Past projects 4
Help Improve Our Reading Skills With Fantastic Fiction
Funded Sep 4, 2013Thanks so much to all of you for your generosity! With your help, my students were able to enter their new classroom in September and immediately begin to increase their reading skills with this wonderful collection of fiction texts. You have helped to provide the foundation for our classroom library, and have given all of my kids the opportunity to develop their literacy skills with a range of books at each of their various reading levels.
Through stories about familiar characters like Biscuit and Little Critter, and beloved classics like Good Night Moon and Leo the Late Bloomer, you have given my students the opportunity to love learning to read and to grow their literacy skills. Each child keeps a baggie containing at least six books in his or her desk at all times, the contents of which are exchanged weekly for new books from our classroom library. You have made it possible for them to explore knew and wonderful stories each time they refresh their reading material. Students also take books home each night, in order to practice reading and to share their love of reading with their families.
In my experience, there are few things more satisfying than watching children grow as readers day by day. Thanks to your donations, all of you have become a valuable part of this fascinating and inspiring process. My students and I appreciate your wonderful gifts more than we can say. From the moment I began to unpack the box, their exclamations of interest and enthusiasm were music to my ears. They were fascinated, and terribly pleased, to learn that a collection of people whom they have never met cared enough about their learning that they chose to help buy all these amazing new books.
Many thanks again to all of you for your contributions to our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendez
It All Begins with Books
Funded Jul 18, 2013I can't thank all of you enough for your generosity! With your help, my students were able to enter their new classroom in September and immediately begin to increase their reading skills with this wonderful collection of non-fiction texts. You have helped to provide the foundation for our classroom library, and have given all of my kids the opportunity to develop their literacy skills with a range of books at each of their various reading levels.
From dinosaurs to rockets, different kinds of bread to families around the world, these books have given my students the opportunity to grow their knowledge of the world around them. Each child keeps a baggie containing at least six books in his or her desk at all times, the contents of which are exchanged weekly for new books from our classroom library. You have made it possible for them to explore knew knowledge each time they refresh their reading material. Students also take books home each night, in order to practice reading and to share their learning with their families.
In my experience, there are few things more satisfying than watching children grow as readers day by day. Thanks to your donations, all of you have become a valuable part of this fascinating and inspiring process. My students and I appreciate your wonderful gifts more than we can say. From the moment I began to unpack the box, their exclamations of interest and enthusiasm were music to my ears. They were fascinated, and terribly pleased, to learn that a collection of people whom they have never met cared enough about their learning that they chose to help buy all these amazing new books.
Thanks again, so much, for your contributions to our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendez
A Clean, Attractive, Functional Carpet
Funded Aug 23, 2012My students and I can't thank you enough for our wonderful new carpet! Truly, it has transformed the look and feel of our classroom. Since it had not arrived by the start of the school year, I was able to inform my students in advance that we would be getting this special gift, and they were able to contribute their suggestions, advice and enthusiasm when it did arrive and the custodian and I were unrolling it.
The alphabet motif of the carpet squares has helped me re-enforce letters as I assign seats when we gather for stories or lessons on our interactive white board. During reading workshop my guided reading groups have a clean, comfortable place to sit, and at activity time, my students have a pleasant space where they can sprawl out with large floor puzzles.
In addition to being the envy of half the staffâI can't tell you how many people have stopped by to admire itâthis new rug has provided my students with a unique opportunity to really take ownership of their learning environment. Most of the materials we use, from books to computers to crayons, have been used by many students over the years and show clear signs of frequent and rough handling. Our rug, on the other hand, is pristine, and the kids have taken on the responsibility for keeping it that way. They frequently warn one another against walking on it with muddy sneakers, spoiling it with lint from shredded Kleenex or accidentally staining it with crayons or markers. It is my hope that this care and respect for the new carpet will carry over into an increased consciousness, as they grow, of the value of community ownership and respect for shared resources.
Again, thank you so much for your generocity. My students and I hope you enjoy their letters and photos.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendez
Student Friendly Seating
Funded Aug 8, 2008Thank you so much for funding our new seating! The classroom will be a warmer, more comfortable and more easily navigable learning environment without all those horrible old metal chairs! My students will be able to sit how and where they feel most productive, which will improve learning for everyone. With the ability to easily spread themselves around the classroom,students will have much more space to work. This will be especially helpful during our reading and writing workshops. I am looking forward to helping my students write a thank you letter, but in the meantime please accept my personal gratitude.
Sincerely,
Catherine ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendez