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Mrs. McKenna's Classroom

  • Chase Elementary School
  • Chicago, IL
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Past projects 8

  • Working in Comfort

    Funded May 9, 2024

    We are so grateful for your donation to our classroom. The students love their new flexible seating areas. They were thrilled to open the packages and use the equipment right away! With the leave cushions and floor desks, they are now able to work individually or in groups where it is most comfortable for them.

    The staff and I in the classroom also greatly appreciate the new office chair provided by your donation. We now have a more comfortable and flexible chair with wheels. This allows us to move freely between tables/groups of students while working on assignments.

    We thank you so much for your generous donation!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

    This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 4 other donors.
  • What in the World?!

    Funded Jun 12, 2023

    It is with a grateful heart that we (my students and I) thank you so much for the beautiful geography-based materials! They have already been so supportive in helping my students. They have been able to play and manipulate puzzles and games as they learn! They can also use the large area map to support their learning of their place in the world!

    It is because of people like you that my students are able to learn and grow in such fun ways. I (we) thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity. It truly "means the world" to us!!!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

  • Make "Our" Space!

    Funded Dec 3, 2022

    It is with a grateful and humbled heart that my class and I thank you for your very kind and generous support. Because of you, we have been able to expand our maker space area in the classroom, allowing students to continue to explore, design, create, and tinker with the materials and enhance their learning. They were so excited when we opened the boxes and set up our new items (the mini space lab, microscope kit, human body model for kids, 3D pens and filament, National Geographic geodes, aqua dragons, crystal growing kit, how-to-draw books, the 3M solar system planetarium, terrarium, and origami kit). These items have made learning more exciting and hands-on! Thank you, again, for your support.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

  • Ink and Paper Need

    Funded Nov 15, 2022

    Our students have recently created a "Makerspace" area in our classroom. This area is filled with all kinds of materials to explore, create, tinker with, and simply to have fun with while learning! We had a printer, but no ink or paper! With the ink and paper you have helped to supply, students can now have access to printing independently in the classroom. They have been able to use it as an avenue to show their final projects in color, to have fun with 4D activities, and to help with daily learning activities across all content areas. We all truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your help and support!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Walt Disney Company and 2 other donors.
  • Maker Space Our Classroom!

    Funded Nov 13, 2022

    I am humbled by the generosity that you have shown towards my classroom and the students with which I work. Because of you, our students have been more engaged in their learning and because of the tools we've received in our maker space area, it has absolutely enhanced their creativity! Every day students get to tinker, explore, create, design, build, and test their creations. They have been able to create and edit videos, design cartoons, enhance their artistic skills through usage of clay, legos, crocheting, 3D pens, and so much more! You have helped to make learning more fun every day! We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and support!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

  • Learning in True Colors

    Funded Sep 1, 2020

    The laser printer I am now able to use for remote learning has been able to provide my students with learning opportunities that help them to gain more access to instruction. I am able print leveled readers and correlating learning activities to use with my doc cam. Students are able to better differentiate letter and sound patterns that we are working on as well has help with other academic areas such as concepts and vocabulary in math, science, and social sciences. It has been so helpful to be able to use during remote learning and I know will be a long term support for my students once back in the classroom. Thank you for your generosity in helping to support my students!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

    This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and 5 other donors.
  • 'Spring' Into Hands-on Science!

    Funded May 28, 2020

    Thank you for the fabulous at-home learning garden kits! Students were able to enhance their learning and demonstrate their thinking in such a fun hands-on way. Each student now has his or her own at-home garden growing produce such as green onions, carrots, and radishes! We are using these gardens for sequencing, observing plant growth, plant parts, and heathy eating options. While at school, students get to work in our learning garden. However, with remote learning and building closures, this wasn't possible this year...until you helped provide this opportunity for them right in their homes! When they received the kits, they were thrilled and wanted to get started right away! One student even said, "This is the best day ever!!!" What made this even more meaningful was how their family members became excited about this project, too, and all joined in to help out and make it a community activity (just like when we are at school)! Soon we will be able to harvest our produce and continue our lessons about healthy eating habits. We will also be incorporating a small recipe lesson (and following steps/sequencing). Thank you for providing such a fun remote learning project for my students!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.
  • 'Seating' Is Believing!

    Funded Oct 25, 2018

    The flexible seating furniture and work-space has been an incredible addition to our classroom environment. Students now have comfortable places to read, relax, focus, and work in spaces that they can choose for themselves. It has provided more ownership in their individual learning and their personal space. Students have been able to move flexibly around the room and work where they are comfortable. They are able to self-regulate when they need to focus or relax and what space helps provide that for them. There have been moments when students have become distracted by other students and request to move to the "living room" (as they call it) or to switch to a wobble stool to help them focus. My favorite moment is when a student said they never want to leave this classroom because it feels like a real home and that we are a real family.

    When the students first found out about the flexible seating furniture coming, as well as when they saw it, they literally were screaming, laughing, jumping, and grinning from ear to ear. They stated how lucky they were and couldn't believe it was in their classroom. They use all of the components every day and have really changed the atmosphere of this room.

    The next steps for these students is the incorporation of more social-emotional learning components added to our curriculum. I want to help these students to be self-aware, compassionate, and empathetic individuals. I also want them to develop strong self-worth and to look past some differences, but also to learn that some of these differences make us unique and special. My plan is to develop a lending library filled with books on these topics and especially relating to physical and intellectual disabilities along with emotional support. I am excited because our new 'living room' can also foster a comfortable and safe space to conduct these lessons. We are so grateful to all who have helped make this classroom what it is today!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. McKenna

    This classroom project was brought to life by Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation and 9 other donors.
The space in which you learn or work matters and that goes for both children and adults. I believe that flexible seating works and can provide a great benefit to my students and their learning. I believe that students should have some control over what environment helps them to learn best, and if that means choosing where to sit so they are most comfortable or focused, then I would love to provide that for them. An article provided by Psychology Today (2018) stated that "Studies consistently show that classroom design matters to how children engage, participate and ultimately stay involved in their learning experience." (Fernandes, Huang & Rinaldo, 2011; Gremmen, Van den Berg, Segers & Cillessen, 2016 and Marx, Fuhrer & Hartig, 1999). They added that Herman Miller did a study, which in 2008 revealed that “giving people some control over their surroundings adds to their sense of well-being.” I have students who are easily distracted, like to be closer to the board or further away because of noise levels (partially due to low vision or deafness), and also who are fidgety and hyperactive. Therefore, with the Flex-Space's Cozy Work Space and Wobble Chair Bundles, two Comfy Floor Seats and carpet, along with two large comfy pillows, I'm hoping to create an environment that caters to each individual and his or her needs to​ maximize learning.

About my class

The space in which you learn or work matters and that goes for both children and adults. I believe that flexible seating works and can provide a great benefit to my students and their learning. I believe that students should have some control over what environment helps them to learn best, and if that means choosing where to sit so they are most comfortable or focused, then I would love to provide that for them. An article provided by Psychology Today (2018) stated that "Studies consistently show that classroom design matters to how children engage, participate and ultimately stay involved in their learning experience." (Fernandes, Huang & Rinaldo, 2011; Gremmen, Van den Berg, Segers & Cillessen, 2016 and Marx, Fuhrer & Hartig, 1999). They added that Herman Miller did a study, which in 2008 revealed that “giving people some control over their surroundings adds to their sense of well-being.” I have students who are easily distracted, like to be closer to the board or further away because of noise levels (partially due to low vision or deafness), and also who are fidgety and hyperactive. Therefore, with the Flex-Space's Cozy Work Space and Wobble Chair Bundles, two Comfy Floor Seats and carpet, along with two large comfy pillows, I'm hoping to create an environment that caters to each individual and his or her needs to​ maximize learning.

About my class

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