Past projects 5
Projecting Interactive Lessons
Funded May 5, 2021The technology that you so generously donated (a projector and a cart to go with it) has allowed me to share the following with students:
-When I need to show my students something enlarged, I can share my screen or use my document camera and project things on the wall so that they can easily follow along
-It allows students to clearly see what is happening and keep their distance from one another without crowding together to see what I need to share
-I am able to model expectations and lessons for students that I would have had to model with one student at a time, allowing for more time to address student needs
The projector has been so useful and is a great addition to our lessons! As I mentioned above, it allows us to keep our distance and not crowd each other as well as allows for me to easily model the activity to the students at the same time and not individually: taking up time to address needs as a group and keeps the lessons flowing!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lak
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and one other donor.Social Distancing Learning Indoors and Outside
Funded Nov 25, 2020Thank you for your donation to my classroom! We have utilized most of the items in the order: I use the Cuisenaire Rods daily to support addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, I have my students utilize the graph notebooks during our math sessions, I use the large graph paper with my students with larger handwriting and for the younger students, and was able to give students dry erase markers to utilize with their whiteboards.
We have not yet explored using the fabulous "Go Anywhere Chairs," as I plan on using these once the snow melts and we move back outside in the spring when learning. The students are all very excited to use the chairs and they ask me daily if they can try them out!
Again, thank you for your generous donation that allows the students to each have their own items (as we are unable to share) during this difficult time!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lak
Increasing Early Skills in Older Students
Funded Jan 31, 2020Up to the school closure due to COVID-19, I was able to use the items for a few weeks to help my students learn how to sequence, match quantities to numbers, and make patterns. I was also able to introduce the reading strips to my students who needed them for physical books.
My students learning of concepts had instantly shown growth since introducing those items, and I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to reach a student with a sever disability by giving them a different option to learn the skills they needed.
Both myself and my students are so grateful for you generous donation, and I cannot wait to get back to school to continue increasing their ability to access the curriculum by using the materials you have purchased for us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lak
Occupational Therapy Tools for PK-3 Students!
Funded Nov 29, 2019Flip crayons facilitate the use of the skilled side of the hand which includes the
thumb, index and middle finger. Not only do the Flip Crayons naturally encourage this use, but also facilitate increased dexterity while flipping the crayons from one side to the opposite side and color. Increased dexterity also impacts the development of translation skills of the hand, which is the ability to move one's fingers to and from the palm. Translation skills are essential for developing efficient handwriting and typing skills. Since children are being asked to hold writing tools at a much earlier age than previous generations, it is essential they be given supportive tools so that children over the age of 5-6 years do not have to overcome bad habits when workloads increase in school. Having had 27 years of school-based occupational therapy experience, I (our OT) have found small writing tools including Flip Crayons to be most effective in helping young children isolate the skill side of their hands and develop fine motor control.
The slant board are helping our students position their hands for writing and supporting their grips as well. Our students are showing more success with writing and drawing abilities when they are able to use the slant boards as a support.
We are most grateful for the financial support we have received from "Donors Choice" so that we can offer these developmentally relevant tools to our students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lak
Creating Confidence in Reading
Funded Apr 16, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donations. The books have allowed the students to interact with one another and give more options to read a book that they find interesting! They love being able to choose a new book to read, and then talk about it with one another afterwards.
When I work with students, reading can look different depending on the skills I wish to address. I have done stations where students silent read, read and record, and work with me. When reading and recording, the students read the book to a recording device. Then, once the book has been read, the student listens to these reading and follows along, identifying trouble spots and spots they did well (then they set a personal goal for next time and how they want to sound). When students work with me we may focus on certain words throughout the story, the story line, or another identified skill. As a group, we have discussions about what the characters are feeling, what we think may happen, etc.
I can use these books to teach skills like reading punctuation, vowel sounds, blends (where two consonants come together in words, like the B L in blend), how to read fluently (with expression, smoothly, and at a good pace) and how to break up unknown words.
So far, each student is enjoying the books and eager to read them!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lak
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and one other donor.