Past projects 14
NYU Nest Support Project: Sensory Seeking Students
Funded Feb 28, 2025Thank you for your incredible generosity and helping our school lay the foundation for a sensory room. This swing will benefit hundreds of students, helping them to regulate, relax, decompress, etc. Additionally, it's our goal to help our students advocate for themselves. I believe this swing will be the strategy that many students choose when they feel dysregulated.
We teach at an incredible school where we seek to empower students to reach their full potential. With the addition of a sensory room, our school will be able to create a more supportive atmosphere, ensuring that our students excel academically, socially, and emotionally.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation and 2 other donors.Our ASD Nest Classroom Rocks!
Funded Jan 22, 2023The rockers were a huge hit with my class. They are beyond comfortable. Students are able to gently rock while focusing on the lesson. My students were thrilled when they came into the classroom and saw the rockers. They are still excited every time we have a lesson to sit in the chairs.
Everybody that walks in the classroom comments on our chairs and asks where we purchased them. They make our classroom more welcoming and comfortable.
Even our class pet, Cornelius, loves the blue rockers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 3 other donors.An Equitable Classroom
Funded Dec 17, 2020I am relieved and filled with gratitude that my children can now choose books where the main character is a person of color. My students are a diverse group. They are Mexican, Dominican, African American, Bengali, Salvadorans, etc. It's unconscionable on my part to have a library that is inequitable. You have changed that for my students and myself. Now, we can proudly display our library. My children will be able to see themselves in the books that they read. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I will send pictures as soon as possible of my students enjoying their new books. Additionally, 2020 has been a crazy year. They have been through a lot. Their lives are now full of disruptions from the normal routine. They deserve to have access to diverse books rather than books with all white characters. Our heartfelt thanks to all.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by John Legend and 2 other donors.Reading Revelations!
Funded Sep 21, 2020The kits that were donated to my class have been most advantageous to my students. My students are way below proficient levels in reading and writing. Most of my students are unable to read second grade level texts with fluency because they are lacking something in the phonemic code. If my students are unable to read with automaticity, then they will not be able to comprehend the text. These kits enable my students to map out each syllable type. Once they become more familiar with syllable types, I'll be able to fade and release the color coding orthographic mapping. Their spelling has increased tremendously. During reading, if an error is made, I simply say the syllable type, for example, "That is v-e, closed syllable, open syllable, etc." Then, they are able to self-correct their error.
These kits have been invaluable to my students. Instead of spelling or reading incorrectly, they are able to look at the color coded pattern and feel successful accomplishing a task on their own. These kits will be used for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 11 other donors.Students Evoking Admiration, Need a Little Inspiration!
Funded May 29, 2020My students, along with the rest of the world, are going through a difficult time. Because of the generosity of donors like you, I was able to cheer up my students and give out school supplies that they were able to use at home. The pictures do not show the excitement and joy that my students experienced when they received their gifts, last May in our school parking lot. Students received "Winn Dixie," a well loved book that we read last year. Your donations included snack bars, snacks, pens, pencils, dry erase boards, books, and little toys. At a time when my students felt quite isolated, they were given a huge boost of encouragement with the gifts. One student felt so loved and happy when receiving the gifts, that he ran over to hug me, despite the covid social distancing rules. He was overcome with emotion.
In addition to the gifts that students brought home, I was also able to purchase many books with a social emotional theme. The beautiful picture books teach about perseverance, kindness, and experiencing feelings of anger, fear, isolation, etc. These books are crucial, especially at this time, when teaching the Social Emotional lessons upon their arrival. We are so grateful for your kindness during this difficult time.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Readers Rise
Funded Dec 21, 2019This was an incredibly fantastic project to get funded. I was able to use some of these books as mentor texts and read alouds.
Our class went to the Pajama Program in NYC where they were able to pick out one book and receive a pair of pajamas. When they spotted books that were read aloud to them (from your generous donations), they immediately chose that book to take home with them.
Each and every one of you truly helped to give my children a love of reading. My students were beyond excited when they were allowed to choose a few of these new, beautiful books to take home in their book baggies.
The best part is that these books will be read again and again for years by new students. I picked out incredibly great series text. When I read, "Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco, you could hear a pin drop as my students could most certainly relate to the main character in the book. They're fantastic books that will be enjoyed for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by CRUNCH and 3 other donors.Sprightly Scholars
Funded Sep 28, 2019Thank you for giving my students a different seating option. The seats brighten the environment in our room. My students benefit from various types of seating. All of my students have learning disabilities and many have ADHD. These seats allow my students to bounce for a bit and then continue learning. The seats are attractive and very comfortable. It is impossible for my kids to sit still for sustained periods of time. They absolutely love these stools.
Thank you so much for their generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
Give Me Five: Positive Behavioral Interventions
Funded Aug 24, 2019I have several students in my class with ADHD. It is so important for them to move as they learn. We use the basketball hoop for recall questions and vocabulary. They are so engaged since if they get the right answer, they're able to take a shot. The trampoline is an excellent option for a brain break. Also, if students become upset or frustrated, they have the option of taking a break on the trampoline as a strategy to calm down. I don't like to sit still and I don't expect my students to sit still either. Our classroom has undergone a huge improvement with the items that you have so generously donated. My students and I are extremely appreciative and thankful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
These Kids Rock!
Funded Jan 31, 2019I sent pictures of the kids blowing kisses. They absolutely love the rocking chairs. It's the best purchase/project I've ever done. They're more comfortable, less distracted, able to focus for longer periods of time, etc. My students continue to rush in the classroom every single day to sit in these special chairs. The excitement when we first received them has not decreased. They just love these seats. It makes teaching so much easier for me when I'm not constantly stopping instruction. When kids are sitting on the rug, they often have poor conception of personal space. However, with these chairs, they are able to stay in their own personal space. My students and I thank you with all our hearts.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch
This classroom project was brought to life by Carol Kupers Whalen Memorial Fund and 2 other donors.Potential Prodigies
Funded Nov 22, 2017These chairs are amazing. I have a class that needs to move. The stools enable continuous movement breaks while focusing on the teacher. The kids love them. They were so excited when they saw them in the classroom. They never get sick of them. Also, I have them arranged at the guided reading table. The stools are perfect for small group work. I am so thankful to my donors. I feel like I've made my classroom much more conducive to the ADHD student.
My students and I are so grateful for your generosity.
My Heartfelt Thanks,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hernandez-Ritch