Past projects 50
Ipads for Everyone - Part 2
Funded Dec 19, 2015This last week, 5th grade students used our new iPad to conduct research about composers and used an app. called Chatterpix to create reports that they then shared with younger students. This next week, my students will use their new iPad to explore melody and rhythm apps as part of musical centers. Having this iPad on hand has changed my classroom for the better and has increased student access to technology. By making technology a part of every day instead of something special, my students are growing accustomed to using technology as a tool to learn about music. Thank you for making this experience possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Ipads for Everyone - part 1
Funded Nov 6, 2015What a fantastic gift it is when students have what they need to succeed! Your donation has meant increased access to technology and interactive tools. Now that the IPads have arrived it is a wonderful experience for me as a teacher to plan lessons that I know my students will love because they involve the IPads. Now when my students ask me, What are we going to do today, I can say with confidence that our learning will be deeply integrated, and fully interactive. They love it! Now we have increased access to our online textbook and hundreds of Web 2.0 tools that previously were just nice to dream about. Thank you for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Drumming Around the World - Part 2
Funded Nov 6, 2015We are so excited about receiving our drums. This year our instructional theme in music is world music and these drums will enable my students to have a greater access to drums like the "real" musicians have. Your support will increase the amount of time my students actually have a drum in their hand rather than waiting on a turn on just a few drums. An increase in materials means that every moment of our class is more efficient and active. Thank you for your amazing and continued support of students who love music. We can't wait to use our drums!”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
World Maps to the Rescue!
Funded Nov 20, 2015Thank you so much for providing a word map and U.S. map for my music classroom. All music has an origin and it is so much fun to help students understand where the music we study on any given day originates from. Because we have this map, we can place any musical experience in a cultural context that was not readily available before. My students love studying the map and it has become one of the most popular features of my room. Thank you so much for investing in my students in this meaningful way! We love donorschoose.org and we love Chevron!”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Drumming Around The World - Part 1
Funded Oct 19, 2015Our drums arrived the day of our performance of world music and were immediately incorporated into the program. My students were so excited to get to show off their new tools for learning in a performance! Yesterday, my 2nd graders came to class asking about the drums. They were were the class I chose to write the thank-you notes and so they knew to expect them. They had a grand time exploring the sound they could make. We used our new drums to play along with the music of Tchaikovsky which is the composer we are studying this week. In the spring we have entire unit dedicated to the music of Africa and will use these new drums daily. Thank you for supporting my students in this way.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
An Easel for Artistry in the Music Classroom!
Funded Oct 5, 2015This easel has essentially remodeled my classroom into a space where I can be responsive to the instructional needs of my students. Our new classroom easel has places to store instructional materials that we use daily. Because it has wheels, I can take the learning to where my students are rather than interrupt them in mid-process to show them something they need to proceed. Now I simply wheel the easel to where the students are working, show them what they need and move on. This easel has also saved us valuable space as I have packed it full of all the things that used to sit on a rather large table. Our new easel will also play a major role in an upcoming performance. We are going to place the music we need on the easel and students on the stage will be able to view it with ease. Thank you so much for helping me meet the instructional needs of my students. Our students will be able to learn more and do more because of your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Xylophones
Funded Jul 17, 2015There is simply nothing better than having the right tool at the right time. Just before I wrote this letter I was able to pass out these new rainbow xylophones to my students for the first time. They were absolutely thrilled and enjoyed getting them out of the box and tearing off the plastic wrap. It was almost like Christmas morning in the music room. My students are engaged, active and interested in their learning all because there are enough quality instruments to go around. While I intended to use these instruments primarily with kindergarten students, I am able to use these wonderful instruments with all of my students K-5th grade. Thank you for supporting the learning in my classroom through your financial contribution to this project. We appreciate your help and support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Capturing the Music - One Experience At A Time
Funded Aug 21, 2015Thank you so much for supporting my classroom by providing consumable school supplies. My students are able to demonstrate what they are learning in music in a tangible way that they can take home with them. In almost every lesson since receiving these new supplies my students have used the materials provided through your generosity. From Mr. Sketch Markers to Wikki Stix your contribution to my classroom has been so helpful. My students are so excited each time I get to share a new supply with them. Thank you for providing a way for me to expand the learning of my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Black Light Re-Activity is Our Favorite Activity!
Funded May 25, 2015The black lights, slinkys and stands are in and now the anticipation begins. You see, our black light show is the last week of school and it much anticipated by every 5th grader in the school from August until May. On the day that my 5th graders wrote their thank you notes, we had the time to set up the lights and test them out with a variety of props including our new Slinky. To say that my students are excited is an understatement. Our new materials will ensure that this year's 5th graders and all of our future 5th graders will be able to participate in amazing shows that will each be better than the last. Thank you for helping us continue this fun and collaborative tradition.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden
Loud and Clear
Funded Feb 26, 2013WOW! I can be heard clearly all over my room. When my students are facing me and can read my lips AND when they are not facing me and can't read my lips, I can be head. My students can now hear me when I give instructions, even when we are playing xylophones or recorders. My students can hear me even if there is noise outside of our classroom that otherwise would drown out my voice. My voice makes it to the end of the week without failing, all because I have the support of a great microphone. I am not stuck teaching in only one area of the room because the microphone fits so nicely around my ears. It's perfect for our needs and has made a huge impact on student achievement in music.”
With gratitude,
Ms. McSpadden