Mr. Andy's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 254

• Apart, but Playing Together Again!

  Funded Mar 16, 2021

  Thank you for helping us get the materials from "Apart, but Playing Together Again!" to our children. Being fully remote has been one of the most unique teaching situation I have ever been in. Connecting with 4 year olds who I have never met in person has been super challenging but it has worked out well because of your support. By getting the same materials to our students' homes, we are able to develop bond through what we have in common. Our kids are able to play with the same toys their peers have and make connections.

  The marble run is a fun and challenging toy that gets our kids into that STEM mindset. We meet together virtually to discuss what we notice about the pieces we have and we create together. We have the common goal of making the marble successfully run through the course we created.

  The Box Lox allows us to do what we've been doing all year, working with recyclable materials to create, make, and build. This adds new dimensions to our lessons. Thank you so much for supporting this project and our learners.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 9 other donors.

• Apart, but Playing Together

  Funded Dec 17, 2020

  Thank you all so much for supporting Apart, but Playing Together. I knew going into this school year that teaching my remote pre-K students was going to be a challenge. We were facing issues of inequities and access. During the school year, I made sure to create activities and lessons that used things that our kids did have available to them in their homes. A lot of the activities used recyclable materials.

  Thanks to a previous DonorsChoose.org project, our kids did have access to basic art supplies such as markers, crayons, scissors, glue, etc. But as we continued on with the school year, there was a social aspect to in person learning that was not being met in remote learning. I wanted to create small group meetings for our kids to interact with one another. For it to be successful, I also wanted them to bond and socialize over something they all had access to.

  Because of your support, that need was met. Our kids are able to play with the awesome stretchy sand. In our small group meets, they are able to see the cool things their friends made and connect with them. They are also able to play modified Jenga game apart but also together. These are the things that help make an unfortunate circumstance seem not so bad at all. Nothing will compare to in person learning. But we can try...and we're having fun! Thank you!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 2 other donors.

• Beyond Pretty Pink Dresses: Changing the Perception of Girls!

  Funded Sep 27, 2020

  I want to thank you again for supporting "Beyond Pretty Pink Dresses: Changing the Perception of Girls!" Of all the projects we've had funded, I strongly believe this is going to be the most impactful for our students, especially our girls. For the boys, it will help give them see the women in their lives in a new light.

  For our girls, the books we sent home are meant for them to be inspired by the trailblazers who came before them and help them become pioneers of their own. The building toys may be something new to them. Think about how our society and culture perceives girls. Walk down a toy aisle and you will notice right away if the toys are for boys or if they are for girls. The aisle that's decorated in pink and has lots of dolls are often meant to attract girls. How often would you see a building toy that will help develop a young engineer's mind?

  Gifts girls often get during the holidays or birthdays will be influenced by that same pink toy aisle. For some of our girls, the Makedo Kit and the straw connectors may possible be the first STEM toy they will receive, and hopefully it won't be the last. I want our families to see that their children are full of potential and can become anything they want to become. Thank you for helping us change the perception of girls and go beyond the pretty pink dresses.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by IF/THEN, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and 15 other donors.

• Home Grown Learning for City Kids

  Funded Sep 16, 2020

  Thank you so much for helping us plant the seed of education for our pre-k learners. The materials for "Home Grown Learning for City Kids" was originally intended for our kids from last school year when the city had been locked down and school buildings were closed. However, your donation and support has allowed the project to become just as impactful for our new students of this school year. Since our students are learning remotely, it is important for them to take care of themselves and the plant they are growing.

  When our students were in school, our classroom had a job chart that would see a change in responsibilities weekly. It allowed our kids to take their job seriously and help them become more responsible. For our kids learning remotely, the job of caring for the seed they planted is their responsibility. They must care for the seed and water them when needed. They are given the task of finding a nice sunny area in their home so their plant can grow and thrive..just like them!

  The past year has been filled with so much uncertainty. Although our kids are learning safely from home, they have had the most stability when it comes to learning and having a teacher they see daily. Thank you so much for allowing us to give the best education we can possibly offer during these tough times.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 14 other donors.

• Up to Us to Save the USPS!

  Funded Oct 23, 2020

  Thank you so much for supporting"Up to Us to Save the USPS!" Not only was this a way to support our classroom but also the United States Postal Service. In PreK, our kids learn about community workers, and one of the workers we discuss are mail carriers. This was a great way for our kids to see the mail system work. For many, it was their first time personally mailing out letters and receiving them.

  They know vaguely about mail and why their parents receive it. But how special is it now that they have received letters of their own through the USPS? Our preK students wrote a letter to their remote teacher, put it in an envelop and stamped it, and then went out to the mailbox to mail the letter.

  A few weeks later, they would receive a special letter addressed specifically to them containing a letter from their teacher and stickers! 2020 had lots of downs than it had ups. For kids learning remotely, it has been difficult to form connections and friendships but with "snail mail" it has been something for us to look forward to, especially around the time mail is delivered. Thank you again for your amazing support for our kids and this project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 7 other donors.

• Making It Click With Clixo: Part 2

  Funded Sep 30, 2020

  Thank you so much for helping our remote pre-K students by supporting "Making it Click with Clixo: Part 2!" The learning circumstances are not ideal but the parents feel safe with their children at home. I want to do my absolute best to give them the best experience possible. The toughest challenge is trying to create learning experiences that is consistent across all the homes. This is done by working with materials that all of our students have access to. At the start of the school year, we've been asking our families to collect loose parts and recyclable materials to use so every child can participate in the activities we assign.

  Thanks to your support, ALL of our kids now have access to this new and exciting toy that's surpassing expectations and is one of the coolest new toys in the market. Our kids have been showing off their cool creations when we meet virtually and they seem to be having so much fun. When we start meeting in smaller groups, our kids can connect on a social level by talking to each other about what they are making and share ideas with each other. Thank you so much for bringing some consistency across all the children we serve remotely!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and one other donor.

• Making it Click with Clixo!

  Funded Sep 9, 2020

  Thank you so much for helping our remote pre-K students by supporting "Making it Click with Clixo!" The learning circumstances are not ideal but the parents feel safe with their children at home. I want to do my absolute best to give them the best experience possible. The toughest challenge is trying to create learning experiences that is consistent across all the homes. This is done by working with materials that all of our students have access to. At the start of the school year, we've been asking our families to collect loose parts and recyclable materials to use so every child can participate in the activities we assign.

  Thanks to your support, ALL of our kids now have access to this new and exciting toy that's surpassing expectations and is one of the coolest new toys in the market. Our kids have been showing off their cool creations when we meet virtually and they seem to be having so much fun. When we start meeting in smaller groups, our kids can connect on a social level by talking to each other about what they are making and share ideas with each other. Thank you so much for bringing some consistency across all the children we serve remotely!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 2 other donors.

• Elephant and Piggie Biggie for the Remote Kiddies!

  Funded Oct 1, 2020

  Thank you all so much for supporting our project to bring Elephant and Piggie books to the homes of our remote learners. I wasn't sure how the year was going to turn out, especially with school closures constantly looming. My place is in the classroom teaching kids who are physically present. But being asked to teach remote students has been a blessing. Our kids are home and they are on live meets daily. They benefit from having a teacher they see on a consistent basis. We are able to establish rapport with 4 year olds through a screen and that is incredible. I have been able to read awesome children's books and they have fallen in love with the characters. Elephant and Piggie are one of our class favorites.

  Being able to get the Elephant and Piggie Biggie books to our kids has been so rewarding. Parents are sending videos and photos of their kids reading the books. They are so happy. Because of this, I am so happy. And I am so grateful for your support. Thank you for helping us create positivity during a time where it is truly needed.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 13 other donors.

• Clean and Cool Classroom!

  Funded Sep 17, 2020

  Thank you so much for supporting Clean and Cool Classroom! Before the school years started and was delayed and restarted, the safety conditions of our rooms were questionable at best. We weren't sure if our HVAC system was working properly and were were definitely sure our central air system wasn't functioning properly. The delay of the start of school was the right decision. However, even with the delayed start, many schools across the city were still not ready.

  I have never been one to wait around and depend on the system to do what they should be doing. No matter how I was going to start the year, whether blended or fully remote, I knew I was going into my classroom to teach and it needed to be safe. At times, the classroom temperature was only a few degrees lower than the outdoor temperature. This was during the last few days of summer. The air purifier with the cooling fan definitely helped relieve some of the heat.

  Thank you do very much for your support in helping me keep my classroom air purified and cool I will be posting photos of the work our students are able to do because their teacher is able to safely record and develop instructions in a safe environment. Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 4 other donors.

• Purified Air, Sanitized Toys: Learning During the New Norm

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  Thank you so much for supporting "Purified Air, Sanitized Toys: Learning During the New Norm." During the months, weeks, and days leading up to the start of the new school year, teachers across the city were deeply concerned on how the largest school system in the nation was going to open up schools safely. There were lots of unanswered questions and things that were seriously concerning.

  I have never been one to wait around and depend on the system to do what they should be doing. No matter how I was going to start the year, whether blended or fully remote, I knew I was going into my classroom to teach and it needed to be safe. Thanks to your support, I feel much safer in the classroom. Although there aren't any kids in the class, and they're all safely learning from home, the environment their teacher is in is safe. The air purifiers are working very well and creating a nice flow of air in a hot room. The UV light sanitizers haven't a lot of usage, but when they are used, it helps relieve any worries I may have of things being contaminated. Again. Thank you do very much for your support in helping me keep my classroom air purified and items sanitized. I will be posting photos of the work our students are able to do because their teacher is able to safely record and develop instructions in a safe environment. Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Andy

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.