Past projects 129
Extreme Classroom Library Makeover! Part 3
Funded Jun 24, 2011Thank you so very much for your donation of bins to our classroom library! Prior to receiving these bins, our library books had to be displayed spine out, and the library looked far less appealing. Now, with durable, clear bins, my students can easily see the covers of the books in our library. Books are no longer squeezed into too-small baskets, and the library is far easier for my young readers to navigate. As you can see from the pictures, going to the classroom library is a coveted time in the school day!
Your generosity has inspired a greater love of reading in my students. Thank you again for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Chicago White Sox Charities and 2 other donors.Emergent Readers Need a Leveled Lending Library
Funded Aug 19, 2011I cannot adequately express my thanks for your generous contribution of leveled books to our classroom library. When my students helped me open the boxes of books, they were surprised, delighted, and in awe of the reading possibilities that lay ahead of them.
One of my most reluctant readers, a boy who loves anything and everything about trains, saw a book about trains and lit right up, begging to read it right away. With the variety of books you've provided to my students, even my most struggling readers have books that are not only of high interest, but that are also at an appropriate reading level. The success my students have felt as a result of reading these leveled books has been incredibly empowering, and every one of my first graders looks forward to exchanging their books and checking out new books that are "just right" for them.
Thank you for fostering a love of reading among my young students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
Extreme Classroom Library Makeover!
Funded May 10, 2011Thank you so much for your generosity! My students were so excited for the "renovation" of our classroom library.
Checking out books can be a difficult process for students, especially emergent or reluctant readers. However, having large, clear book bins that display the entire cover of our books has helped my students to be able to shop for books quickly and easily. Students can easily see what books are in each bin, and because our bins are larger now, it is easier to flip through books in the back of each bin.
I hope the photos I have uploaded give you a peek into our classroom library and show you the enthusiasm my students now have for checking out books each week. My 30 first graders and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Chicago White Sox Charities and 5 other donors.Help Liven Up Our Classroom Library!
Funded Mar 24, 2011Thank you so much for your incredible donation of new bookcases and book bins to our classroom! My students love having the opportunity to check out books from our library, and with the materials you have donated, library time has become even more special.
The book bins you have donated replaced worn, broken baskets. Each bin has a clear front that makes book covers highly visible. Displaying books in these bins helps to showcase books and makes browsing for new titles easier. The new bookcases help store more books in a smaller space. Our library is now neat, well-organized, and easy for my students to use.
Thank you again for breathing new life into our classroom library and for supporting my young readers!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Experian and 7 other donors.Reading Rocks Our Socks Off!
Funded Apr 17, 2011Thank you for your amazing gift of word puzzles and games! Word Work is one of my students' favorite centers, but until recently, had sort of fizzled out due to having the same boring games. Now, students cannot WAIT to try out all of the different puzzles you've provided to our classroom!
My more emergent readers have been using the phonics puzzles and games to help boost their understanding of word beginnings and endings. These students LOVE the games that ask them to match real objects by varying criteria, like a small bottle of glue and a miniature shoe because they rhyme. All of my students have gone crazy for the vocabulary puzzles, especially the homophone set. Because all of these games and puzzles are self-checking, students feel even confident practicing critical reading skills independently, and I can individualize instruction with the wide variety of skills reinforced with this set of games.
Thank you for supporting reading for my young learners this year and for many years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Chicago White Sox Charities and 2 other donors.We Go Bananas for Bananagrams!
Funded Mar 16, 2011My students have absolutely fallen head over heels for Bananagrams! Since your donation of these games have arrived in our classroom, every student has been begging for more time to play. My students are enjoying exploring the different ways to play, and even my more reluctant readers and writers are confident and excited to try out new words.
Bananagrams have helped my students think outside the box while also practicing spelling. Students will come up to me, thrilled they've used a spelling word we're studying for one of their Bananagrams words. These seemingly simple games have provided my students with numerous opportunities to boost problem-solving skills and word attack strategies.
Thank you so much for helping my students become more excited to learn, spell, and think critically!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Chicago White Sox Charities and 2 other donors.Give Us Some (Storage) Space and Get First Graders Organized
Funded Mar 11, 2011I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation of organizers to our classroom! Prior to receiving these materials, my students kept their journals, folders, and other materials in large crates, which were constantly in disarray. Now, students keep their materials neat and organized. Gone are the days of not being able to find a math workbook or word study notebook - they are at my students' fingertips! Transitioning between activities is faster, leaving more time for learning.
It seems like a simple thing, but having an organizational system that works for my young students has afforded us time, opportunities to learn to care for our materials, and a clean, orderly classroom. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Chicago White Sox Charities and 5 other donors.Extra, Extra, Read All About It!
Funded Feb 28, 2011When we received the package of Time for Kids magazines this week, my students started cheering with excitement! Immediately, students were begging to read, study, and talk about their new magazines. Many of my students have few, if any, books of their own, so the prospect of owning numerous issues of a magazine is like a dream come true!
We have focused heavily on reading nonfiction this year - using nonfiction text features, determining what is important, and adding to our prior knowledge. These high-quality magazines will provide my students with valuable practice with these skills, while still being age-appropriate and opening the door to a world outside my students' neighborhood.
On behalf of my young readers, THANK YOU for your generosity! ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by TIME Magazine and 4 other donors.Let's Send First Graders to a Mo Willems Musical!
Funded Dec 31, 2010Thank you again for the amazing opportunity for our class to go to the "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" musical! My students have fallen in love with the Pigeon, and seeing the corresponding musical was a perfect chance for my students to not only enjoy live theater, but to make connections between the arts and the books we read in class.
For almost all of my students, this was the first time they had seen a live performance, and they were enthralled by the songs, acting, and props. Each time a different book began to be performed, 30 eager students started cheering, and they excitedly chimed in during the interactive portions of the musical.
One of my students summed it up for the class when he said, "This is the best day ever!" Your generosity, kindness, and commitment to education will be remembered by my students for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart
Viva Vocabulary!
Funded Sep 24, 2010My students and I sincerely thank you for your donation of vocabulary journals to our classroom! My young learners love to explore new words we encounter in our reading, and I truly believe this emphasis on vocabulary helps build my students' comprehension skills. Many of my students are English language learners, which makes understanding new vocabulary even more important to understanding texts.
Thanks to your donation, my students are excited to learn new words and to record them in their vocabulary journals. Each child has to think critically for ways to express the new word in different ways, and the picture clues portion for each word entry helps my students remember what the words mean.
Your generosity and support for our classroom is greatly appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Angie Stewart