Past projects 9
OG Readers are Leaders!
Funded May 4, 2022This project has been such a blessing. Many of my students speak another language other than English at home. As you can imagine, the English language is very confusing at first glance. Is it day-ta or da-ta? Why doesn't "ough" in through sound like "ough" in dough? It's overwhelming!
Through these OG materials, the science of reading has made a lot more sense to my English language learners. Working with students identified as having specific language and learning disabilities, the multisensory approach of Orton-Gillingham has boosted their confidence and reading abilities.
Even my most reluctant readers are willing to decode multisyllabic words with this methodical approach to reading instruction. The workbooks have provided independent practice for emerging readers and it's been such a blessing to have ready made materials during a long, hard year. Thank you for providing transformative materials and aiding in creating a love for reading!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 4 other donors.Moving and Grooving So We Keep Reaching and Teaching!
Funded Oct 17, 2021Well, you've done it again! My students were thrilled to see this project fulfilled. The chair bands have helped most of the class stay active while remaining in their seats. I've noticed an increase in alertness during our longer afternoon blocks... THANK YOU!
The PopIts have been a huge hit with my classes. We use them to "pop" our CVC words into individual sound bites. We've also used them for segmenting bigger words into syllables. Sometimes, we also just use them for a brain break... the possibilities are truly endless.
The desk bicycle has been a great incentive for my most busy body students. When chair bands and PopIts don't do the trick, a cycling competition usually does! This has helped keep students in the classroom as opposed to walking the halls so instruction continues without interruption. Many thanks for all you've provided and done to make this year a little easier on us all.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by Mission Tiger and Stop & Shop and one other donor.Back to School and Interactive Learning
Funded Sep 21, 2021I cannot even begin to tell you what a staple you've been in our students' academic day, but I will try. After nearly two years of remote learning, we are finally back to face to face instruction and taking full advantage of all that entails! Students are cutting, gluing, folding, and in general working with manipulatives again to make their learning more concrete.
Students LOVE the colored foldables in their interactive notebooks. It means less coloring for them and easier instructions for me (i.e. "turn to your yellow definitions and green problem set"). Students love crafting... our thank you cards for this project and many more will be completed with the glue and paper provided within this very project.
Again, I truly cannot thank you enough. With supply chain issues and paper shortage in our school, it's nice knowing we have enough paper and glue to last us through the end of the year and then some. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for supporting our classroom during these unprecedented times.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by Clorox and 3 other donors.Visualizing a Better Distance Learning Experience
Funded May 15, 2020I cannot believe we are STILL dealing with coronavirus. When my building initially shut down on March 13, 2020, we imagined it'd be for a week or two, maybe a month tops. What a ride it's been!
Leaving school that Friday, I grabbed a few things: my district-issued laptop, a few read alouds, and our textbooks. It was not close to enough. Your funds helped equip me to turn my living room into a makeshift classroom for the remainder of the year. The HUE HD Pro Document Camera came in handy showing students worked out math problems and closeups of picture book illustrations.
The Big Fat Notebooks essentially became anchor charts I could project with the document camera for students working remotely. I had left all my chart paper and smelly markers in school and so this was a great alternative. Thank you!
The wireless mouse was SUPER helpful. I ended up setting up my personal computer to monitor the class online and use my district laptop with the laptop to manipulate assignments, play a lot of GoNoodle brain break videos, and input grades. It increased my productivity because I wasn't trying to zoom in and out and move around a mousepad. I am forever grateful for donors like you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and one other donor.Shining Light on the Dark Ages With a Field Trip!
Funded Aug 12, 2019I cannot even believe we are still dealing with coronavirus. Most days, time feels like a really long, really bad year, not 3! Unfortunately, this project did not come to be as we were scheduled to attend a Medieval Times trip a few weeks after the country went into lockdown. Your funds were not lost, however!
Through the wonderful partnership and help of DonorsChoose, I was able to get our full deposit back and apply to the immediate needs of my students' families and my immediate needs for remote teaching.
Students received leisure books and snack packs to beat the quarantine blues. Who doesn't love happy mail?! It was wonderful hearing from them when the packages arrived. Many requested graphic novels and puzzle books to pass the time. Thank you!
I was also able to purchase a wireless mouse and document camera for at-home teaching. My living room quickly became a makeshift classroom and these materials helped me navigate unchartered waters during unprecedented times. Thank you once again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 4 other donors.TpT Funding for Engaging Resources
Funded May 16, 2020As you can imagine, the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but predictable. Even though I am in my tenth year of teaching, I found myself feeling like a first-year teacher, unprepared for distance learning. This project gave me peace knowing that whatever quaranteaching might bring, I had the funds to get quality resources to my students.
The TeachersPayTeachers has already provided tons of Boom cards. Students LOVE these digital self-checking task cards to their printable counterparts. No sanitation required! Students can work at their own pace, on their own devices, to solve the problems.
I was also able to purchase WebQuests and digital activities for social studies, particularly our Early Man unit. Students are engaged in searching the web for the different humans to evolve in the Stone Age. The visual graphic organizers allow students to collaborate and self-guide themselves through curriculum material.
This distance learning thing is tough! As a teacher, I'm trying to learn all the technology to teach students. After paperwork and emails and phone calls and administrative stuff like lesson plans, the last thing I have time for is recreating print resources for our digital classroom. The TeachersPayTeachers gift card has freed up some of my precious time with quality digital products already created. I cannot thank you enough!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 2 other donors.Teaching Literacy the WRITE Way!
Funded Sep 23, 2019Teachers that love teaching teach students that love learning. Luckily, I get to be both every day! Thank you for the professional development books. While I consider myself to be more of a math person than a literacy one, language has always fascinated me. Without it, we lose the ability to communicate, a defining feature for humans, thus hindering our connection to the world around us.
It is my hope with the "Words Their Way" books, I can demystify our English language, especially for the population of students I service. Until I took a few college-level courses on morphology, phonology, and semantics, English was a series of rules that ALWAYS had exceptions. I really could not tell you why we letters had multiple sounds and why it varied based on its placement within the word. The "Words Their Way" word lists, in conjunction with my previous Orton-Gillingham training sessions, are going to enable me to untangle the mess of English language for all my students. THANK YOU!
Once we get to reading and writing words, we can get to sharing our own stories with others! The books by Jennifer Seravallo will be critical in reducing my stress and prep time while also providing visuals and prompts for emerging student writers. I am looking forward to supporting my students as they express themselves and tell their stories. Again, a million thank yous for the support! YOU ROCK :)”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
Keep Our Learning BRIGHT and BOLD!
Funded May 18, 2019I cannot thank you enough for something as simple as colored paper and markers. While most of the world is going digital, a lot of my students in special education need tangible worksheets and craftivities to further their fine motor and organizational skills. The colored paper has ensured we have PLENTY for the upcoming year, especially for our interactive notebooks.
Interactive notebooks allow students to take class notes through a series of flaps and folds while serving as a self-checking study guide later on. Having our subject matter and content topics color coded has enabled my students to be self-reliant and confident in the classroom. We don't always remember what the standard algorithm for dividing multi digit numbers is, but we know it was that blue sheet we did on page 12!
Thank you a million times over for supporting teachers. It is because of donors like you that I am able to spark creativity and maintain maximum student engagement at the middle school level. I see many crafty projects in our future!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.Downsize Our Space and Upgrade Our Learning!
Funded Jan 13, 2017I cannot thank you all enough for funding this project. Since its completion, I have seen my student flourish in a way that brings new excitement with each passing lesson. Students are engaged in multisensory learning every day. In a world where so much is uncertain, my students know they matter in my classroom, because of complete strangers like you!
The absolute joy on the children's faces seeing packages arrive over the course of a week was magical.. even I felt like a kid on Christmas morning! They'd open up the brown parcels and squeal things like: "Cool!" "Look, Ms. Mencia!" "It's games. I like games!" Our alternative seating arrived in spurts. One day, we received one bouncy ball chair. They were so cute. "How nice. We can share the ball, right? Let's take turns." When the rest came in, then it was the battle of colors. "It's okay, Ms. Mencia. Remember what you say? 'You get what you get, and you don't get upset!'"
The seating and multifunctional furniture have freed up SO much space in our tiny room. Students happily help grab materials for lessons. I have even found them using manipulatives on their own in center work because of how easily accessible they have become. Thank you! Centerwork has become enjoyable for both kids and teacher. Having materials on grade level ready for students to utilize with little prep work has been a blessing. Less time prepping, with more time to really teach and engage kids in meaningful activities. Looking forward, I am now seeking funds for more hands-on resources. I seriously cannot thank you enough for what you've done!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mencia