Past projects 8
Necessary Necessities II
Funded May 9, 2019Thank you so much for all the items that supported the entire Kindergarten Class of 2018-19 and the current Dr. Harrington's Class of 2019-20. The Laminating supplies and organizational supplies were the biggest help. There were so many obstacles in the way of pulling off the Graduation but, the supplies you provided helped to turn everything around!! The new class that has grown to 21 is still benefitting from your awesomeness in a Donor's Choose box. The students are so thankful for all the personalized items that were made possible because of your donation! Our next steps are to look at even more student specific resources for our 21 new friends. Please accept my sincere thanks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Lovely Lesson Enhancers
Funded Jan 1, 2019Thank you so much for the wonderful supplies that allow my class to operate at an optimal level. The play doh is used daily in a center to help struggling readers work on their letters. That same play doh is combined with the stamps you provided to stamp out words and later numbers in math centers. The laminating allows us to be good stewards of the supplies and the centers can be used over and over. The children's eyes light up when we add glitter to our work. It makes everyone feel special. It makes the work that much more special. The students take pride in using the blue cover up folders, the use of the folders means that this is so important that Mrs. Harrington needs to know exactly what I know, "just me".
I explained that the items were on their way and the kids were so excited. We were waiting on live animals at the same time. I am sad to say that our animals did not arrive, so it was so special that our Donor's choose did come. You would have thought Santa himself was in the building. The centers came out first and I heard a student say, "We have to be so careful with those pieces." I am happy to report they have been so responsible. We talked about how special it is to be selected by a Donor and how we should value that honor. (We did finally get a second shipment of live animals.)
The next steps include the push through the last nine weeks to review and learn to be ready for first grade. We are so appreciative for all the help we have been granted to have everything at hand that we could think of. You have made such a difference this year to so many children. My room has housed additional students and because of your generosity it was never a burden. You made a true difference to this Kindergarten teacher and almost 60 Kindergartners. ( I could afford to share the love.)”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Kindergarten Necessities
Funded Aug 27, 2018Thank you so much for providing a clean and orderly environment. The children enjoy making sure the room is in a state that they can learn. We have breakfast and snack in the classroom so the wipes, paper towel and Kleenex are a true necessity that we would not have had if it were not for you. The lamination you provided makes the word wall scene in the background possible as well. The centers are also possible because of the lamination. The tissue is the biggest item we are heading into cold and flu season and some classrooms are running out. Your donation will see us through hard times.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Our Fifty States
Funded Mar 13, 2018Many of my students do not have the luxury of travel. Most of my students have not traveled outside of the state of Tennessee. The full collection of state books provide a chance to learn about other states. We have learned about our bordering states and what that means. There are so many interesting things and places that are highlighted in each book. I have also incorporated what it means to research a subject. How do I then organize that information? (We used a graphic organizer.) This is the end of first grade but it is so important.
In my classroom, reading looks like each child having choices at his or her reading level. The State Books are at a higher reading level. In order to reach all students some were able to partner with another student or an adult helped to answer questions.
Since students were able to choose the state they wanted, the excitement was so high! One student chose Mississippi because originally that is where she was born. Another student chose a state because she shared the name. Other students chose states because they had seen something on TV. All students were excited to take claim over something that was now theirs. Thank you so much for making this wonderful gift of learning possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Necessary Necessities
Funded Nov 1, 2017The students are using these resources for daily centers and instruction. We start the morning using the large post it note tablets for the morning message. Letters, sounds and sight words are also taught with the large post it notes. The highlighters are used in all subject areas. (The kids feel so grown up using the adult tools.) The lamination allows the kids to use the instructional materials over and over again. The kids use the dry erase markers to practice the skill they are working on in reading and math centers. The paper provided is useful for copies since the funds available for copies have been cut this year.
When the boxes came into the room the kids stood up and cheered. They immediately wanted to make thank you cards. I told them we needed to use the supplies as they were intended and then make the cards.
Our next steps, are continuing to grow in both math and reading. We will look into more reading and math centers. Technology may be a next step. Thank you for the wonderful gift of learning through these supplies. I could not do it without help. You provided that help!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Readers 4 Readers
Funded Sep 30, 2017Let me explain the extraordinary gift you have given. I teach in a school with an above average poverty level. What that means is there may not be as much written text in each child's home. Reading becomes more important at school because we are playing the catch up game. Each day my students sit at the reading table at least one time and in most cases three times with the help of other teachers (Reading Recovery and RTII). We have to meet each child where they are. That means each child needs a plethora of books that are engaging on their level. You provided a organized system with five copies of rich text on each child's level from A to P. A is Kindergarten and P would be end of third grade.
When children are given independent time to read, they need to have access to books that they can feel successful reading. The book boxes, stickers and books provide a clear place for the children to find books at their level. The students are so excited and eager to get to the next level to read the next set of books. Thank you for providing the source of their excitement.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Readers to Create Awesome Readers
Funded Dec 28, 2016Thank you so much for the wonderful books that you purchased. Each student has their own reading level. I use a research based test to determine the child's reading level. The levels range from beginning reader to above the first grade. The books purchased are used to teach the students reading strategies. We start with strategies such as find a word you know in the word, look at the beginning and ending letter sound, read the words around the word, and peel off the endings. Lessons are targeted to specific students who are struggling with a particular reading need.
The books you purchased are all the levels that are covered in first grade! The books are leveled so students can choose a book that interests them and it will be the correct level. Reading in my classroom looks different in different places. At my guided reading table it looks like me and up to six students, I listen to one at a time looking for patterns so I can teach that student a strategy that they can use to figure out the word. Independent reading can be at our circle tables or on the beautiful carpet with pillows that we also received from Donor's Choose, children are reading independently or with partners.
I also have a special class that comes into my room for an hour every day for Intervention. These students are below grade level in reading. I have taught the class all year long and I can see a shift in confidence when they saw the new books. The students having more choice makes a real difference and we have you to thank.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington
Motivational Morning Meeting
Funded Oct 12, 2016Thanks to the wonderful donation of the carpet and cushions; my students sit comfortably during meetings and lessons on the rug. The students were overjoyed when the carpet was brought in. So proud and honored to sit on the carpet. They developed a plan to keep it clean and new looking. The students told everyone in the building about their new beautiful carpet and cushions. I think they try harder now on lessons because they get to sit on the "beehive". During one of our first carpet times a student said that they felt like it was Christmas. Another class had a carpet but we were blessed with cushions as well. My students asked if we could invite the other class over for book buddies not to gloat but to let them sit on the cushions. I said wow!
The day everything arrived the kids helped unpack everything. Their eyes lit up to see how big the carpet was. The cushions were meticulously taken out of the bags and put in rainbow order, which turned into a ROY G. BIV lesson. The answer boards were taken out and used for math. I have had full participation with each use. The students just take more pride in what they do. They care to put each answer board back in the sleeve. I have a designated marker top checker so no marker dries out from carelessness.
The holidays are here and I must say many of my students call this classroom home. During Thanksgiving, I was surprised at how many listed the carpet as something they were thankful for. The carpet became a symbol of something of worth that the students had been given and now they were in charge of taking care of. I am happy to report that my class has taken it very seriously and are extremely grateful!!
In the classroom right now we are working on "Holidays Around the World". We spend a lot of time on the carpet listening and sharing. Thanks to you, all this is possible!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. McMurry-Harrington