Past projects 5
Design Process With Lego
Funded May 3, 2022When you open a big Amazon box in front of your students and you reveal huge boxes of Legos and they start jumping up and down, screaming with excitement— that means you requested the right materials on DonorsChoose! My students lose this minds when they saw that we have new building toys. It has been a long time since we have seen some Legos!
It's only been a day but we have already used the legos to build the tallest tower, a pencil cup, and robots! My students think I'm the coolest STEM teacher ever and that's all because we have the best supporters. Thank you for spoiling our class!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nakawatase
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.iWish for an iPad
Funded Apr 5, 2019Thank you so much for your donation! It has truly been a blessing to be able to add technology to our everyday classroom life. My students have been able to access apps such as ST Math, Accelerated Reader, and iReady. My students have access to desktops and laptops, but none of those resources get them as excited as a brand new iPad and Apple Pencil! This type of technology is something that students are familiar with and enjoy using. I am so thankful for the generosity and the compassion shown towards my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nakawatase
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 2 other donors.Small Group Instruction = Big Fun!
Funded Dec 12, 2016It is never easy to put my emotions into words when it comes to saying thank you to our generous donors. When our new materials arrive, the look on my students' faces are priceless. It is like Christmas to them when they get to see the new learning materials that they get to use and enjoy.
I ordered games and manipulatives for our small group instruction time. The reading strategy wands make reading comprehension fun and exciting. Students enjoy our new hands-on clocks that they can use to tell time. The new favorite game in my class is the time bingo. I have never seen a class learn about time so quickly!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping my students receive the tools they need to succeed.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nakawatase
It's The Write Time!
Funded Feb 25, 2016I am so thankful for all of the materials that we have received! My classroom was in desperate need of a laptop and markers and pens! For first graders, learning to write can be a very stressful. Students are now trying to sound out their words, choose more descriptive words in their writing, and to begin to write paragraphs all on their own.
Our writing process starts with students using colored pens to help color code their ideas. We use graphic organizers to plan out our writing and students are able to do this so easily now with the pens that we have received. Students can also use large chart paper and the markers to practice sentence editing. Once students have completed their rough draft, they use the computer to type their final drafts. Students are always so excited to see their final product. Nothing quite compares to seeing a student so proud of their hard work.
The students were so surprised when they saw our new supplies! It really encouraged them to practice their writing skills. Writing was no longer something that was "boring", but now it was something that they looked forward to doing. I am so appreciative of the new resources!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nakawatase
Oh, the places you'll go... with an iPad!
Funded Sep 25, 2014My students were surprised that we had a package waiting for us in our classroom. Just two weeks before the delivery, our whole class was busy spreading the word by sending out emails, posting the link on every social media website and handing out fliers to everyone we knew. I am still in disbelief that we were able to reach our goal in a matter of days. My students could not wait to use our new iPads! Some of my students have never used a tablet before and were anxious to see what it could do.
The students and I were all so excited to incorporate the iPads into our daily lessons. I was able to download books onto the iPads to help expand our library. In the beginning of the school year, many of my students were below grade level. Now with the help of the iPads, books of all levels are now accessible through educational apps and downloadable books. Engaging chapter books are now readily available to my higher readers. My struggling readers use an application that has a voice that reads the book with them. My students also use the iPads to complete the blended learning programs that we use school-wide such as Accelerated Reader, ST math, and Study Island. Before our project was fully funded, my 25 students had to take turns to use the two computers in our classroom but now with two iPads the students can spend more time working focusing on their assignments.
This generous donation has boosted my students' learning in ways that I could not have done by myself. Having this technology in the classroom has changed our learning environment for the better. Students are more excited to learn and are anxious for their turn to use one of the iPads. I am looking forward to all the different projects and lessons that we will be able to do with the help of our new iPads!
Thank you to all of our supporters!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nakawatase