Past projects 45
Helping Kindergartners Find a Voice
Funded Dec 10, 2016Your generous donation has already made an immediate impact on my students' ability to complete tasks in their online literacy programs. My students are in Kindergarten and their diverse backgrounds create an interesting challenge for me as their tutor and instructor. Each student comes to me at a different level of comprehension and understanding. For this reason, we use online programs to supplement our teaching so those students who are behind can catch up at a pace they are more comfortable with and those who are more advanced can continue to excel and push their own limits.
The headphones that you helped us obtain have been put to great use already. When my students are on their computers, they no longer have to try and determine which sounds are coming from their computer. More importantly, they can perform the speaking tasks required of them because the headphones you donated came equipped with a microphone.
My students just love that they have their own set of headphones now. It has increased their desire to do well on their programs and work hard each day. Over half of my group has already surpassed the Kindergarten level of their program and is working at a 1st grade level. Thank you for being part of this journey with my students. Thank you for your generosity and for your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hicks
Create Your Own Game: Kid-Inspired Activities for P.E.
Funded Aug 26, 2016I am so happy to tell you that your donation has had an immediate impact at our school. With the recess pack that was funded by your donations, our school has been able to supplement our current recess equipment and add dozens of new pieces of equipment. We have also been able to utilize the equipment in our P.E. class. Thanks in part to your donation, we now have an adequate number of basketballs to do dribbling activities. My students enjoyed an entire week of basketball activities. They were able to work in partners rather than groups of 4 or 5 thanks to the increased amount of equipment. This moment in our classroom was great because too often my students aren't able to get that 1-on-1 equipment ratio to really improve their skill set.
I have made the decision to slowly reveal parts of the equipment pack throughout the rest of the school year. This will allow the equipment to last longer and have a more profound impact on the students as they will have year-long benefits from your donation. I prepared all the 'orange' equipment from the pack and added it to the current set of recess equipment. Students were thrilled to have a playground ball to play four-square with again and soccer balls are always something we need more of each and every day.
In regards to my next project, I plan to continue increasing our P.E. equipment inventory. I am always looking for more soccer balls and footballs and may set my sights on more playground balls as so many of ours get kicked onto roofs or over fences throughout the year. I appreciate your support. I hope that this project will have an impact for years to come as students can use this equipment to create games, learn to play happily, and have positive interaction with peers and teachers.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hicks
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and one other donor.Rescue from a Rainy Day
Funded Aug 5, 2016Today was the first rainy day we have experienced at my school this year. Since my school uses the multipurpose room (gym) for many different activities and events throughout each day, I was unable to use it for P.E. on this particular day. Rather than watch a movie during each class' period of P.E., I was able to use the juggling scarves in an introduction to juggling lesson. Each student was able to use 3 scarves, although we started just tossing and catching a single scarf to warm up. My first graders loved the colors but were so happy to be doing something instead of just sitting in desks for another hour of the day.
Some of my students were tentative before really diving into the activity. They thought it would be too difficult to juggle three or even two scarves at once. They liked the vibrant colors and once everyone started tossing their scarves in the air, it became clear to me that I had found my new rainy day activity. None of this would have been possible without your generous donation to my school and my students.
Soon after receiving the donations for this project, I was able to fulfill another project in which donors donated a recess pack of equipment that will be used by all 900 students in my school. I am currently using DonorsChoose to acquire some new headphones with microphones so the students I tutor after school will be able to finish their online literacy programs. I have some tentative plans to get scooters for my school but that project may have to wait for a few months until I can work out a better schedule with my school's gym/multipurpose room.
I am so very grateful to you for these materials. They have already brought a bit of joy to us on a rainy day. Thank you”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hicks
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and one other donor.Pass, Shoot, & Score for Success
Funded Mar 9, 2016My students were absolutely thrilled to have received our basketball hoops from our wonderful donors. I recall actually having to walk students from the gym back to their classrooms because they didn't want to stop playing! We received the basketball hoops right in the middle of our extra-curricular basketball season and we were able to put them to use immediately. The hoops gave us respite from the chilly, windy evenings that made our practices so difficult. Our five basketball teams showed real improvement as they were finally able to practice in game-like conditions. One of those teams practiced an extra day per week inside and ended up winning the league championship without losing a single game all season long!
Our youngest students were also very excited about the hoops. They were so glad to finally have hoops that could be adjusted to fit their size, allowing them to finally practice their shooting and lay-ups. Many of our students don't have much in their humble lives and for them to receive such a generous donation was spectacular. I have you the donors to thank for that.
My school is continuing to build its P.E. and sports program. We are always striving to get better equipment and introduce new equipment so our students can learn new skills each year. We'd like to continue to enhance our indoor P.E. games as well as prepare for the introduction of baseball within the next 2-3 years at our school. It's a very exciting time for us and I can see only good things ahead for our wonderful students. Thank you so much for your generosity and service to our school community.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hicks
This classroom project was brought to life by ESPN and 4 other donors.Goals: Giving Students Something to Shoot For
Funded Feb 26, 2015I am so grateful for your assistance with this project. Our students were so happy to actually have goals to play soccer with instead of just cones on the ground. Our students could not wait to play soccer during PE and soccer practice after we told them that our project had been completed.
We are primarily using the goals and cones as part of our after-school program. We have developed a very competitive group of soccer teams at our school, two of which are the favorites to win the championship in their respective divisions. Our school is a soccer-playing school and I am just so happy that the students finally have the goals that make their playing experience much more real and enjoyable for them.
Having these goals have allowed me to teach a full unit on soccer for these students. We have been able to do lessons on goalie skills while also having skills competitions for things such as shooting and targeted kicking. What a great blessing these goals have been for our school. Thank you so much for your kindness and charity and for bringing these kids something they truly needed.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Hicks