Past projects 55
Special Needs Art Supplies and Organization
Funded Jul 31, 2018Thank you all for your generous donations that allowed me to replace broken classroom materials. The new bins make our classroom areas look so inviting. The neon colored books bins house our class library while the neon tubs hold all the building materials for the STEM center. The 20 clear plastic bins fit perfectly in the shelf that holds all the manipulatives and fine motor tasks. I had such a great time setting up my classroom for the new school year. My students thrive on a structured learning environment and these bins help to provide that.
The craft tape is used to delineate personal work spaces and to make a visible calendar on our white board. The paint and construction paper are of course for our wonderful art activities that encourage fine motor development.
My students are having a great start to the 2018-19 school year thanks to you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Special Needs Back to School - Let's Get Ready!
Funded Jul 27, 2018Wow! What a difference a wagon makes! Our students with health issues get around school much more efficiently. Having cardiac issues can mean that a simple walk to the library can be exhausting. Now we can participate immediately upon arrival to art, music, library, or sensory lab without having to rest and catch our breath. This wagon is the best!
Binders, binders and more binders. Binders are such a great way to organize student information such as IEP goals, data, assessments, and progress to have at my fingertips. Another use in our class is binders as individual work systems that promote basic skills and independence. These binders are extra durable because we use them every single day.
The laminator and pouches are perfection. I was able to make all 11 students calendar mats to keep them engaged during our calendar/morning routine. Each one is individualized according to student ability. They are very proud of their mats. I also use the laminator and pouches for our independent work binder pages.
Thank you again for your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
"My First Period" Kits for Special Needs
Funded Mar 5, 2018Thank you for making our "Period Party" a huge success. I never dreamed I'd get such an overwhelming response to this project. The girls and their mothers were absolutely delighted with the "My First Period Kits".
At our party, I served chips, fruit, and drinks to all who attended. There were 4 moms and 6 students. The Community In Schools representative and the school nurse helped me give the presentation and to translate for our Spanish speakers. I adapted the nurses presentation to meet the language and cognition needs of my students. I created visuals that included a break down of the steps needed when changing a pad or pantyliner. I created personalized boxes in our restroom for the girls to store their items. They are learning to wear a pantyliner everyday so they to prevent accidents. While most girls this age also have difficulty charting on a calendar, my students will probably always find this challenging.
Again, thank you for supporting these wonderful girls.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Color Our World III - Special Needs
Funded Jan 31, 2018What a surprise to find that our ink was funded so quickly! Thank you for seeing our need and for knowing it is a need and not a want.
My students depend on low tech icons for visual supports, behavior supports, and communication. The communication icons are color coded to indicated their part of speech. While my students may not know parts of speech, the colors can indicate a communication pattern such V + Object (want cookie). Most of the materials I use are teacher made in order to meet specific student needs. They are more engaging in color. Students enjoy class made books that are in color. These books allow students to see pictures of themselves participating in activities while also helping to reinforce speech and language skills.
I appreciate your kindness and generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Special Needs Independent Work Binders
Funded Jan 10, 2018Who would ever think that children would be excited about big white binders? My students jumped for joy as we opened the boxes of materials. They squealed for each "office supply". It was really quite endearing.
I no longer have to piece together broken independent work binders. The new ones are absolutely the most durable binders I've ever seen. The "D" ring makes turning the pages much easier for the kids.
Thank you for supporting my efforts to create independent students. Your gift is appreciated by all of us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Special Needs: Weigh to Calm Down Autism
Funded Oct 2, 2017The weighted blankets are a fantastic addition to our classroom. The weight provides gentle, deep pressure that addresses the sensory-integration issues often associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This deep pressure promotes relaxation and helps break the cycle of a meltdown usually caused by the student's senses being overwhelmed or by anxiety.
As you can see from the photos I posted, the blankets have the desired effect. Students have free access to the blankets and often use them even before a meltdown occurs. The deep pressure sometimes helps them push through difficult academic tasks.
Thank you for your generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Autism Friendly Calm Safe Sensory Space
Funded May 3, 2017Thank you for the additions to our classroom sensory tool box. My students enjoy listening through the headphones because they block out other noises in the classroom. Using the headphones helps the students focus on the online adaptive platforms we utilize for independent activities across curriculum.
When students are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, they can pull out their mat and have a rest in the sensory area that is dimmed by the light filters. It makes for a soothing personal space where they can work on self-calming techniques.
I appreciate your support for my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Color Our World II
Funded May 16, 2017Printer ink is such a necessity for the needs of my students. I print everything in color because it is much more meaningful for my low verbal students. My students learn best by seeing themselves within the content they are learning. Our science notebook has a page with each student holding a science tool. Our class book, "My Class Friends", has everyone's photo in color.
I few of my students are non-verbal. They use communication icons to make requests, to know what will happen first, next and last, and to learn new vocabulary.
Thank you for making the start of our school year bright and in color.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Math, Life Science and Communication for Special Needs
Funded May 18, 2017We certainly had a difficult start to our school year due to Hurricane Harvey. Once school resumed, my students were overjoyed with the packages from Donors Choose.
The place value kit and math match-ups are a hit with my older learners. Both activities are challenging for them. The Home to School Communication Folders help students and parents stay organized. The inside of each folder is marked with "Stay at Home" or "Return to School" in English or Spanish depending on parent preference.
Lastly, by unanimous vote, we can not wait until spring to order our caterpillars for the butterfly habitat. The little ones kept asking where the butterflies were! The older students helped me mark the calendar to show everyone when we will order the caterpillars. The count down has begun!
Thank you for making the start to our school year brighter after such an awful event.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney
Classroom Necessities for Special Needs
Funded May 15, 2017Unfortunately, we had a rough beginning to our school year due to Hurricane Harvey. However, once school resumed, we began getting boxes from Donors Choose and things started looking up.
The items your donation provided allowed me to prepare student communication icons, label and tape work boxes, and hang student work, etc. My students use the mats for reading and in our "calming area". The dry erase markers are used in student notebooks to mark answers or trace. It can easily be erased so the pages can be used over and over.
The timers are a special education teacher's best friend! They help students to transition between activities and let them know when their "break time" is over. The timers help so much with classroom management and with student self-regulation.
Thank you so very much for being a bright spot in what was a difficult start. We made it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lloyd-Carney