Ms. Samuelson's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 7

• Compassion and Wonder

  Funded Sep 15, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous donation. My class has been anticipating reading Wonder since the beginning of the year and we have had many discussions around the story. Although we have not been able to read it just yet as a class, we are already discussing messages and themes around the story.

  They are so excited to begin the story in two weeks and will have even more fun completing the novel study where they will work together to discuss how they can be compassionate towards one another.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

• Organized with Seat Sacks

  Funded Sep 6, 2023

  I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your thoughtful donation to our project. The Seat Sacks have been incredibly helpful with the organization of student work and materials. As fifth graders, my students have many materials that they use throughout the day. The Seats Sacks make it easier to have their materials on hand, which allow us to be more efficient with our lessons.

  Students have also wanted to be more organized which is incredibly helpful for fifth graders preparing for middle school. On behalf of my entire class, we thank you for your thoughtful donation.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 6 other donors.

• Creating Creative Artists

  Funded Aug 3, 2023

  Thank you so much for your contribution to our classroom. We could not have done it without you. Students absolutely love the art supplies and use them frequently. They have learned about a variety of mediums and are excited to be able to express their ideas and thoughts through art.

  One of the mediums that they are especially excited to use are the liquid watercolors. They have mentioned several times that they enjoy using the liquid watercolors rather than the ones the ones that come in a pack.

  We could not have done this without your support and I appreciate all you do.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.

• Learning With TPT

  Funded May 13, 2023

  Thank you so much for your generous donation! Our class absolutely loves our TPT gift cards and it has made such a difference with finding resources.

  My students are so excited to use the supplemental resources on a weekly basis, and it makes it very fun and engaging for students to have fun activities. Students will often help choose fun projects that we can do as a class, or use novel studies with our Core Lit books.

  We are so thankful to have gift cards to TeachersPayTeachers and could not have done it without generous donors like you! We appreciate it.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

• You've Got Mail

  Funded Oct 3, 2022

  Thank you so much for your generous donation! Our class absolutely loves our classroom mailbox and it has made such a difference with organization.

  My students are so excited to pick up their homework from their mailbox on a weekly basis, and it makes it very easy for students who were absent to know the work that they had missed. Checking their mailbox is their favorite thing to do at the end of each day and something they always look forward to.

  We are so thankful to have a classroom mailbox and could not have done it without generous donors like you! We appreciate it.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

• A HOLE Lot of Learning

  Funded Mar 2, 2022

  Thank you so much for your thoughtful contribution to our classroom. My students absolutely loved the story, Holes. My students were able to learn the valuable lesson of friendship. They were also able to learn about personal choices and how fate and destiny can impact one's life.

  Reading in the classroom varied. Most of the time, students would listen to the story through an audiobook, but did frequently love to read out loud with popcorn reading. Holes quickly became a favorite in the classroom and I am so grateful for supportive donors who were able to make this dream possible.

  We greatly appreciate it!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

• Instilling a Love for Literature and Wonder

  Funded Oct 13, 2021

  From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to thank you for your generous donation to our Instilling a World of Wonder project. This story has done more for my class than I could have ever imagined. This is the first time I have had one of my classes read the story Wonder and it has become a favorite. I am excited to teach this story for many years to come. The past two years have not only been extremely trying on teachers, but also on students. My class this year has gone through many traumatic experiences like losing parents to COVID, going through cancer treatments with siblings, experiencing family losses to other diseases, etc. Many have lost hope in life, and unfortunately, many stopped believing in themselves. On top of the trying experiences that most people only experience during adulthood, my students are learning, growing and just trying to be kids. As 5th grade students, they often worry about what others think of them. They try to fit in as best as they can as they do not want to stand out, or be different from others. This class is facing that challenge more than ever. We started the year with students coming back to school after being at home for a year and a half. This came with many changes and, of course, many behavior problems. My students needed a story to connect to and characters that they would be able to relate to. After numerous hours of researching which novel to read, I came across Wonder and thought this would be a perfect fit for my students.

  We started reading Wonder in November 2021. We listen to the story through and audio book. After the first week of reading, I could tell that this story would change their lives. My students quickly fell in love with the stories main character, August. He was different than others, but like them, was doing everything he could to fit in. August also faced many traumatic experiences, such as having 27 surgeries by the time he was 10 due to genetic abnormalities. For many of my students, they were able to connect to August and realize that their lives aren't as bad as others. They learned empathy. They learned to put themselves in someone's shoes, even if they have never experienced the situation themselves. Although they have never experienced what August has, they brought him under their wing, almost as if he was a student at our own school. Many of my students have mentioned being bullied in previous years. When the story's bully, Julian, was introduced, they were able to discuss their experiences with bullying and relate to one another. We had many social emotional learning moments, as well. They ultimately became closer as a class and are also more accepting of other students in the school. They don't feel the need to fit in anymore. I am so excited and grateful for being able to share this story with my class. A teacher's job is to help make an impact on students, but through this story, and with your help, they have also made an impact on me. I am forever grateful.

  Thank you,

  Kelly Samuelson”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Samuelson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bloomingdale's and 3 other donors.