Past projects 12
Learning Through Play for Kindergarteners
Funded Feb 14, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donations! Your investment in the learning through play items are going to make a huge impact on my students. This will allow them to explore, play, and learn engaging body and mind. I am beyond grateful for your desire to support my students in their learning journey.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Sensory Bin and Tools for Hands On Kindergarten Learning
Funded Jan 11, 2023Thank you so much for your donation. The sensory bin, kinetic sad, and toys are a classroom favorite! Sensory bins are a powerful tool that ignites a child's imagination, curiosity, and learning potential. I see this first hand with my students. Without your generous donation, this fun and exciting learning opportunity would not be possible.
By engaging their senses, this sensory bin provides my students with valuable hands-on experiences that promote cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. I am deeply grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Interactive Whiteboard for Dual Language Kindergarteners
Funded Aug 10, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donations. My students use the Promethean board and stand to engage in lessons and share their answers and thinking. They love it! They stay actively engaged with the large visuals and feel a growing sense of positive self-esteem when they can lead by sharing their thinking in front of the class.
This Promethean board has allowed my students to engage in learning in a new and exciting way. the interactive component lets the learners become teachers by modeling themselves to their peers.
This has been especially helpful to students who would rather show their thinking, rather than verbalize their thinking.
Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and young scholars!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 6 other donors.Little Hands Learning Comprehension Strategies
Funded Mar 3, 2020I am so grateful for the generous donations that enable my class to have special puppets, portable felt/white board, and felt cuts to support my students' literacy instruction. I had the puppets in the class for 1 week before our school moved to distant learning for the remainder of the school year as a result of Covid-19. Despite the short time, my students loved them. They actually helped with the transition to distant learning as they were familiar to the students and were fully engaged during Zoom.
Whether classes begin online, in person, or a hybrid, I plan on using the puppets to engage students in read alouds. The portable felt/white board was especially useful as I had to choose what was essential to use at home that I could bring from my classroom.
Thank you so much for supporting my young scholars. Your generosity makes a difference to their lives.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Life and Learning Are Better in Color
Funded Jan 18, 2020Your generosity and support for my young scholars is greatly appreciated. The color printer arrived and I was immediately able to print my teacher created materials for centers.
Shortly after I began implementing new, hands on, engaging centers Covid-19 happened and the hands on learning shifted to online learning. I was so grateful to have the color printer because I was able to use it to help print and create a special Kindergarten memory book for each of my students.
I look forward to the future, when I can return to teaching and have my students engage in learning in person. I foresee many changes that will need to happen, but now with the gift of the color printer, I will be able to print off individual student games, centers, and alphabet charts that were previously shared. Thank you for your continued support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Flexible Seating for Kindergarteners
Funded May 6, 2019Thank you so much for choosing to support my young scholars. These energetic 5 year olds were so excited when the new flexible seating options arrived!
Students use the mats where ever they like. This choice gives them a sense of ownership over their learning. I have seen students purposely choose a quit corner because they have reflected and feel they need a quieter space to work.
The wobble chairs have provided an outlet for some students who feel more comfortable with some movement while they work.
The stools have been a hit both at small group time at the teacher table and during center time. Students have the freedom to pull a stool over while they work at sorting cards on a pocket chart.
All these options have provided choice for students and the ability to take ownership over their learning. Thank you for taking part in supporting their learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 7 other donors.ESGI for Custom Assessments
Funded Oct 17, 2018I cannot say thank you enough! ESGI software has been an incredible addition to my formative assessment and guiding instruction for all my students. We all know that students arrive at school with different levels of knowledge. As a teacher, I always want to reach each of my students where they are and provide instruction that is accessible for them. ESGI software allows me to do that in a manageable way.
As a Dual Language teacher, my students receive instruction in English and Spanish. As the Spanish teacher, I do not have access to many assessments that fit the needs of my students. Consequently, I have to create these assessments. ESGI, allows me to create any assessment that I feel my students need in any language. I am better able to track my students progress and provide additional support in their areas of need. ESGI also creates individual student progress letters for parents, and flashcards for practice. This has been especially helpful for students who need additional practice. I can print it and send it home.
This project has been an invaluable addition for my students. I am truly appreciative of the financial support that was provided for the ESGI software.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
iPad Minis for Dual Language Kindergarteners
Funded Nov 14, 2017Technology is second nature for most of of. What would you do without your smartphone? Many of the students in my class live without the luxury of wifi, a personal computer, or tablet. Despite the lack of resources, they are accountable for learning how to use technology and standards for 21st century learning. Your generous donations have provided the ability to access the skills that they are required to learn. We use a variety of apps to help with phonics, reading, and math skills. They also use an app called Sock Puppet where they can record and practice their listening and speaking skills. What I have found most exciting is how 2 of my students especially benefit from this technology. These two students are extremely shy, both in their native language as well as English. The ability to record themselves and playback has been so beneficial for them. They are speaking more as a result! The impact of your gift is making an enormous difference in the lives of these kids. Thank you so very much for taking an interest and acting on it. YOU have made a difference!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Apples Improve Literacy for Kindergarteners One Byte at a Time
Funded Sep 17, 2016I am so grateful for your generosity and interest in helping support my project of 4 iPad minis in my dual language kindergarten class. This technology is helping bridge the learning gap for not only my at risk students, but I am able to differentiate instruction and challenge the students who are ready to push their learning and curiosity through creative programs that are engaging and challenging. Through the use of fun, educational apps some of my students who need repetitive foundational skill practice get that additional practice with the use of these iPad minis. They have fun and they are improving! My students who already have strong foundational skills can be challenged to create stories through apps like Sock Puppet. I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it is to have a plethora of Spanish language stories available online to help develop their love of reading! The window from which they learn has truly expanded their learning experience.
What is most exciting for my students is that they cannot wait until center time so they can have their turn on the iPad mini. Once there, they become fully engaged during their turn. What they love the most, are the recording features. They hear themselves name letters or read and retell stories. They love to hear how they sound and then they reflect on how well they did or what they need to practice.
For many of us, we can't imagine what we would do without our WiFi and our technology gadgets. The reality for most of my students is that they are at a disadvantage compared to their peers that come from higher socioeconomic means. I have students who are now playing games and learning skills for coding from code.org. They are like sponges soaking up this knowledge and skills. Thank you so much for supporting the students in my class. Your donation truly has made a difference in their educational experience. ¡Gracias!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon
Let's Find Out!: Dual Language Kindergarteners Love Reading
Funded May 20, 2015I am filled with gratitude! Thank you so much for your generosity. This project has allotted me desperately needed age appropriate materials so that my students can meet their rigorous kindergarten standards.
These Scholastic Magazines are providing access to interesting and engaging nonfiction articles for my kindergartners. These magazines are developmentally appropriate and give my students practice with simple, predictable informational texts that support concepts of print, sight words, phonics, and vocabulary. My students get so excited when I tell them we get to read a Scholastic Magazine. They look forward to these lessons and are very eager to share their newly acquired information with their families. The Science Spin has also allowed me to make STEM connections, promoting learning and possibly careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.
I am so thrilled that I get to go teach amazing minds everyday. These generously donated materials get my kindergartners excited about learning! I look forward to all the wonderful learning that will occur this school year as a result of your support. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Calderon