Past projects 3
Anything is Possible
Funded Nov 13, 2024Having this project fully funded has been an incredible experience already and I can't wait to see what else it brings in the future! Being able to get a 3d Printer for our team truly makes anything possible. After learning a little 3d modeling in a simple program, I have been able to create things for all of our students. Some of the best things I've been able to create so far include: name puzzles for students in our life skills program to learn their names, puzzles, fidgets, prize box items, break boxes, create and replace a broken piece on noise-canceling headphones, and best of all, key guards for iPads for our non-verbal students.
The key guards help them select the correct option on their talkers without having their fingers slip to a different option. These have helped all of them choose the correct "button" for them to "say" what they actually want! I can't tell you how cool it is to watch students use their talkers to actually have a voice without the frustration of selecting multiple things when they didn't mean to.
The possibilities with the 3d printer, filament, and toolkit are endless. Whatever comes to mind can be created and made with a fairly short turnaround. Thank you.
We have used the velcro dots to hang pictures around our building to help students in our life skills room find different places and names while on "working walks" to get them moving while learning and matching.
Pencil toppers have helped one of our students in particular be able to get the sensational need of chewing on something in an age appropriate manner. She is able to do this while listening to the lesson while looking like a learner.
The writing tablets have been a huge hit for my small groups, especially for writing spelling words and high frequency words. I also have a student working on letter sounds where I will say a sound and he will write the letter that makes the sound. He has been engaged ever since using these tablets instead of paper and pencil and his progress has been steadily improving.
As for the stress balls, fidget toys, fidget spinners, and animal erasers, we have been able to create more effective break boxes for students to use in their classrooms. This has helped them stay in the classroom when they need a break so they aren't missing out on instruction. I have also used some of these items in my prize box as an incentive for meeting their individual goals. This can be behavioral or academic goals they all strive to achieve each day.
Your generosity in funding this project has helped me and my special education team give our students the tools needed to become lifelong learners. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
Helpful Things
Funded Nov 11, 2024Having this project funded was a blessing for me, my team, and especially my students. The biggest item, the study carrel, was a huge success for students who need to work in a place that gives them more privacy in order to focus on their work. For the students who utilize this resource room, they love the option of working at this desk, but they also love that they can also use it when they're upset. They know they can move to this desk to "save face" when the emotions of being mad become overwhelming.
Another big hit was the vibration plate. Our special education team has multiple students who are non-verbal and will RUN to the vibration plate when they earn a break. Getting their "wiggles" out helps them with their focus afterwards. With our students who are non-verbal and routine oriented, the thermometer has also helped a tremendous amount. When paras or teachers feel that a student may not be feeling the best, it has been so helpful being able to check their temperatures in our resource room instead of having to change their routines and walk them to our nurses office. This may seem like a small thing to most people, but it has made a world of difference for our students.
It was incredibly helpful knowing that the other items, such as laminating sheets, visual timers, batteries, and baby wipes were able to be provided by you! These are items we use daily for all of our students who utilize our life skills room. The visual timers have made a huge difference in one student's day especially. Now he can visually see how much time he has left on a break, how much time is left til the end of the lesson or how much time he has til lunch and recess. With routines benefitting him, his days and behaviors have greatly improved!
The final items on this project were purchased for break boxes, prize boxes, and fidgets to use while in class. We have been able to make break boxes for all of our students to use when they are overwhelmed or stressed. The quiet fidgets have helped students stay in class longer and attend to the task at hand while keeping their hands busy and still listening to the lesson. And, of course, the prize boxes have new prizes which is always fun to see kids' faces light up when something new is in the prize box that they have earned!
My team and I can't thank you enough for your generosity. It has been a blessing to have this project funded and seeing our students using these items daily. Thank you for everything!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
iPads for Interactive Education
Funded Sep 4, 2015I would like to thank you all for your donations to help fund my iPads for for Interactive Education! This has been an amazing gift for my students to help them learn in a different manner that grabs their attention. I have paired the iPad with Osmo (a learning program for the iPad) and made lessons for spelling lists, letter recognition, math games, and tangram for visual spatial organization. I have also used the iPad to help engage students in math class. This allows my students to solve problems on the iPad and be projected in real time on our projector. Your donations have greatly improved the motivation in my classroom and helped engage students who would otherwise not want to participate in classes that are difficult for them. Thank you so much!!!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson