Past projects 51
Lazy Susans for Working Students
Funded Aug 17, 2017Thank you so much for your generous donation, once again! Initially, I was beyond excited when I saw that this project was funded. As teachers prepare to start the year we always think of small improvements that we can make that will help our classroom run better and this was certainly one of them.
These new table caddies are so durable. They spin which help students easily access the materials they need. The colors also help us as we can manage our classroom easily calling tables by colors. But perhaps the most exciting part of having these materials is the student enjoyment of them. They simply cannot get enough of these caddies. They constantly want to be touching and spinning the caddies and exploring how they work. What was thought of as a simple organizational tool because a lesson in design and engineering as well.
We hope to have these caddies for years to come. They do not stain or dirty easily, as many others do. They do not break easily, as others do. We simply love them and cannot thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 3 other donors.You Could Use Some Spell Check
Funded Nov 29, 2016In our classroom this year, and every year, we are frequently met with students with disabilities. Their deficits in phonemic awareness and decoding often leaves them with deficits in other areas such as reading and writing. These spell checkers not only are interactive and engaging allowing our students to be excited to write but they also help our students who struggle with spelling as they provide a solution for their challenges.
As students began using these, it was so exciting to see them interact with it. They quickly learned how to spell words they were always afraid to use in their writing. They also became excited to play language based games such as Hangman (uploaded onto the spell checkers) not realizing that they were learning as they were playing.
The class cannot wait to continue using these within their work improving their language skills as they go. We are excited about the success that our students will start to feel with these tools.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
Pedaling Faster, Stronger, and Smarter
Funded Aug 21, 2016Each year we receive students who have a difficult time sitting and focusing through an entire day worth of academics. In addition, their disabilities present challenges as they are extremely sensory in nature and need to constantly be interacting or fidgeting to occupy their senses. These pedals have helped in so many ways.
Originally, we intended for these to be an intervention for our students with attention deficit disorders and sensory concerns. As we received these items and time passed, we realized how much they would benefit all of our students. General education students were excited to use these pedals helping to keep them more focused within their work. Student work time became more productive as each day passed. In addition, students were excited to sit and read so long as they were pedaling.
Soon, this idea spread to other classrooms in the school and more teachers began investing time and money into receiving pedals for their own classrooms. It's exciting to see the impact it has had on our students and will continue to have for more students to come. We are so grateful for your dedication to our project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and 3 other donors.No Habla Ingles? No Problema!
Funded Aug 5, 2016As I contemplate writing this I am not even sure how to begin or where to start. The impact that this intervention program has had on some of my students is so incredibly profound. I went into this year knowing that a great deal of my students were reading below grade level and, as the year progressed, we received more students with similar and even greater disabilities. For once, my students are excited when they hear English/Language Arts.
Every day my students beg to use English in a Flash. When they have free time, they want more time to go on English in a Flash. They sit there, with their headphones in, focused, silent, and excited about learning. They complete their work every day and succeed on daily quizzes demonstrating just how much they are learning. Their reading levels are moving, slowly, but moving.
Words cannot fully capture how exciting this program is. Our students who are used to constantly failing feel successful at this work. The amount it has changed their academic language but also their attitudes towards learning is immeasurable. We cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
Planning for Success
Funded Aug 5, 2016Thank you so much for your donation to my hard-working students! Despite the fact that they work hard day in and day out to overcome obstacles and succeed in spite of them, they sometimes exhibit poor work habits.
With these planners, we are able to encourage our students to achieve more positive study habits. By fostering a sense of responsibility in our classroom, these children will hopefully become more accountable for their homework as they build awareness about the assignments that are due. It will allow them to keep track of important dates. Lastly, it will help build a relationship between home and school as parents know where to look in order to find the assignments that are due.
Students were beaming with excitement when they received their very own planners, and are still excited to use them every day. When they come in, we created a routine built around the use of these planners and every day the students love copying their assignments into their planners. We can't thank you enough for the responsibility you're helping us build in these young adults.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
iLearn with iPads
Funded Jan 20, 2016Thank you so much for your generosity and donations. Though you may not know my students, I cannot stress enough how much this project has meant to us.
The students at our school lack independence. Much of the work they are asked to complete demands the attention of the instructor in small group or one-on-one settings assisting them as they go. These iPads have allowed this type of instruction to take place. Every day students work in "stations" where they receive an opportunity to rotate from one activity to the next completing work as they go. One station consists of classroom iPads in which the students can use technology to help them grow as learners. We use it almost daily and I can promise you that, for many of them, it is the favorite part of their day. They always ask, "When can we do stations?"
This iPad has helped relieve the stress of us teachers also. We have another means for learning where students can receive individualized guidance and support without so many of the demands falling upon us. Because of your generosity, greater learning opportunities are taking place.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
Divide and Conquer!
Funded Dec 6, 2015Thank you so much to all of you incredible donors. While it is important to stress the importance of collaboration and teamwork, there is also an appropriate time to demonstrate the importance of independent work.
The resources you supplied us with have allowed for our kids to take a break from non-stop collaboration and take ownership over their own resources, work, and effort. The partitions are used daily to lessen distractions around the room while the seat sacks and dry erase supplies help the students work independently.
These resources have been invaluable and we are so thankful for your generosity today and every day.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.Planning for Success!
Funded Sep 4, 2015Thank you so much for your generous donation. Homework has always been such a task, however, it is imperative to bridge the connection between home and school.
This year, the planners that were purchased are very student friendly. The kids are excited to use them to record their homework every day. Parents use them regularly to check homework assignments and ensure students are completing their work. Some parents even use it as a way to communicate daily with us back and forth. So far this year, I've had more students completing their homework than ever before.
We are endlessly grateful for your generosity and thoughtfulness. You have helped our class and students succeed in so many ways!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
Sticks & Stones May Break Bones, Writing Words Won't Hurt Me
Funded Aug 11, 2015Thank you so much, once again, for these wonderful resources. Writing has always been a bit of a challenge in my classroom. Though it is a process and we stress that throughout the year, the students never seem to grasp it.
The folders have allowed my students to visually see and learn the steps in the writing process. Words cannot explain the excitement on their faces when they get to move their papers from one pocket to the next. The paper allows for them to see the difference between a draft and a published piece. Finally, the comb binding highlights exemplary work and makes them all strive to get good grades so that their pieces can be binded.
Writing has never been as much fun as it is this year. The tools that were donated to us have made it an exciting time of every day! Thank you again!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia
Why Trash It When You Can Cash It?
Funded Apr 6, 2015Thank you so much for your generosity and donations towards this project. Our school, and specifically, my class has done great work with Ms. Debby Lee and her organization in the past. We've ended up in many media outlets including the news, television documentaries, newspapers, and the Internet.
This year, we were able to do great work with her organization once again. We studied the issue of food waste, particularly in schools. We complete waste audits to find out just how much food, and in turn, money was being wasted every day. Then, we devised some invaluable suggestions to help lessen the waste.
Our students became very excited about and dedicated to the issue. They were happy to take an issue out of the cafeteria and classroom and start thinking about the bigger picture as it applies to the world and communities around us. Without your help, our students would not have had this wonderful real-world experience that truly makes learning fun.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DeGrazia