Past projects 7
Interpreting Literature Through Art
Funded Mar 11, 2025Thank you so much for these resources. My students will adore them and some will really illuminate their writing journals with such great tools. This is going to be a game changer in so many ways -- and I have you to thank for this! Your generosity will really impact our school!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
Holocaust Education Journal Project
Funded Mar 7, 2025You have been amazing in your support and kind words. My students will take this book and notebooks (and printed projects) that emerge from their reading of Night into the future. My deep hope is that they will look back on the lessons from this book and their projects whenever they need inspiration in life.
I first read this book at 12, and twenty five years later I can affirm how transformative the words of Elie Wiesel have been upon me. I feel confident that my students likewise find such power in his words.
Wiesel reminds us that no matter how difficult the circumstances of our era happen to be, each of us has the agency to brighten the lives of others with compassion, care, and concern. He reminds us to see our collective humanity, and the inherent value and dignity of every human. ”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
Warm and Welcoming Academic Support Office!
Funded Sep 22, 2024The students really loved these resources. They found that it was simply amazing to get these journals and write their thoughts on them. Everyone knows, that having high quality resources makes the writing experience such a joy.
The students found the writing supplies something that were very helpful to learning. For example, one student is now getting all A's. This is a huge culture shift in the school.
In addition, several have commented that by using the journals and paper resources, they have engaged in learning on a deeper level. In fact, one student, he told me that having such fine writing tools has inspired him to become poet and professional writer. This was shocking to me at first, but by him having such great tools -- it really changed his life.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org Teen Mental Health Initiative.Holocaust Education Journal Project
Funded Nov 27, 2023Thank you so much for your kind generosity! You have been simply amazing! First of all, when we passed out the materials -- the students were simply thrilled! The students loved the thin book and my promise that this work would never be forgotten after they had read the book. Due to your kind generosity, the students were offered a choice of which journal they would most like. Some selected the thin journals with lines; others selected the black journals which were unlined, and still others selected journals which were an array of colors and unruled. In short, students selected media which would most suit their personal style of learning and reflection.
Several of the students have already finished the book and are working on writing a reflection journal on each of the chapters. From my conversations, these students have been profoundly touched by the personal narrative of Elie Wiesel. Some have shared their own personal experiences of anti-Semitism and the legacies of their families who suffered under the holocaust. For many students, Wiesel's words have given them greater insight into their own lives. These are stories which will never leave me.
Because of the power of this work -- all other seminar classes in the grade have also decided that they too, will read Night. As such, the full unit is scheduled in April. Indeed your generosity sparked a change that is going far beyond just our own classes: everyone who graduates at Bard from now on will have read the immortal words of Elie Wiesel. They will have had the experience of connecting to his words. As Wiesel so boldly put it,"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides." All of our students will take this lesson with them as they move forward into the light of a promising future – imbued by the wisdom of a man who amid tragedy and oppression – was able to be a beacon of hope and light into this world.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
Holocaust Education Journal Project
Funded Apr 6, 2023Thank you so much for these amazing resources! The students have all told us just how much the book means to them. Many said that they had tears in their eyes when reading the book. Having their own copy to annotate, highlight, and reflect upon made the book their own in more ways than one. It is our hope that when they witness and encounter injustice in life, they shall turn to those pages and feel a reinvigorated spirit to oppose injustice. Night teaches us that we have the obligation to oppose wrongdoing and that to care for others, is the highest form of human expression.
The students were very touched that you kindly donated for the resources. They noted that it was very wonderful to have such a host of resources when finishing up a project that came from the book. The students also used the resources to journal as the project went along and this was a great support for them.
The next steps inspired by this project as reported by so many students is to always take action against hatred and anti-Semitism. They noted that when and where they witness any form of oppression, they will intervene and respond to it. Although this project lasted several weeks, the lessons from it they shall carry throughout their lives.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT and 10 other donors.Social-Emotional Classroom Journal Project!
Funded Aug 9, 2022It was a real honor to receive all the supplies for the students. I cannot even begin to say how wonderful your kindness was and how greatly that it impacted student lives! The students all received a wonderful journal (and more than a few have received replacement ones given that some were lost and others ripped). But that is the nature of how things go and there were more than enough to replace the few that had this happen. Many of the students come from families who are suffering under the highest inflation experienced in the past 40 years within the United States. Others' have parent who lost their jobs. And a few have told me that they are currently living in shelters. These students have benefitted tremendously from not having to expend the very limited resources from their family's budgets on school supplies. Further, the fountain pens have been a great tool for many students, especially the disposable fountain pens that come in a rainbow of colors! Within our society, so many schools have moved away from not only grammar, but indeed through the removal of penmanship. The fountain pens have allowed students to slow down their writing process and improve their spelling, sentence structures, and writing at large. Students have reported that they love to write out their journals and find the use of great stationary as a great way to really engage in the learning process.
To turn to a particular story: One of my students recently told us how happy she was that she could do her journals in pen! The student had been practicing her penmanship and was thrilled to be able to use a colorful fountain pen to illustrate her work! In addition, she was thrilled to illustrate some physics concepts in her journal! One student said to me, "thank you so much Doctor Weber, you really are so kind and encourage me to and graciously provided the materials for us to use." I kindly disclosed to him, that it was me he should thank, but indeed the wonderful people who went online at Donors Choose, and choose to take their hard earned money to donate to our school community. In response to his questions, I further explained the concept of Donor's Choose to this young man, and we agreed that it was a wonderful resource in the educational community! This is particularly true as school budgets have been very restricted in this new school year. He was very thankful for your donation!
To really create an atmosphere of rigor, we had the students craft foldables with the donated resources. The students were given several models of work and asked to use them in order to design an engaging resource which they would be able to use during a project. The students wrote down the laws of motion and then were able to craft definitions. When students are engaged in a kinesthetic project, many often deeply focus on the task at hand. We observed that the students take ownership, and seek to show their artistic talents. This allows for a higher sense of validation from students who normally do not have the chance to feature their art-based talents outside of the art room.
In total, the resources have provided really have been of such great use. They have helped so many students engage in the reflective process of journaling, and this has been transformative. A million thanks!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and one other donor.Color Printer for Class Projects!
Funded Oct 19, 2018Thank you so much for your kind gift to our school! Everyone has commented on how wonderful it is to print in color. All the students, who have printed, comment on what a swell piece of technology it is!
One of the most exciting dimensions of the new product have been how it has helped us do activities in class that require a color printer. For example, Prof. Johnson and myself decided to do a project that centered around the Epic of Gilgamesh. This project utilized the color printouts (featured in the photo) whereby students completed work, and we later posted the results in the classroom. Literally everyone, including a distinguished international guest, comments on how wonderful it changes the classroom atmosphere. Walking into our classroom, is a joy for both student and teachers now.
Several students, have printed from the color printer, state what a wonderful tool this is to have at school. Indeed the printer resolves the complications of the achievement gap based upon family wealth. I always tell the students, "Philanthropists from DonorsChoose.com made this success happen." Some of the notes are enclosed in the thank you package.
You have changed the educations of many students!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Weber
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 5 other donors.