Ms. Thomas' Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 7

• Making Life Decisions

  Funded Aug 2, 2023

  In AVID, we explore options for our futures after high school. We want all students to be college-ready, and at Benson HS, many students also pursue pre-apprenticeship programs. The books purchased with this grant help juniors evaluate the different options and make informed decisions about their futures.

  One of the major lessons we've learned is that finding our college fit is about more than rankings or big-name schools. Frank Bruni's book, Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be, broke through the myths that rankings decide a student's future. Students had the opportunity to learn more about smaller, less well-known schools through the book Colleges that Make a Difference.

  The Self-Esteem workbook for Teens was also a great way to support students through one of their most difficult academic years. Students worked through this at their own pace. We are looking forward to reading Rising Troublemakers soon, as we prep for writing scholarship and college essays.

  Thank you for your investment in my students! We all appreciate your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 16 other donors.

• Narratives of Hope for the Future

  Funded Nov 5, 2021

  Thank you for your support of Benson students and the gift of choice reading books to inspire hope as students return to in-person learning. One of the best things about returning is the joy of reading together. For us, it's not about a silent room of students. That's just the beginning of our process. The true joy comes from the conversation between students as they share their thoughts and ideas. Each student brings their own background into these conversations as they think through the concepts the author brings forward.

  Part of our reason for choosing these titles was to find books that felt relevant to their future. For example, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, shows what would happen if the world doesn't respond to climate change appropriately, by imagining a future where non-Indigenous folks do not dream and are hunting Indigenous people to steal their bone marrow. This provides opportunities for students to explore the social science impacts of climate change, the experiences of Indigenous communities past, present, and future, as well as the genre of dystopian fiction. The story is grounded in the hope and strength that comes from creating a family/community when much of what you know has been taken away and fighting against oppression, which feels connected to their own experiences as teenagers.

  We are so thankful for your investment in our students. Fostering a love of reading stories is an important part of how we keep the joy alive in our classroom and we couldn't have done this without your gifts. We look forward to teaching the rest of the stories this year and in the future.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 9 other donors.

• Reading to Understand History and Our Present

  Funded Aug 25, 2020

  Thank you so much for the gift of diverse texts to support student learning. In Modern World History, our curriculum covers issues of global conflict, colonialism, revolutions, globalization, and climate change. The books you purchased provide a different way to explore these ideas through the use of stories.

  Students had the opportunity to see how governments around the world impact the main characters of their books. From Trevor Noah in South Africa to the Reyna Grande in Mexico and the U.S., the books provided an insight into the consequences of government policy. Fictional characters in Internment and The Patron Saint of Nothing showed the power of corrupt governments to impact teenagers who are fighting for truth and religious freedom. Each of these stories provides connections that go beyond a (virtual) classroom lesson and offered a more personal account of the impact of large and small policy decisions.

  Students identified with the characters described in these books, with one student commenting that they had never seen an author write in ways that truly captured the teenage experience. Thank you for supporting my dream of moving history lessons beyond a textbook into a relatable context for today's students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

• Building Strong Readers

  Funded Mar 2, 2020

  Thank you so much for your support of my classroom. As the books arrived just before distance learning began, I felt grateful that I could send students home with new books to keep them motivated. When we left, we assumed we would be back in two weeks. In June, when students returned to pick up their belongings, I set up a book station, where students could check out books for the summer.

  I do not know if the donated books will return to the classroom library, but I'm thankful that they are out in the wild. Students have opportunities to enjoy these books that will open windows and doors into new experiences, from comics to science fiction stories.

  I hope that my students grew this year and saw themselves as readers, through physical books, e-books and audio books.

  Thank you for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

  This classroom project was brought to life by A group of anonymous donors and 4 other donors.

• New Books for Engaging Readers

  Funded Aug 14, 2019

  Thank you for the gift of 20+ books to our classroom library. We begin each day with 10 minutes of independent reading, which builds a habit of daily reading. Having books that reflect different experiences, time periods and multicultural stories creates a library that acts as both a mirror of their middle school experience AND a window to other stories. Often, students ask for more time to read... they get caught up in stories and this is a teacher's delight!

  Right now, we are studying character traits and thinking deeply about how characters are complicated, have less likable sides and face pressures. Students in middle school move beyond black and white thinking (this character is the villain or hero) to understand that characters (and people) are complicated and multifaceted. By choosing their own books to study, students are able to take a concept and apply it to their own reading interest, whether it's a character from the Harry Potter series or Francisco Quispe Vargas, who is navigating the political upheaval in Bolivia in the book An Interrupted View of the Sky.

  My favorite thing to see is the emerging readers - students who feel they are "bad" at reading - find something that they can access that is also INTERESTING! They love graphic novels, but it's also excited to match them with a horror story or historical piece that matches their personal interest. Every students is a good reader - I just have to find the right match and your gifts make this possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.

• New Books, Stronger Readers

  Funded Aug 14, 2018

  In sixth grade, independent reading is one of the most important things I emphasize. For students to succeed in high school and college, they need to develop a love of reading. Students need access to high quality high interest books that will keep their love of reading alive, especially while they are building vocabulary and writing skills.

  Each day, we start our class with 10-15 minutes of reading. Students meet with me regularly to conference about their books and we talk about how they can grow as readers. I have sixth graders who do not see themselves as good readers who end the year with 50+ books read. The best thing I can do is create a classroom library with as much diversity as possible, which this grant funded.

  It's been great to see students find biographies, historical fiction, nonfiction and young adult books that are new and exciting. It's hard to keep these books in my classroom, as they are so popular! I've even had 8th graders come into my room to see the new books and I can barely keep them on the shelves.

  Thanks for making a difference to 100+ students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas

• Standing To Learn!

  Funded Jan 23, 2018

  Thank you for your investment in our classroom and commitment to learning. Standing desks offer students the ability to focus on academic work when their bodies are tired of sitting in traditional seats for most of their days. This project increased our standing desk total from one to six desks to support student learning. Each day, I have students requesting to use the standing desk, so it is a popular choice for student work.

  When the boxes arrived, students were very curious and then excited. There are three other teachers in our building who have standing desks, so half of my students knew what to expect and were eager to have a chance to use the desks. Once they were all assembled, their excitement grew, especially as we each had a chance to use the standing desk. Now, students rotate to the standing desks on a weekly basis.

  I see the biggest impact on students who need a way to fidget or move as part of their learning style. Each desk has a fidget bar for their feet, so they have a way to incorporate movement without distracting themselves or their peers. In a middle school environment, I have students of all shapes and sizes and these desks meet the needs of the variety of students that enter my room.

  Thanks again for investing in my students and helping create a classroom environment that meets our learning styles.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Thomas