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Ms. deCardenas' Classroom

  • Lowell High School
  • Lowell, MA
  • More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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We'll charge your card today and send Ms. deCardenas a DonorsChoose gift card she can use on her classroom projects. Starting next month, we'll charge your card and send her a DonorsChoose gift card on the 17th of every month.

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Make a donation Ms. deCardenas can use on her next classroom project.

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show projects from all time

Past projects 5

  • Biology & Forensics Supplies to Last a Year

    Funded Oct 18, 2024

    Because of your immense generosity, this year will have more opportunities for hands-on lab experiences and innovative teaching strategies. The kids have already been talking around school about how fun forensics is this year, and this funded project through Donors Choose enables me to keep providing these memorable learning experiences. Already several of the seniors have decided to pursue this as a career path!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. deCardenas

  • Braiding Sweetgrass Reading Opportunity in Biology

    Funded Sep 20, 2023

    I apologize for the late update. Circumstances beyond my control pulled me off my school-work routine and I wanted to express my gratitude now for having funded this earlier in the school year. The class set of books has been remarkably inspiring for the students. We read a chapter at a time then discussed the topic being addressed and connected it to their life experiences and world view and current events.

    Some of the students asked to take the book home and read it again on their own and several students made connections that I'm sure will stay with them for life.

    The images and easy segmented reading makes this book approachable and the way this book bridges science, society, and personal perspectives into the stories is unparalleled.

    It's been wonderful. Thank you again.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. deCardenas

  • The Perfect Pairing Of Science & Hot Cocoa!

    Funded Sep 19, 2022

    The supplies used for the student tea & cocoa station has improved student behavior and focus in the classroom. Students have something to look forward to enjoying and I think that it helps students associate their time in biology class with the enjoyment of sipping a warm drink. (I also provide a toaster and bread for them as well)

    The lab equipment has been incredible in improving quality of their lab experience. The sparse supplies available were always difficult to put together and never enough to provide for all groups equally. Now we have done more than one lab using the glassware and a much enjoyed microscope lab, which I forgot to get photos of I apologize. Nothing brings me more joy than getting students out of desks and into a hands-on experience where they discover and find learning fun.

    Thank you tremendously for helping to make this class so successful!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. deCardenas

  • The Basics for Tomorrow's Biologists!

    Funded Sep 1, 2022

    The supplies used for the student tea & cocoa station has improved student behavior and focus in the classroom. Students have something to look forward to enjoying and I think that it helps students associate their time in biology class with the enjoyment of sipping a warm drink. (I also provide a toaster and bread for them as well)

    The lab equipment has been incredible in improving quality of their lab experience. The sparse supplies available were always difficult to put together and never enough to provide for all groups equally. Now we have done more than one lab using the glassware and a much enjoyed microscope lab, which I forgot to get photos of I apologize. Nothing brings me more joy than getting students out of desks and into a hands-on experience where they discover and find learning fun.

    Thank you tremendously for helping to make this class so successful!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. deCardenas

  • Real Science for the Next Generation!

    Funded Nov 5, 2021

    When I walked into this classroom at the start of November, things were in sad shape. The built in cabinets were haphazard and filled with tipped over shelves and literal trash and old binders and ripped text books. Dust everywhere. Junk piled on the front desk. I felt like Mary Poppins walking into the messy playroom, time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.

    I managed to clean and organize every shelf, designating a cabinet area to each class and buying all the kids who needed it a new binder for notes and handouts. The colored pencils and paper and other craft items are all available to students at any time. The electric kettle was a huge hit at the hot cocoa & tea station! Students constantly comment how it is now their favorite classroom to be in and I have frequent visitors who aren't even in my biology class but still pop in to enjoy the atmosphere.

    The posters were put in frames and the gives the class a sense of pride in their learning environment.

    The constant availability of hot cocoa lets them know they're appreciated. We have really created a great classroom culture and I couldn't have created this aesthetic without the generous donations from you.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. deCardenas

    This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 4 other donors.
Personally I love hands-on learning and having to reinvent the wheel for the distance learning during the pandemic wasn't my favorite career moment. Biology is typically the class everyone remembers as the fun (and sometimes weird or gross) lab class. High School is back to normal with the obvious precautions still in place, but most importantly, we can finally start enjoying science class again! I moved out of Florida shortly after the pandemic began and then co-taught a class online until recently. I have little to none of my classroom supplies and I have a 10 year old I am the sole provider for, so spending hundreds to make my new biology room what I think it should be will be difficult. I am all about atmosphere, creating an inviting space where students feel the organization of the space reflects their own organization skills in class. I want my students to walk into their new biology classroom with anticipation as well as a level of comfort because they're supported in their learning and I want the environment and the supplies available to reflect this. Our HS has all that old New England charm, my room has the original wood floors from the turn of the century and built in cabinets, but also has desks that are terrible for science rooms, needs a paint job (which I will be doing on my own dime), and has nothing at all for decoration. I have a big job ahead of me to make this into a space students love coming to. I teach honors and regular biology classes, and sometime in the future I am hoping to write for a grant and get my room some real science lab tables. For now, we just need the essentials and some added science flare!

About my class

Personally I love hands-on learning and having to reinvent the wheel for the distance learning during the pandemic wasn't my favorite career moment. Biology is typically the class everyone remembers as the fun (and sometimes weird or gross) lab class. High School is back to normal with the obvious precautions still in place, but most importantly, we can finally start enjoying science class again! I moved out of Florida shortly after the pandemic began and then co-taught a class online until recently. I have little to none of my classroom supplies and I have a 10 year old I am the sole provider for, so spending hundreds to make my new biology room what I think it should be will be difficult. I am all about atmosphere, creating an inviting space where students feel the organization of the space reflects their own organization skills in class. I want my students to walk into their new biology classroom with anticipation as well as a level of comfort because they're supported in their learning and I want the environment and the supplies available to reflect this. Our HS has all that old New England charm, my room has the original wood floors from the turn of the century and built in cabinets, but also has desks that are terrible for science rooms, needs a paint job (which I will be doing on my own dime), and has nothing at all for decoration. I have a big job ahead of me to make this into a space students love coming to. I teach honors and regular biology classes, and sometime in the future I am hoping to write for a grant and get my room some real science lab tables. For now, we just need the essentials and some added science flare!

About my class

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