Past projects 3
Sensory Space for Growth
Funded Oct 22, 2024I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to our special education preschool classroom. Thanks to your support, we now have an incredible sensory space that has already made a world of difference in our daily activities. The new materials and resources you provided, such as tactile toys, sensory bins, and calming visuals, have not only enhanced our classroom environment but also transformed the way our students engage with their learning. When the students first encountered the new sensory items, their excitement was palpable. Some eagerly explored the textures of the sensory bins, while others immediately began using the calming tools to self-regulate. It was a joy to see their faces light up as they discovered these new resources.
As we continue to integrate these materials into our lessons, they are becoming an essential part of our learning routines. For example, we've incorporated the sensory tools into our current classroom project on "Exploring the Senses," where the children are using the tactile items to engage in hands-on learning about textures and sensations. This project has already sparked their curiosity and provided new opportunities for them to express themselves in ways they hadn't before. The sensory space is helping them focus better, improve motor skills, and feel more comfortable as they learn. Looking ahead, we are excited to deepen their sensory exploration by introducing more complex activities that combine movement, sound, and touch to foster both social and emotional growth.
Thank you again for your thoughtful contribution. It's making an undeniable impact on our students' learning and development. We look forward to continuing this journey with the incredible resources you've helped provide!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gomez
This classroom project was brought to life by Hawai'i State Dept. of Ed and Marc & Lynne Benioff.Calming Corner Essentials
Funded Sep 25, 2024On behalf of my students and myself, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous donation to our preschool special education classroom. The resources you provided have made a tremendous impact, especially in creating a much-needed calming corner that is already transforming our students' daily experiences.
As you may know, many of the children in our classroom have sensory needs or are working on regulating their emotions and reactions to overwhelming situations. With your donation, we were able to purchase a variety of calming and sensory-rich materials, including soft seating, and soothing visuals. The calming corner was designed to give our students a safe and peaceful space where they can retreat to manage their emotions and refocus during challenging moments.
When the materials first arrived, there was an air of excitement and curiosity in the classroom. The students were immediately drawn to the colorful sensory objects and the soft, cozy seating.
The introduction of these new materials has truly been a game-changer for both the students and myself as their teacher. Having this dedicated space allows me to give the students the autonomy to regulate their emotions in a healthy way. Instead of needing to step in to calm a child down every time, I can now direct them to the calming corner, where they can engage in activities that help them self-soothe and build emotional regulation skills.
The next steps for our classroom project involve incorporating the calming corner into our daily routines and individualized education plans (IEPs). We are currently working on teaching the students to identify when they need a break and how to use the calming corner proactively. We plan to create visual cue cards that the students can use to express when they are feeling overstimulated or upset, allowing them to independently access the space when they need it.
Additionally, we are developing mini-lessons to introduce the concept of emotional regulation, using the materials in the calming corner as tools. These lessons will help our students understand their emotions and provide them with strategies to manage their feelings in a positive way. This is a crucial life skill for all children, but especially for our students, who often face greater challenges in this area.
We also hope to expand the calming corner by integrating more sensory-friendly lighting and interactive visual tools, such as LED sensory panels or projector lights. Your donation has laid the foundation for this vital space, and we are excited about the possibilities it has opened up for our classroom.
Thank you once again for your generosity and for making such a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gomez
Illuminating Learning: Bringing a light table to our preschool classroom.
Funded Sep 5, 2024I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to our classroom. Thanks to your kindness, we have received the light table we requested, and it has already made a significant impact on our students.
The light table is an incredible tool that fosters creativity and exploration. Our students are using it to engage in hands-on learning, exploring colors, shapes, and textures in ways that were previously not possible. It's been wonderful to see their excitement and curiosity grow each day as they interact with this new resource.
Your support is not only helping us provide enhanced learning opportunities but also creating a more engaging and inspiring environment for the children. We are deeply thankful for your commitment to education and for making a positive difference in our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gomez
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 3 other donors.