Past projects 3
Building Foundations: Social-Emotional Support and Alphabetic Needs for Kindergarten
Funded Oct 7, 2024On behalf of my kindergarten students and myself, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution to our project, Building Foundations: Social-Emotional Support and Alphabetic Needs for Kindergarten. Thanks to your support, we now have additional much needed resources to create an enriched learning environment that nurtures both the emotional and academic growth of our young learners.
Your donation has made an incredible difference in the following ways:
1. Social-Emotional Growth:
With your help, we were able to purchase calming tools and text that help students identify and express their feelings. These resources have been instrumental in fostering a positive classroom community, teaching empathy, and helping students learn to regulate their emotions in healthy ways. I am particularly fond of the impact of a weighted stuffy on a child with high levels of anxiety and/or adhd.
2. Alphabetic Support:
The materials you funded have provided our students with engaging hands-on tools to strengthen their literacy skills. These resources are invaluable in helping young learners build a strong foundation for reading and writing. They help beginning readers by focusing on a letter a day and objects in which they are able to identity and make real world connections.
3. Improved Learning Environment:
The physical space in our classroom has been transformed with new supplies, making it more conducive to both emotional well-being and academic success. The balance of activities focused on both social-emotional development and academic readiness ensures that each child feels supported, respected, and excited to learn.
With these resources, we will continue to focus on the development of strong emotional skills and literacy foundations. As the year progresses, we are confident that the skills our students are gaining will not only support their academic success but also help them become caring, empathetic individuals.
Thank you once again for believing in the potential of my students and supporting this vital project. Your generosity has helped us lay the foundation for a successful and fulfilling school year.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sutherland
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and 2 other donors.Empowering Young Readers: Science of Reading Toolkit for Kindergarten
Funded Oct 6, 2024I am beyond thrilled to share the impact your generous donation has had on our classroom and how it is helping my students grow in their reading skills. Thanks to you, we now have a multisensory, hands-on toolkit that is making a huge difference in the way my students approach reading. Your kindness has opened new doors for them to explore the world of letters, sounds, and words in an interactive, exciting way. As they say, "every day is fun."
The new resources have quickly become an integral part of our daily routines. One of the most valuable tools in the kit is the pop-it sound boxes. These pop-its allow my students to feel and manipulate the letter sounds as they work on building words. By using their hands, they are not only learning to recognize the individual sounds but also understanding how they fit together to form words. It's amazing to watch their faces light up as they piece together sounds to create something they can read!
Another exciting addition to our toolkit is the set of letter/sound boards. I used them during our lessons in multiple different ways with many of the manipulatives. The students use picture cards and have to sound out the word. Each sound has a corresponding color and students work to say the sounds and then write them. In addition, we make it hands on with pop-its or soft manipulatives. There are tools for each tactile need.
The excitement my students showed when they saw boxes, then got the opportunity to open the boxes, was so special to watch. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity, and their hands reached out eagerly to explore everything from the "tube-a-roos" to the squishy, textured manipulatives. They were so proud of the new tools they had, and you could see the sense of ownership they felt over their learning. They knew a special community of supporters brought their learning to life.
As for the next steps, we continue to build onto our phonics skills and these multisensory experiences. I've noticed that many of my students are now more confident in identifying sounds and beginning to blend them into simple words. I have even used these tools to present to other teachers about why this is so beneficial in small groups.
I am deeply grateful for your support, and I cannot express enough how much your donation has impacted my students' love of learning. These hands-on resources have made a world of difference, and the joy they bring to the classroom is priceless. Thank you for helping us take the next step on this learning journey. We can't wait to keep growing with your help!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sutherland
Building Math Foundations: The Power of Manipulatives
Funded Oct 28, 2024I can't express how grateful I am for your generosity in fully funding my project. Your support has truly touched my heart and will have a lasting impact on my students' lives.
With your help, we can create a learning environment where every child feels inspired and engaged. I can't wait to see how these resources will empower them to reach their full potential!
Thank you for believing in our students and for making a lasting difference in their education.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Sutherland