Past projects 3
Playful Pathways: Essential Learning Toys for Special Needs Preschoolers
Funded Oct 5, 2024The new toys donated to my classroom have had an incredible impact on my students, especially those with autism. These toys have created an exciting, engaging environment that has significantly increased the students' eagerness to come to school. For children with autism, routines can sometimes feel monotonous or overwhelming, but the introduction of these new toys has sparked their curiosity and enthusiasm. The toys offer sensory experiences and interactive play that help them feel more comfortable and motivated to engage with their peers and teachers. Not only do the toys encourage independent play, but they also provide opportunities for social interactions. Students who were once hesitant to communicate are now initiating conversations, playing collaboratively, and sharing ideas with each other, fostering a greater sense of community and connection within the classroom.
Beyond social engagement, these toys are helping my students with school readiness by motivating them to participate in classroom activities. The excitement of having new materials encourages them to follow directions, take turns, and adhere to classroom expectations in ways that were previously challenging. As they engage with the toys, many students are also demonstrating impressive growth in language and cognitive skills. They are using more words, sharing knowledge about the alphabet, and expressing their understanding of various concepts. This increased communication is not only helping students articulate their thoughts more clearly, but it's also building their confidence. Overall, the donation has been a transformative addition to the classroom, providing both educational benefits and fostering an environment where students feel motivated, included, and ready to learn.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 6 other donors.Little Explorers: A Table for Fun and Learning
Funded Aug 13, 2024In our preschool classroom, the sensory table has become a wonderful tool for helping my students with autism develop various skills while having fun. As they explore different textures, colors, and materials, the children are not only engaging their senses but also learning important social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and playing together. For instance, when they work side by side with a peer, they learn to navigate the space and respect one another's personal boundaries. One child may reach for a scoop of rice, and another may offer a different tool or material, helping each other discover new ways to interact with the sensory items. The sensory table encourages cooperation in a natural and organic way, as the children share the available resources and communicate their preferences. Through these interactions, they are learning to problem-solve, negotiate, and practice patience, all while being fully immersed in the joy of sensory exploration.
The engagement and enthusiasm during sensory table activities were evident throughout our session. The children were visibly happy as they explored different textures, such as sand, water, and soft cotton balls, with wide smiles and eager expressions. Some children were so excited that they couldn't wait to scoop, pour, or mix the materials, while others found comfort in the repetitive motions of sorting or filling containers. Their faces lit up when they discovered new ways to interact with the materials, whether it was watching a scoop of water trickle through their fingers or feeling the cool, squishy sensation of rice between their hands. They were thoroughly engaged, and the energy in the room was filled with laughter and excitement. This level of involvement is crucial for building not only sensory awareness but also for fostering emotional connections with their peers. Our next step is to continue to build on these positive interactions, reinforcing social skills and encouraging even more opportunities for sharing and cooperative play. By offering consistent chances for sensory exploration, we can help them strengthen their abilities to engage with others, further practice social communication, and grow in their independence and confidence.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 7 other donors.First Year Teacher
Funded Sep 25, 2023Thank you for donating to my class, all the items that we received have been very helpful. The students are really enjoying all the items and have been learning so much already. These items have been very helpful in the last 2 studies we have covered in our class. One of the studies we did was The Tree Study and the other was The Clothes Study. We created a lot of fun activities that the students found engaging. For example, during The Tree Study, we read the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. After reading the story, we created our own tree by using the alphabet stamps to stamp letter on our tree just like the one in the story. I posted they work around the room, and every time they saw it they were able to make a connection from the story to the work they created.
These items continue to be helpful in my class, as they have been helping with other skills. For example, one of the standards for preschool is to make patterns. The linking cubes that were donated have been extremely helpful in their mathematics development. The reason I love the linking cubes to create patterns is because it also helps them develop their fine motor skills by taking them apart and putting them together. Thank you once again for your contribution to my classroom and my students, we are beyond grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
This classroom project was brought to life by Bezos Family Foundation and 13 other donors.