Ms. Helgeson's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 56

• Robot Programming with Asus Laptops

  Funded Aug 20, 2021

  Thank you for supporting our 21st century skills. This is a fantastic program. The students are very excited to write code. The rumors from the previous grades make them excited. Many of them have older siblings who have done the project but having dedicated computers/ laptops make this much easier.

  We had used Chromebooks in the past which worked. However, the students would often get kicked off the wifi from the robot and automatically sync to the school wifi.

  The dedicated computers really make a difference and the students are not as frustrated. Thank you for your support of the students in my classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 9 other donors.

• Women's Hygiene Supplies for My Girls

  Funded Aug 12, 2021

  What a difference you make to the students at our school. We received a large box of super absorbent pads from the school district itself. I don't know of any child in elementary school who needs that much protection. However, the smaller teen sized and other sized protection is a much better fit for the students.

  I have already shared a brush with a student who somehow had gotten her hair all tangled up. But with long full hair all the way down her back, she needed some extra help. The pony tail holders make a huge difference as well. We have quite a few pacific islander girls who have beautiful long thick hair that often needs to be put up in buns or ponies or something to keep the hair out of their faces. They are always happy when I am able to give them something to help keep the hair under control.

  The school nurse and I have shared a lot of the supplies and we will be putting some of them in the 5th and 6th grade girls bathroom. Not only do my 4th grade girls need it, but many of the older girls need access as well.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 3 other donors.

• Asus Laptops for Programming

  Funded Aug 12, 2021

  Thank you for supporting our 21st century skills. This is a fantastic program. The students are very excited to write code. The rumors from the previous grades make them excited. Many of them have older siblings who have done the project but having dedicated computers/ laptops make this much easier.

  We had used Chromebooks in the past which worked. However, the students would often get kicked off the wifi from the robot and automatically sync to the school wifi.

  The dedicated computers really make a difference and the students are not as frustrated. Thank you for your support of the students in my classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 4 other donors.

• Excitement for Books

  Funded Oct 21, 2021

  Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman is one of the books you helped our classroom receive. This was a powerful book for my students to read. Recently our school had our yearly jog-a-thon, and the 4th grade color is pink. There were many boys who wore pink and I was so proud of them. We had multiple conversations about how colors are for everybody. That pink can be for boys and blue can be for girls.

  Another book we read was the the Magical Yet. This was a very exciting introduction to growth mindset in our classroom. And we use this idea daily as we learn and try new things.

  Thank you for supporting my students in their diversity.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Whiteboards for Learning

  Funded May 5, 2021

  Thank you so much for the whiteboards. We use them everyday. My school district started a new math program this year. We use the whiteboards everyday to answer the starting question.

  Then my students favorite activity. In our reading program we are learning to use the question in our answer. For example, "how does the poison dart frog show intelligence." The students are learning to write "The poison dart frog shows intelligence by remembering where she places her tadpoles throughout the rainforest." This is a difficult skill to learn how to do.

  The students ask to use their whiteboards on a regular basis. This is an amazing tool that you have provided my students. They love their erasers and markers as well. Thank you for supporting my classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 4 other donors.

• Kindles to Read at Home

  Funded Sep 17, 2020

  Thank you so. much for helping my class to have Kindles at home. They have really enjoyed them. They were very excited to receive their Kindles. The students are able to access quite a bit of our resources online through their Kindles. The biggest has been the use of audiobooks in their Library App Sora or Overdrive. They can listen to all the audio books of the books that may be above their reading levels but it is not above their comprehension level. Which are often two different levels especially when students have learning gaps. Thank you for supporting our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 5 other donors.

• iPad for Learning Design and Technology

  Funded Apr 6, 2020

  This has been amazing gift through this rough COVID-19 pandemic school year. I am more able to be mobile in my classroom. I no longer have a whiteboard but the iPad allows me to project directly to the TV in my classroom. This has been a huge advantage. Another benefit has been the ability to monitor my students activities while I wander the room.

  I was able to use it for my classes this spring. It helped me when I had to travel. My iPad was the best option for grading students' work through their online learning management.

  Thank you for this amazing resource.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 8 other donors.

• Optical Mouse Pens for PearDeck

  Funded Dec 2, 2020

  Thank you so. much for supporting my students. I am amazed at how creative my students can be when given a chance to create. Thank you for supporting their work. The students are excited to create with the pens. I look forward to what they are going to show they can do.

  Pear Deck is an amazing app that allows the students to respond in many different ways. KAMI is another app in which the students are able to use the mouse pen to write answers on a PDF. KAMI is great interactive application that allows the students to interact in many different ways. This allows even more precise options for the students to write on the PDF's. Amazing creations.

  Thank you so much”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 5 other donors.

• Video Recording Future Lessons

  Funded Aug 27, 2020

  You donations have been a lifesaver during this time of remote teaching. I have used my green screen everyday for every lesson. I use it as a background of things we are learning. Zoom has this amazing feature that can turn PowerPoints into your background which has really enhanced my teaching.

  The monitor has saved me in so many ways. I don't have any of the other staff leaning over my shoulders as I work with them to learn new software programs. The extra monitor has saved my neck and back as I work online. My posture has been safe for my desk working. Teachers are rarely at their desks usually and sitting as much as I have has been a real challenge. I thought I sat but then I learned better by teaching on/ through Zoom.

  The Tripod has made a difference in my teaching as well. I can hold another device. I just need to remember that my tablet is not another monitor so my mouse won't work there.

  Thank you so much for all you do for teachers.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

• Basic Supplies to Learn From Home

  Funded Aug 11, 2020

  What is more exciting than getting a brown paper bag with supplies in it. My students' families picked up their supplies during a drive through. Every teacher packed up their supplies a little different Mine were placed in a handled brown paper bag. The students were very excited to share their supplies with me when they Zoomed with me. They loved their white boards. They are a great tool. Many of them were excited to get the deck of cards as well.

  Thank you so much for supporting my students on their first quarter of remote learning. This has been an experience for us all.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Helgeson

  This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and one other donor.