Mrs. Chamberlain Engel's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 283

• BrainPOP for Our Classroom

  Funded Aug 1, 2013

  Thank you so much for donating a year's subscription of BrainPop to our classroom. Students are really enjoying watching the videos in class. These mini-lesson videos are easy to understand and clearly explain grammar topics that could otherwise be difficult and boring. Even more engaging are the quizzes: Using whiteboards, students conference with their table groups and write a group answer choice. When time is up, they show their answers, allowing me to assess, review, and reteach as necessary. They love the competition and the chance to succeed in their quest for the ever-elusive homework pass!

  I really appreciate you providing this subscription to our classroom: BrainPop is a great resource that will help these 8th graders exceed all expectations this year!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

  This classroom project was brought to life by AKJ Books and 13 other donors.

• Unleash Curiosity With Ipads!

  Funded May 1, 2013

  Thank you so much for your donation! Because of your generosity, students can now connect to powerful learning technologies on our classroom's brand-new iPad! I can do so many things with this mini-computer: I can keep track of student behavior and award bonus points to students who are on task. I can also take attendance from anywhere in the classroom, so I never have to lose my focus.

  There are so many uses for this iPad: I spent the summer downloading learning apps and I am bursting with ideas about putting it to use in class. I am most excited to put Skitch, StickyStudy, BrainPop, and Popplet to work for us.

  All of my students are really excited about the chance to work on the iPad. Thank you so much for letting us experience some 21st century technology for a change!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Bonkers for Books!

  Funded Dec 29, 2012

  The box arrived today, and my students were once again amazed by the support we're getting from all of you. It's very heartening to have a visual reminder of your support sitting on the bookshelves of the classroom, just waiting for the day when we will open the covers for the first time, break the spines, and get lost in a new world. Our class library has grown from puny to prodigious!

  I am certain students will be engrossed by this tale of racial injustice during the Great Depression. Historical fiction is an excellent way to bridge the gap between literature and history, and I very much appreciate the opportunities you're providing our 7th graders to experience the not-so-distant past by reading an engaging narrative.

  Thanks again for your kindness and generosity!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Please Fuel Our School With New Library Books!

  Funded Oct 16, 2012

  Receiving the message that this grant was funded really made my day, week, month, and year! I am so thankful for your support of our classroom!

  My 7th grade students were very excited to see the enormous boxes begin to arrive. Everyone was impressed by the diversity and sheer number of books piled on our table. These young people love to read, and each student has identified a book they are looking forward to reading this school year.

  We are currently reading Johnny Tremain, which gives students the opportunity to explore the beginnings of the American Revolution. By reading high-quality historical fiction, students can engage with history and learn about daily life, individuals, and events in history that sometimes get glossed over with traditional textbook learning.

  Thank you again for giving our students the opportunity to explore new worlds through literature.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Table Time

  Funded May 16, 2012

  Thank you so much for supporting our outstanding middle-school students! Words can't express how much this generous donation of new tables means to all of us.

  We have used the tables on a daily basis since receiving them last month. They are a highly prized place for students to work cooperatively on group projects. Because of these tables, I have also had enough private space to meet with students for writers' conferences and small group reteaching.

  Thank you again for supporting our students and ensuring they have the resources they need. Your support is truly appreciated!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Going Global

  Funded Dec 19, 2011

  Thank you so much for your kind support of my classroom. The history resources you provided have been a wonderful resource all year. The students really enjoyed the Reader's Theater skits--they had a lot of fun making props and costumes and working on the staging. They were even inspired to create their own Middle Ages history skits based on primary source documents.

  The students peruse the map and globe every day. Students often spend time finding different locations. We have used the card stock to create a variety of tri-fold research projects on the Middle Ages, Japan, and the Renaissance. They really enjoyed creating these brochures, and it was a great way for them to synthesize their understanding of these topics.

  This was my first year of teaching World History, and these resources were instrumental in helping me add engaging projects and activities to the history curriculum. Thank you again for your generosity!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Hero's Journey: Percy Jackson

  Funded Oct 17, 2011

  Thank you again for your generous donation of "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan to my 7th grade classroom. The story is very fast-paced and action-oriented, perfect for engaging this energetic group of 12 and 13 years olds.

  Students enjoyed researching Greek and Roman mythology. They created group posters about mythological figures and presented them in class. Each student also created their own demigods and rewrote the story from their demigod's point of view. For their final project, they created short skits that dramatized the story or expanded it to include their demigods. It was great to see the students enjoy reading and using their imaginations.

  Thank you again for supporting local schools during this unfortunate era of layoffs, program cuts, and reduced funding. I truly appreciate your help in bringing engaging new resources to our Title I school.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

• Sharp Pencils, Sharp Colors

  Funded Aug 25, 2011

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. It took us a while to get it hooked up, but the printer works great! The students have really enjoyed adding photos and illustrations to their projects. There's nothing like bright colors to add a pop of visual interest. The color printer is a great way to get students enthusiastic about creating group projects and presentations.

  I would also like to thank you for the electric pencil sharpener. It's so nice to have a quality sharpener. Gone are the days when students had to huddle over the trashcan, twisting their pencils away and trying to get a sharp enough point to write with. This sharpener is quiet, quick, effective, and so much more efficient.

  Again, thank you for supporting our classroom!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

  This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and one other donor.

• Please Save My Voice!

  Funded May 8, 2011

  Thank you so much for your kind and generous support of our classroom. The voice amplifier not only helps me be heard in my large middle school classes, but also will help students be heard when they are making presentations and sharing their writing. Oftentimes, the students are too shy at this age to speak up loudly enough to be heard. Now, their voices will be projected into the far corners of the room so everyone can hear them -- even when our air conditioner is on!

  It really means a lot to me as well as the students that there are people like you who support our efforts. Students in this high poverty area have many challenges, but finding amazing support from you brings them one step closer to achieving their dreams.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel

  This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and 11 other donors.

• Game On!

  Funded Dec 15, 2010

  Thank you so much for your generous grant to our classroom. Students have been enjoying playing the games you donated for the past few months. Since the ELD class lasts for three hours, they get fatigued by the end of the day. These games let them practice their English, expand their vocabulary, and have fun when their energy is sagging in the late afternoon.

  I have achieved the expected results: Students feel more comfortable speaking English when there is a relaxed, pressure-free, and fun atmosphere that these games help provide. Whether it's Apples to Apples, Charades, or Boggle, the kids really let go and have fun when they play. They're not as self-conscious about making mistakes, and they learn to interact with each other positively. These games also contribute to a positive climate in the classroom since we often have the opportunity to laugh uproariously with each other.

  These beginners are getting a lot of practice asking and answering questions, executing multi-step directions, and participating in social conversations with peers and adults. The only challenge I have experienced is telling the students we can't play the games until the end of the day. They would play them all day long if they could.

  I sincerely appreciate your efforts to support the students. Thank you for purchasing these games for our classroom. They really make a difference!

  ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Chamberlain Engel