certainly won't include joy. A classroom in which students are not allowed to express themselves might produce students who know multiplication, but it will not produce students that think critically or creatively. As an educator interested in teaching the whole child, things like markers, crayons, scissors and glue help me achieve that goal. Math should not only be taught in black and white, but should allow children to see the whole rainbow.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Michael Jordan and The Jordan Brand.

• Lamination Station

  Funded Dec 22, 2021

  Thank you so much for your support of my classroom. While a laminator might not seem like the most impactful academic gift, I use it many times a week. I might use it for decorations, but not always. I more often use it for math instruction. Any type of reference sheet I have for my students will get laminated. Students are able to reuse cheat sheets and discussion prompts and more once laminated. Additionally, laminated worksheets and games can be re-used by multiple students with dry-erase markers. They make perfect games for morning work, activity centers, and early finisher work. With this laminator, I have been able to increase both the joy and rigor in my classroom. My students particularly like the multiplication tic-tac-toe!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 11 other donors.

• Measuring Up

  Funded Nov 9, 2021

  Thank you so much for the metric measuring supplies. Often these concepts are difficult to grasp, as the students do not interact with metric units in their day-to-day lives. However, they understand something they can see and hold and feel. By having tangible examples of the units we are studying, students are able to grasp the concept. It is hard to understand that an orange is about 150g. However, when you are able to put an orange on a balance and demonstrate the concept, they master it much faster.

  Students are always so excited to see manipulatives out for a lesson, and this lesson was no exception. They were so excited to be able to explore something, rather that just read or work a problem about it. They had so much fun finding anything and everything to measure in metric units.

  Now we are tackling fractions at the end of the year. We are working hard and really getting the hang of it.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and one other donor.

• Sharpest Students in the School

  Funded Aug 27, 2021

  Putting a pencil to paper is still one of the most effective learning tools we have at our disposal. With all the technology and new tools available, not one has replaced a pencil for both learning retention and recall. Many of my students cannot afford pencils of their own. I have students who do not have pencils at home, or who have lost everything in Hurricane Ida. Providing these materials allows them to actually participate in class.

  Pencils are not the most glamourous thing in our classroom. They aren't flashy or new, but they are imperative for learning. Sometimes you just can't mess with a good thing.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 2 other donors.

• Chirp Chirp Cricut Cutter

  Funded Oct 5, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. A cricut cutter is a tool that can precisely cut may different materials, from vinyl to cardstock. I use my cricut for everything in my classroom, and it has become a tool on which I rely. I have used it for more strictly academic projects like place value charts. I have also used it for more fun projects, like our epic Halloween decorations.

  Students thrive in an environment in which they feel valued. One of my favorite projects we have done with the cricut is the wolf of the month. This student is a third grader who has gone above and beyond. They are recognized with a special shirt that we make for them. It means so much to the students who earn it.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by DonorsChoose Community Hurricane Ida Support and 4 other donors.

• Rolling Word Wall

  Funded Oct 30, 2021

  Third grade is the year students stop learning to read and transition to reading to learn. Our math curriculum is heavily invested in students ability to decode and solve word problems but does not provide enough support in teaching this skill. By having a rolling word wall, we can scaffold better word problem comprehension.

  We use our word wall everyday. The first thing students do when they enter my classroom is the problem of the day. It is a word problem aligned with the curriculum, but with a procedure to help them be the most successful they can be. Part of that procedure is identifying the "clue word" that indicates an operation. I have found my students becoming better readers and word solvers after implementing this word wall procedure.

  It seems such a simple thing, a white board. However, when used as a tool in the classroom it is invaluable. Thank you.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and one other donor.

• Sitting Pretty

  Funded Oct 4, 2021

  First, I want to thank you for the chairs. After the storm, several new students enrolled in my class, and I did not have enough chairs for every student. We were shuffling and sharing and doing small groups on the ground. I now have a spot for every student.

  My students are absolutely loving the alternative seating. They are constantly up and down on the balls, and the wiggle stool is helpful to my students. They are able to move without disruption.

  Children were not meant to be sitting perfectly still for seven hours a day, but unfortunately, that is what we are too often asking of them. Alternative seating provides a happy medium where healthy learning can take place.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by #TeachHealthy with Nature Made and 3 other donors.

• From Luddites to Learners

  Funded Sep 13, 2021

  Thank you so much for the tablets and headphones. Integrating technology into every classroom is even more important now, as the pandemic has changed the learning and working environment irrevocably. My students use programs to accelerate learning as well as remediate learning lost last year. Most of these programs provide videos and extra tools to help students who are stuck on a skill.

  Having a class set of headphones allows each student to work independently without disturbing their peers. With these headphones, I can have every student working on the appropriate level work while also pulling small groups or working one on one with other students. These headphones have allowed me to really personalize learning.

  We are in an increasingly difficult technological landscape. Children are given unfettered access to technology without the skills to navigate it. We try to teach our children media literacy, understanding what is an appropriate source, a credible website, and how to understand the technology they possess. With your help, I have been able to begin repairing my students' unhealthy relationship with phones and technology. They are incredible tools, but can be misused.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Podesta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Charles Schwab and 3 other donors.