Past projects 6
Sensory Superheros!
Funded Apr 25, 2024This year I have several students who have been diagnosed with ADHD and or Sensory Processing Disorder. Although my goal is to keep them engaged in lessons, sometimes they are physically and mentally unable to do so. The addition of the sensory materials so graciously donated have made a different impact in my whole classroom atmosphere.
With the materials provided I have a designated space in my classroom that is quiet, and it is filled with tons of things for little hands to touch which satisfies those sensory needs so much! It has definitely changed the dynamic of my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
This classroom project was brought to life by Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and 2 other donors.Let's Start With Art!
Funded Aug 13, 2023Our art supplies have made such an impact in our classroom! I think the absolute favorite is the fingerpaint which we have to do at least once a week! We smear paint all over the paper and write our numbers and letters which they completely love but don't realize they're actually strengthening writing skills!
We have made several art projects to hang in the hallway for fall and they love to see their work when they walk by! Theyve become so interested in creating, that we barely get done with one project before they are talking about the next one. My students don't have supplies like this at their homes so everything they are able to use is a brand new experience.
My favorite thing so far has been pinch pots we made from clay for Native American Day. All of my students are Native American so we learned how traditional pinch pots were made and how they were used. Then we made our own pinch pots and painted them. This lesson was very impactful for the students and their families.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
Make Learning Stick With STEM!
Funded May 29, 2023Schools started today and my students (pre-k from last year I also have in Kindergarten) were so excited to see the new board! I let them do magnets for a first day activity which they loved! Then we were able to do a flannel board story and the kids took turns putting the animals on the board as we read Brown Bear, Brown Bear. I wrote everyone's name on the board really big when they walked in the room and they were so tickled to see all the names of the whole class!
I am really appreciative and have so many things that I will be able to use as visuals to teach with that will help so many students retain the information presented!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and one other donor.Tiny Hands Need Big Play!
Funded Nov 5, 2022I want to take the time to thank you again for your generosity. My students were SO excited when the materials arrived! They couldn't wait to get all of the boxes open and check everything out! The stem toys not only helped their fine motor skills, but have helped give them incentive to work together to build and create what is only in their imaginations.
My main focus was to address the lack of hand strength so that the kids would be able to write better. The squeezy scissors are the first ones the kids reach for and it is absolutely making a difference! We have made the materials we received a part of our every day routine and I have seen a significant improvement in hand strength and writing! The kids are able to grip their pencils and write harder with less shaking. They are forming letters faster because they can grip the pencil better. I am very pleased and thankful to have tools to address such a specific need!
We are looking forward to spring where we will watch caterpillars grow into butterflies, collect ants for our ant farm and watch them dig tunnels as well as gather worms for our worm farm to observe how worms help the soil!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
Creating Connections Through Hands On Science and Math
Funded Aug 8, 2022I wish I could accurately describe the joy on the faces of my students when the boxes came! The interest these items have generated in math and science is phenominal.
Having so many hands on learning tools such as the ice cream scoops, my students can pretend play while they learn to count, make patterns and build fine motor skills!
We have used many of the items in real-life dramatic play such as our dinosaur museum, store, pumpkin patch and pet vet clinic. The cash register has given us a way to practice learning about money and counting with every 'purchase'. My students are having so much fun they don't realize they are learning necessary skills!
Our play center changes periodically and these items have not only enhanced learning skills, but have provided my students with many ways to gain necessary concepts. We are planning on epanding and adding to our dramatic play center because the kids have SO much fun learning math and literacy through exploration!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 5 other donors.Pawsitively Excited About Reading!
Funded Feb 7, 2022Our Reading With Ginger program made such impact on my students! Reading, for many early readers, can be a struggle and in turn learning to read becomes drudgery. But attitudes toward ALL subjects have changed SO much since Ginger the Therapy dog has started coming to listen to the kids read! They know they have to practice in order for Ginger to enjoy the story and they cannot wait to do just that. The addition of leveled books in our classroom has provided all of my littles so many choices and fun stories that match their abilities which has already begun to build confidence.
We use the words in the books we practice at the teacher table to blend sounds in order to be able to decode new and unfamiliar words. The boogie boards, and small group materials have sparked a new interest and given me the tools to make phonics skills something that my students are eager to practice. They want so badly to impress Ginger when she comes and they love showing her their new knowledge!
When this adventure began, I informed my students that in order to read to Ginger, they had to take their books home, practice their reading at home and at school, and complete assignments so there wouldn't be any reason for Ginger to get bored. While I have seen exciting improvements with the entire class, I have one particular student that I taught in Kindergarten and two years in second grade. He has never shown any interest in school in any subject. He has no support or encouragment from home so his education has been a battle. I've tried every motivation I can think of over the years but the interest has never been there. Since Ginger has started coming he is asking to take books home, asking to read to me, AND to his peers and other classes! He has come SO far in such a short time! I am completely overwhelmed at the changes this program has brought to our classroom! Thank you so much for providing the tools I needed to make these changes possible!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Frazier
This classroom project was brought to life by Oklahoma State Department of Education.