Past projects 14
Fidgeting Our Way to Success
Funded Oct 30, 2022I first want to thank you for your generosity! The resources you played a part in providing have dramatically turned my students' behaviors around. The desk pets have been a hit and my kids have loved earning "food and activities" for their pet. The fidgets have been a life saver, not just for me, but for my students. They've learned to go from having explosive behaviors, to asking for a fidget when they are overwhelmed. Working in a mostly self-contained classroom has many challenges, but you've helped to eliminate some of those.
When I opened the box of all of our new items, my kids were beside themselves with excitement and they couldn't wait to get started in using them. I'm eternally grateful that you chose to donate to our room and can't thank you enough for all you've done for my kids.
I'm looking forward to using the magnetic nameplates to help my students stay organized. I'm planning to give each of them one where they can list any assignments they have to complete. That will allow them to see what they have due and mark it off as they go. The magnetic nameplates allow me to use any of our whiteboards for this. So, again, thank you greatly for improving the environment of our room and the learning of my kids.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Drop Everything and Read!
Funded Oct 19, 2021First, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! The impact you've made on my kids is indescribable. Students who previously "hated" to read picked out books within an hour of me opening the package! I've been able to help students learn to visualize as they read longer passages/novels through the use of these amazing adventure books. This is essential for my students, who tend to struggle with reading as it is, and will help them to be successful this year.
Since my students are in a tested grade level, it's hard to make reading as enjoyable as I'd like. These books have provided my students with some interesting books that have drawn them into a new world of adventure.
So far, I've seen some of my students relate to the characters in these books. As they continue to read, my students are able to find more and more things that they have in common with the main characters. Everyday that I bring mu container of books to the rooms I teach in, my kids get excited to read something new. They've even requested me to read aloud several times, which I love doing. Thank you for sparking a joy in my students that I hadn't seen before getting these books! I'm forever grateful of your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Aiming High and Staying Focused
Funded Jun 15, 2021First and foremost, I must thank you for your generosity! My students have been blessed by your kindness! The borders and positive affirmation statements have been crucial this year. Since moving up to Middle School, I've realized that my students need more support and encouragement than ever. They've made comments about how much they enjoy seeing the positive saying because it helps them remember they can do hard things! The fidgets have been incredibly helpful for the kids that are just returning to a classroom for the first time in over a year (if they were fully remote last year). They have used them to stay seated while getting their energy out.
The organizer/drawers have been the most helpful for me to stay organized. In Middle School, my caseload is much greater than it was in Elementary School and organization is imperative. It has been a life saver for me!
My students have thoroughly enjoyed having seeing and using all of the items purchased to keep their environment uplifting and supportive. Through the Social Emotional program we use and through the use of the items purchased, my students are set up to be as successful as possible. Thank you for helping to provide that for them. Most of them have had to endure things I didn't have to as a young kid. It's been powerful to watch them support one another and even direct one another to the positive supports we have around the room.
So, again, I want to say thank you! You've truly helped to change the lives of my students by empowering them to support one another.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
This classroom project was brought to life by UScellular and 3 other donors.Staying Calm and Meeting Goals
Funded Dec 29, 2020I want to thank you for helping to support me and my students. I'm so grateful for the new items that can be used in my room to help my students to be more successful with their math, reading, and sensory goals! Your support means more to them then I could ever explain. I plan on/have already begun using these resources with my kids and have seen some amazing things.
The Key and Lock math game has so far been one of the most exciting new games for my kids. One student in particular went from crying every time she's asked to do math or reading to laughing, jumping up and down, and even asking to show off her skills to our Assistant Principal. Our AP was so impressed with the turnaround, she asked what changed. I was able to show her all of the new resources we've been gifted through your generosity and she was very excited to see how this would help my students, as well. She even said, "Donors Choose is one of the best resources out there for teachers..." I couldn't agree more with her.
I know that every single one of the "games" that you helped provide will be a wonderful chance for my students to continue to make growth towards their goals and will provide them with a sense of accomplishment they may not normally get. Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart for providing my students with a chance to learn and grow through "hard work" made fun and exciting! You are truly changing the lives of all of the students who are being reached through your generosity! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Signing to Success! Giving a Voice to the Voiceless
Funded Oct 23, 2020I first want to say thank you! I truly am blessed by the donors that have selflessly given to each of my projects. This project in particular means a lot to me. As a Special Education teacher, I know the importance of making language available to all of my students. The Sign to Talk program has been successful in the past and will continue to help my kiddos gain a voice. One student in particular has an amazing personality, but struggles to verbalize his needs. Through the use of this program, he'll be able to better express himself and will be less frustrated because we'll be able to understand and communicate with him. This is such a blessing for him and his family.
My students were very excited when I introduced this program to them. Some of my kiddos are verbal, but even they were excited to learn the signs and be able to better communicate with their non-verbal peers. It has brought my kids together in a way I couldn't have guessed it would! You've brought the aspect of family into our classroom, even more so than it typically is, and for that I'm eternally grateful.
As a classroom, we are striving to give a voice to every child, and this is now more possible than ever, because of your generosity. We will get the chance to continue to pour language into one another and help each of my kids to understand their differences and to cherish one another for them. This project has brought acceptance and empathy into my kids lives that they may not have had before. Again, I can't say thank you enough for contributing and pouring into the lives of my kiddos! You've truly changed some of their perspectives and opened their eyes on how to become better people. (I know that sounds corny, but it's true)”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Manipulatives & Organization Come to Life With Technology!
Funded Sep 11, 2020First I want to thank you for your generosity. It has gone a long way to helping provide effective teaching in this crazy new world of education. I have been able to use the laminator, velcro dots, and storage boxes (from a previous project) to create task boxes. These are used to help my students show their understanding without constantly using worksheets. As an EC teacher, this is imperative for my kids. Worksheets can be overwhelming and instead of getting to see what they know, most of the time, we end up seeing behaviors because the kid is overwhelmed. My kids have loved using these task boxes to show their knowledge, instead!
The document camera has been utilized to help my students see the materials as I'm teaching online. I don't have to hold the packets up to the screen anymore. My kids are able to focus on the work we're doing using manipulatives or a whiteboard, instead of having to focus on me trying to manage all of the items at the same time. They've even commented on how much more still the image is and that they can focus more! That's been such a blessing for me and my kids! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me as I continue in this ever-changing field of teaching! It means more to me than you'll know.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Wobbling into Becoming Great Listeners!
Funded Feb 7, 2020I can't express how much it means to me that my projects continue to get funded. The materials that you're helping to provide have been able to bless my students more than you will ever know. The wobble chairs provided were purchased to help give my students a specified area to read in that was "their own space". Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use them with my kiddos last year, because of COVID-19, but I plan on using them when my students return completely to school (Hybrid learning plan right now).
The headphones are an amazing addition to my room and many teachers have commented on how much they wish they had "nice ones" like me. I always tell them about the generosity of people on Donors Choose. The new headphone were a huge need for my room because by the time the kids left (for quarantine), I had no working headphones for my computers and my school didn't have any they could provide for my classroom. These will allow the students to work on the computer and maintain their focus. I appreciate your support and love for my kiddos! May you be blessed in the future!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Social Distanced Learning in School!
Funded Aug 9, 2020I want to first say thank you! Thank you for caring about me and my students! I can't express how much it means to me that my projects continue to get funded. The materials that you're helping to provide have been able to bless my students more than you will ever know. The headset with noise canceling microphone provided has helped reduce the distractions for my students during my virtual lessons. It's also small enough that my in-person students aren't distracted by it while they are learning! It's been a huge help.
The strap adjusters and strap hooks have been very helpful for my students that have been wearing "adult" sized masks that are too big for their little faces. It's made it more comfortable for them to feel safe and allowed them time to focus on their learning instead of fidgeting with their masks.
The social distancing spots and storage boxes have been perfect for our efforts in social distancing and maintaining a safe environment. The spots have been placed six feet apart and the boxes are used to store each students' personal items (pencils, erasers, paperwork, etc.) Now that teaching looks different, I've had to adapt more as a teacher than ever. Thank you for helping me and my students in this transition and new way of learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Effectively Teaching From Home!
Funded May 6, 2020I want to first say thank you! Thank you for caring about me and my students! I can't express how much it means to me that my projects continue to get funded. The materials that you're helping to provide have been able to bless my students more than you will ever know. The computer stand provided has been able to help relieve my back during my virtual lessons. It's given my students a more straight on angle and has helped them to focus more, because they feel like I'm talking directly to them! It's been a huge help.
The chapter books have provided the perfect amount for our small group reading "clubs" for my student who attend school in-person. It's provided wonderful discussions within our room. The story "After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)" is an amazing book that I used to help teach students that we adapt through the changes that come into our lives (perfect for this pandemic and how learning looks now).
The magnetic maze has served as a great motivator. I have several kids that will focus for longer periods of time in order to earn some "Maze time". This project has helped with the flow of my room. Now that teaching looks different, I've had to adapt more as a teacher than ever. Thank you for helping me and my students in this transition and new way of learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
Book Clubs for Miss Taylor's Class
Funded Mar 2, 2020I want to thank you for pouring into the lives of my students! They are eternally blessed by your support. When I opened the box of books, their faces said it all, "Thank you!" is what I saw on many of their faces. These books will help me to reach all levels of students. I have some small group sets of books, but this group (they love to read) have run out of chapter book sets to read in small groups.
These chapter books are ones I've loved for years but didn't have the funding to purchase on my own. I will be able to push my higher level readers in ways I couldn't before. I've told my students the levels of these books, and they are so excited to read them and show that they are reading above grade level. It's given them a confidence I didn't expect. Your donation has blessed us as a class, and myself as a teacher wanting to help her students achieve more! I am grateful and so are my students! Please know that you are a part of their life forever and are helping to encourage their love of reading!
The impact that reading is having on my students is one that amazes me. I've challenged their vocabulary this year; they have met my challenges by finding words they didn't know, figuring out the meaning, and then using it in everyday conversations. I have specifically chosen these books to challenge their vocabulary even more, help them become more comfortable with "big" chapter books, and to help them work on visualizing as they read. With so much to read in each one, my students will be able to master that skill (Visualizing) and be able to show their understanding within our AR tests and their writing responses. Again, thank you so much for helping me kids develop their reading skills and better prepare them for third grade!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Taylor
This classroom project was brought to life by A group of anonymous donors and 3 other donors.