Past projects 2
Best Buddies!
Funded Nov 9, 2022Words simply cannot thank you all enough for your contributions toward the Cynthia Rylant book collection in my room! Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite authors to use throughout the year. She highlights positive relationships between humans and our furry friends while also illustrating the craft of writing through voice, dialogue, sentence structure and humor! I have had such a limited number of titles in the past, that I hesitated to pull them out too much because I didn't want the children to tire of them! But since your delivery, not only have I been able to teach using them as anchor texts, but the children adore the books and have been thrilled to engage with them.
Highlighted in this letter is just one way in which we have used the books so far. We studied independent story retelling. The students read in pairs, then wrote about the major events in their story: beginning, middle and end. The great thing about this was that each "retell" that the students shared, inspired other students to want to read other titles. A big book swap ensued and children have not put the books down since! That was in January!
In their content writing, I have used these books to teach how to write dialogue. Students have had the books by their sides as they formulate their own fictional narratives using dialogue. Modeling with these books, I have highlighted using voice, tone and how to place quotation marks and punctuation marks. Their grasp of these skills has vastly improved with such a model!
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! You have given a gift that will have an impact in my room for many years to come...from September through June! Your generosity has been deeply felt!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hakala
This classroom project was brought to life by Seed to Read and 11 other donors.Hey, World! We Can't Hear You!
Funded Aug 10, 2022First of all, I want you to know that the greeting above seems very impersonal; sadly, I have no ability to change that! Please know that to me, in our classroom, you have been dubbed "Donor Dan!" I'd like to start this note with that in mind!
Dear Donor Dan,
Words cannot express the amount of gratitude I have held for you all fall! After teaching remotely, on and off, for the past two years, I had no more headphones for students to use. You see, I am an inclusion teacher for 2nd grade. During the day, I can have two other teachers in my room supporting ELL students and SPED students, while I am supporting others in small groups. While this is going on, students can rotate into their computer programs to support their Math or Reading skills. With so much going on, the added noise of three small groups can easily distract those students on the computers; and vice versa, small groups can be interrupted by computer noise (which is probably more enticing...I am sure!). With your donation, not only were the children allowed privacy to complete their virtual tasks, but we could teach without children losing focus from their small groups. The way this allowed my centers to work synchronously with their prescribed computer tasks has been flawless! As an added bonus, these aren't just any headphones! They are padded! They work extremely well, with added comfort! Not one child has complained!
Last year, I lost my class globe due to an accident in the room. It happens. But I know that a globe is essential to my classroom since our standards require geographical world knowledge. Also, much of our Reading, Science and Social Studies curriculum guides us into discussions where I pull the globe into my lap and review where in the world places are! Beyond that, and perhaps more importantly, I teach students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. One of their favorite things is seeing where they are now compared to where their family is from (or where they, themselves, are from). They LOVE maps and globes! We use them just to talk about ourselves all year long, even when we are not working on curriculum. It is their way to find their physical place here on Earth! Through your kindness we now have a larger, more colorful globe than I did in the past and the children adore it! So do I!
Finally, the last gift from you was a bit of a "perk!" I believe we had a cost differential and I had a balance to work with. I chose to request from you a subscription to Time For Kids! Oh my goodness! I have always wanted to get this; but it is not funded by the district and I couldn't always justify the cost. I am not sure I feel that way anymore! The children LOVE it when I have pulled these out. Last week, the topic was "Should students get the day off for mental health days?" That sparked quite a debate where I could incorporate speaking/listening, reading and writing skills ALL on opinions - making and defending one! It was quite the conversation! But I think the article that was most intriguing to them was earlier in October: Sharks on the Cape! This was so fun because at first it was fun, engaging reading. Then the globe came out. I think the geographical significance of this article hit a little close to home for some of them! They may never swim again (I say this in jest), but they have been exposed to the realities of existing ecosystems right here in our region! Priceless!
As I close, I want you to know that I told the children about this DonorsChoose project and about you - our anonymous DonorDan! I think it is important that they learn about the kindness of others. This was my first DonorsChoose project. I was (and am) enamored by the process and understanding from the platform, the teachers who are asking for a little help, and the community - the people who feel compelled to deliver. For this I am grateful. You inspired me to say to my husband, "When I retire - this is one way I give back for sure!" You made a difference. You sparked a fire. Hold onto that! There are hundreds of projects in our state; thousands in the country. You chose ours. I am so thankful.
Have a wonderful holiday season.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hakala