Past projects 3
What's the Last Good Story You Heard?
Funded Sep 15, 2019What an amazing gift you have given so many Powell students! Listening centers are now being used in PreK-2nd grade classrooms, giving students an opportunity to hear great stories regardless of their reading levels.
Sometimes a lack of technology hinders rich learning experiences. By contributing funds to this project, this is no longer our reality. We now have functioning headphones for each child in a listening center, as well as student-friendly audio players. Our scholars now have access to beautiful stories in both English and Spanish. A future project will even include family members' support in recording their own voices reading additional stories for students to hear in these listening centers. We're looking forward to treasuring this project for a long time. Your generosity is making such an impact! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Carmichael
Using Play to Build Our Social Interactive Skills
Funded Aug 16, 2018It has been a joy to introduce games to my students this year! They love playing together, teaching each other the rules, taking turns, and celebrating each other's victories. Students often choose to play the Bugs Tower, Chutes & Ladders, or Monkeying Around game -- board games that develop their patience, rule-following skills, and turn-taking. I have witnessed students who struggle to wait their turn excitedly encourage friends to have their turn. Kindergartners who are learning to be independent are reminding friends of rules of play and solving conflict simply by being encouraged to continue to play together.
When students helped open the box, they were overjoyed. Trains? Legos? Gone Fishing? Yes! The toys were immediately put to use, and rules of play were negotiated between friends and teachers using the materials. They've shown great pride in taking care of the materials and using them appropriately, knowing that they are new to us and can last all year and for years to come.
Knowing that students have grown to collaborate and play well together, excelling in taking turns and supporting each other, our future hopes and dreams for the classroom do not seem far off. We are currently exploring celebrating each other further by recognizing our similarities and differences, noticing what makes each of us unique. This includes what we look like, who is in our family, what we like to do, and where we are from. Thank for you building the foundation for this work by providing funds for games and toys for our classroom. Our community collaboration has only just begun!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Carmichael
K Observation & Creation!
Funded Apr 21, 2017Your generosity is so appreciated! As my students studied life cycles, they were able to watch a life cycle occur through its stages -- larva, chrysalis, and adult butterfly. Not only were they engaged in their learning in a hands-on way, but they also were brought immense joy in naming the butterflies, encouraging them to eat and fly, and setting them free in our neighborhood park. As we sat in a circle to release the butterflies, our students began naming "Rápido" for being the first out, "Sara" because it can be pronounced in English and Spanish, and "Last" for being the final butterfly to take flight. This exciting, spontaneous naming ceremony solidified the reason I do this work -- to support children in finding joy in learning.
When students watched the package arrive to class, they asked me, "Did you get a present?" "No," I responded, "We ALL got a present!" Shortly after began choice centers where we unveiled just what that present was -- A MARBLE RUN! Children were excited, describing the steps that we should use the new toy, how we can keep it safe for future classes, and how we can use it kindly with our classmates. The butterfly larva and net provided an opportunity for the same enthusiasm. Each day, children came to observe, talk with each other about the latest happenings with our larva and chrysalises. One morning, as three students observed anxiously awaiting the rupture of the chrysalis, we heard shouts of excitement. "It's happening! ¡Están saliendo de las crisálidas!"
While we set those butterflies free, we still continue to use the marble run as a collaborative engineering opportunity in both our classroom and the neighboring kinder classroom. An upcoming project that will surely allow for similar enthusiasm will be our community helpers unit where students will interact with workers around our own school and neighborhood community. Dressing up and showcasing their learning about different helpers will surely help students solidify their understanding of how different people support our community and why their work is so important.
Thank you for recognizing the need for finding joy in our learning, particularly in kindergarten. Playing and learning come hand in hand when donors (such as you!) identify and fund projects such as mine. ¡Mil gracias!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Carmichael