Past projects 10
Microscopes: Unlocking the Microscopic World for Young Minds
Funded Jan 20, 2025Thank you, DonorsChoose donors, for choosing to support my students and their education. Your generosity has made it possible to provide resources and opportunities that will enrich their learning experience and inspire them to reach new heights. Because of your kindness, my students can explore, grow, and dream without limitations. Your belief in their potential means the world to us, and we are truly grateful for your willingness to make a difference in their lives. This support doesn’t just impact the classroom today but plants seeds for a brighter future. Thank you for making it all possible!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Technology for Advancement
Funded Sep 16, 2020Thank you so much for your generosity, I'm blown away by the generosity of my family, friends, and that one donor who stayed anonymous. Distance teaching is definitely a challenge, but having proper technology will me deliver my instruction a bit easier. I cannot wait to be able to provide a little more clarity to my students during this difficult time.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 10 other donors.Computers for Communication
Funded Jan 3, 2020Thank you all for your kindness and generosity. These computers will make a positive impact on my students' lives, not just with the extra use of technology, but also by knowing that people they do not know gave money to help better their lives. I cannot wait to get started using this new technology in my class.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Tablets to Success
Funded Jul 10, 2018My students have been able to have access to items unattainable before we received the Kindle Fires. They have browsed the web as a group and individually doing research on bullying, environmental issues, social issues, and many more. I also have a newcomer student who speaks absolutely no English, and understands very little, having the ability to have access to Google Translator any time I need it has become extremely valuable to me, and the students around her. Just having the ability to do research online and opening the world to my students has helped my students tremendously.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 9 other donors.Author Study
Funded Feb 10, 2016Dear Donors,
We are in the middle of the book The Tiger Rising and my class is loving it. It is fantastic to be able to read a second book by Kate DiCamillo. It is amazing to be able to compare characters and situations from two different books by the same author. The students are engaged and looking deep within the text to find the similarities and are eager to be the first to share with the class. They are able to see how an author often uses the same characteristics within characters in different books and are still able to give them their own identity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Classroom Mindset Books
Funded Oct 25, 2015In the first week of starting this work with my students I can already tell a difference. Many of them stop and think before they speak and use their brains to make better choices. They are starting to realize that by thinking first, many mistakes can be avoided. Many of the books focus on self worth and not having to be perfect, but trying their best. They discuss that education is a life long journey that never really ends as long as you want to continue to grow as a person. A very important lesson they are beginning to understand is that you can never give up and with enough hard work and perseverance, they can achieve anything they set their minds on.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Keeping My Students Happy and Healthy
Funded Sep 9, 2014My students were super excited when the flying disks and cones arrived. Many of my students thought that throwing disks would be easy, but alas, they have learned it is not.
At least once a week, my class files out the door, lines up across from their partner, and attempts to make an accurate throw. Most fail, but continue trying. Over the months, most students are capable disk throwers, but still working on it. They are learning that it takes more than just brute strength, but concentration and patience.
My students have learned patience and perseverance with this activity. They look forward to going out and throwing their disks and attempting new techniques on how to throw them. Hopefully in the upcoming weeks, we will be playing ultimate Frisbee and maybe even some Frisbee golf.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
This classroom project was brought to life by ESPN and 3 other donors.Continuing the Journey
Funded Jun 18, 2014Last year we read the first Harry Potter book, and my students loved it. It was so exciting to read the second book in the series. They jumped right into it with excitement and energy.
Most students enjoy reading, but they float from book to book, not really digging deep into the characters. But by reading the second book of a series, students were able to truly learn about the characters and get to know them. They can sight evidence from the first book and compare it to the second book to form opinions about specific characters character.
These books definitely helped promote my readers to find other books in a series so that they are able to find characters that they can identify with. Also, many of my students have gone on to read further into the series, and a few have even read all seven.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Teaching Empathy, Friendship, and Selflessness.
Funded Aug 29, 2014My students truly enjoyed reading this book. Many of my students wanted to read ahead because they were so engrossed in the book that I had to forbid them to. The resources provided allowed them to learn about what it means to be a true friend, it taught them what empathy looked like outside of the classroom and gave them a better understanding of how animals should be treated.
I had many students go home and do their own research on the main character, Ivan. They discovered where he ended up and how he lived out his life. They even went further and found out about gorillas in the wild and how they live and treat each other. This book was just a tool for many of my students to explore the world of gorillas.
My students now have a better understanding that a book of fiction can open the door to a world of knowledge. Many have researched gorillas, zoos, the proper care and treatment of animals, rainforests, jungles animals, all because of this book.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main
Diving Into Books to Explore New Worlds
Funded Mar 14, 2014Many of my students had already read the first Harry Potter book, but from my experience reading a book more than once has its benefits. For the students who have already read it, the characters are now more alive and they better understand them. They often read too fast and miss important details, and the second read can capture many of those details, and it has. For my first time readers, this book has opened a whole new genre to them. Often times my students get stuck reading from one genre, and Harry Potter has shown them that the world of wizards, witches, dragons, goblins, is amazing and fun. Many of my students have stated that they cannot wait to finish the Sorcerer's Stone, so that they can read the remaining six books. Not only are we reading the book, but the students are also watching the movie to do a comparison and to write an argumentative paper stating whether the movie or book is better. So far the book is winning over the movie, which does not surprise me one bit. My students love reading novels, and Harry Potter has been one of my favorite books for a long time now, and now many of my students feel the same way. Your donations have impacted my students this year, and for many more years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Main