Past projects 7
Help Students Recognize Their Native Languages as Resources, Not Hindrances
Funded Mar 17, 2024As a result of your generous donation, I was able to acquire resources to share with my students and colleagues. Last Spring, I presented to a group of administrators and explained the necessity of honoring and encouraging students to leverage their native languages and understand them as assets. I shared this information with my students as well. Too often, students are told to "speak English". It's true, that as educators we have a responsibility to prepare students for the world in which they live, but I can't think of any academic pursuit that is more critical than building self-esteem and self-worth. Helping students see themselves as the dynamic, brilliant bilingual beings that they are has to be the priority. Thank you for helping me spread that message.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Dalio Family and one other donor.Sticking With It: Stickers to Encourage Multilingual Writers
Funded Feb 28, 2024I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for your understanding of the profound impact encouragement can have on students. Your generous donation has made a remarkable difference in our learning environment, and I cannot thank you enough.
Here's how your contribution has made a difference:
The students love the stickers you've enabled me to provide. They adorn their notebooks, hands, clothes, and personal items with them, and eagerly anticipate the arrival of new sticker varieties.
I use the stickers not only as a reward for completing our sessions but also as a tool to encourage students to begin their work. As soon as they start writing, even just a few words, they are rewarded. This simple act has made a significant impact, as it helps students overcome the initial hurdle of starting their work and motivates their peers to do the same.
Your contribution has made a huge impact and I cannot emphasize enough how much it means to us. Thank you for this wonderful gift and for your understanding of the power of positive reinforcement in education.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex and one other donor.Decorate for Diversity!
Funded Mar 22, 2024This morning I received a note (see photos) from two Muslim 4th graders who have been fasting since the start of Ramadan. They expressed profound gratitude for everything I did (only possible through donors like you) to help them celebrate Ramadan. They wrote, "You made us feel like we were not lonely celebrating." What better gift can a teacher receive than the gift of gratitude from her students?
I acknowledge Ramadan every year, but this year was quite different with the addition of books and decor. Your donation allowed us to decorate our space to reflect the joy of the season. Your donation gave us books about Ramadan, Eid, and Muslim culture, especially as it relates to children in American schools. The book, "What Color Is My Hijab?" was a favorite! I recorded the students reading informational texts on Ramadan and we shared the videos with our entire school community. So, it isn't just one group of students who have benefited, rather, our entire student population. The kids were so proud!
Your generosity did not just buy decor and books. It brought pride and esteem to student identities. Thank you so much for this impactful donation. You are truly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Dalio Family and one other donor.A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words--Twice That When You're Bilingual!
Funded Feb 4, 2024My students feel like celebrities! We take photos all the time and post them in my office, around the school, and rotate the pictures. Students get to take them home and share them with their families. They love seeing themselves around the school and feeling pride in the great work they've done.
Sometimes, students don't realize how hard they work. Seeing themselves from another perspective – the camera's point of view – they realize that they were so involved in their work they didn't even realize photos were being taken.
Other times, the camera has made students feel shy, sparking awesome conversations about those feelings as well as the idea of consent. If a student does not want their picture taken, it is crucial for them to articulate that, and for others to respect that wish. This has led to other conversations about consent and how we all have a right to stand up for ourselves.
It is great to take pictures of my students and celebrate the community we have developed, but it is even greater to see students advocate for themselves on the days they don't feel like being photographed. I'm so proud of these kiddos!
Thank you for this fabulous gift of important conversations as well as the memories of our special time together!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by Connecticut State Department of Education.Exploring Our Multicultural Identities
Funded Jan 23, 2024Thank you for helping me create a library of literature written by authors and featuring characters who represent the students I serve. When my Spanish-speaking students came across Spanish words in their books, they were delighted! When they saw illustrations of foods their abuelas make for them, they took on the role of experts, teaching the other students about their favorite foods.
When my Muslim students read about a girl who was the only one in her school wearing a hijab, they understood exactly how that character must have felt. The questions my non-Muslim students are raising are thoughtful and their Muslim peers, the experts on their own lives, are answering with pride.
My young scholars loved "The ABC's of Black History" and seeing their own skin tones revealed within the pages of a book dedicated to celebrating the awesomeness of several profoundly impactful Black individuals.
I knew these books would be a hit, but I never could have anticipated how deeply grateful my students would be to receive them, read them, and have opportunities to respond to them. Thank you for the incredible gift you've given us. These books will continue to bring joy and understanding for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
Multicultural Books to Inspire Multilingual Readers
Funded Oct 17, 2023My students are diverse and historically, they have not seen much of themselves in the pages of the books generally available in mainstream educational contexts. Your donation has put books into the hands of developing readers from a high-poverty community, where books are not always available. These books, however, that your hard-earned money has purchased, are extra special. These books portray characters who are relatable for my students. They share skin colors, countries of origin, favorite meals, and even names. My students identify with the characters in the pages of these books and their identities are validated.
These books helped us begin conversations around identity and led to an iceberg identity project where we spent time considering our own identities and then also compared and contrasted our experiences with the experiences of others. We asked how we are all similar and how we are all unique. It was an incredibly powerful project inspired by the books you funded. Thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Peterson Family and 2 other donors.Dialogue Journals (Notebooks) for Multilingual Learners
Funded Oct 9, 2023Gifts don't come often for my students who all live in a high-poverty community, so to watch the smiles emerge as I placed the boxes on the table was quite moving. My multilingual students were thrilled to open the boxes. As they pulled the notebooks out in stacks, I explained that there was one for each of them. Their excitement was not just about the notebooks, but what the notebooks represented: a place for their thoughts, their fears, and their dreams.
In each class session, after a brief introduction, groups discuss a particular topic or idea, and then they open their notebooks and put the pencil to paper. For a population of students who historically suffer from communication apprehension, especially with regard to writing, this low-pressure, pencil-to-paper practice is critical. I have seen so much progress in my students already.
Using notebooks rather than loose-leaf paper invites reflection. Students can flip through the pages and recognize their growth. This has increased their confidence as writers, which has led to higher levels of motivation to write. I cannot think of a more essential tool for students to have than their very own notebooks. Thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Simonson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bloomingdale's and one other donor.