Past projects 20
Look! Look! Glorious Books!
Funded May 18, 2021Look! Look! Glorious Books! will provide my students the opportunity to grow as readers. They loved receiving their books before the summer break. The books were a surprise to them, I didn't tell them anything about the Donorschoose project. The looks on their faces and the cards they later created truly expressed their sheer joy and gratitude. They could not believe how wonderful people could be to support them and my project.
Once the initial shock wore off, I let my scholars pick their own books. I wanted them to be independent about their choices and not impose my point of view on the types of books that would best for them. Having them to choose their own books allowed them to pick books that pique the curiosity for learning new things or that expressed their own unique personalities. Some students that have eclectic personalities which is so awesome therefore they were able to choose the perfect books that fit them perfectly.
Thank you again to all the of donors that supported my students, as well as my project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Equitable and 3 other donors.Creepy Creatures
Funded Mar 29, 2021Hip Hip Hooray, to a fantastic and engaging Science lesson on the characteristics of animals. My students loved seeing the insects and other specimens encased in glass. We discussed the differences between insects, spiders, invertebrates, and vertebrates. I create Science chart explaining the six animals categories: mammal, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish. It was cool for them to learn these categories because they discovered spiders were not consider a part of the insect family because of certain characteristics.
They're initial reactions was are those real insects and spiders? Yes, they are, their eyes grew so big with amazement, they couldn't believe specimens were real. I explained, scientist have to use live creature in order to preserve them for studying. My students enjoyed the hands on experience with the crystal encased specimens. My boys love seeing the long horn beetle and the praying mantis, as for my girls they loved looking at the butterfly and starfish.
My students gained more insight into the characteristics of the animals due to the hands on experience of seeing each creature up close. These resources piqued their curiosity into the life of insects, spiders, and other creepy, crawly creatures. Overall, the lesson was a big success and I own it all to Donorschoose, as wells as the donors who supported my vision.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 2 other donors.Coding Rocks!
Funded Dec 13, 2020Thank you supporting me on this PD journey, for virtual PD it was well organized, I loved the virtual campus lobby. The lobby allowed each participant to click on certain people and you would earn points. When you clicked on the agenda each day was planned for every lesson, lunch break, meeting other participants in the lounge to share what we learn and they even had a Live Comedy hour. Amazing!!
It was my first time attending The Pathfinders Winter Institute and all I can say, "It was an AWESOME, eye-opening experience. WOW!" My brain literally was overloaded with wonderful things I can implement within my class. I learned intricate coding through the Scratch program geared to upper grades and Scratch Jr. teaches basic coding for my kiddos or lower grades. After learning some coding from the Scratch program , I was actually scratching my head because I felt lost, but my instructor was helpful. Scratch Jr was easier for me and I will be capable to teaching it to my students, especially since it is catered for the lower grades. During the PD we had projects to create on our own then we shared what we created with the group. I enjoyed see the other project person created. Scratch Jr. will be great tool to using in my class. My students will totally enjoy experimenting with the different Avatars, backgrounds, and coding their Avatar's movements within its virtual world. The Scratch and Scratch Jr. coding programs ROCK!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and one other donor.Footsteps Towards Diversity
Funded Dec 3, 2020The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go. Dr. Seuss
I love this quote from Dr. Seuss, because that is my philosophy when it comes to reading and sharing stories with my students. They learn to explore various traditions, cultural aspects, and experience what life is like for other people around the world. When I chose to read a particular story, I like to give the students the background about the authors, such as where they are from and how life might have been in their country.
Before I read the story, we do a picture walk through with the book, it helps me to determine my students' thought process about the story and what purpose is the author trying to convey. It's interesting to see how they process their thoughts, then share those thoughts before I began to read the story. Awesome is the only word that comes to mind. My students enjoy when I introduce them to new and exciting story, especially when they see characters that looks like them. I think they appreciate those stories more than any others I have read in my class.
Thank you once again for supporting my vision of bring diverse literature to my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and one other donor.Wondrous World of Robotics!
Funded Sep 6, 2020Thank you so much for supporting my students exposure to the Wondrous World of Robotics. My students rarely have access to S.T.E.M. or technology due to income and environmental reasons. When I showed the Make-a-bot to my students their faces lite up with excitement. They thought it was so cool learning about the Design process of engineering.
During our Science lessons, we were discussing the steps the occurred in the Design process. I showed them how I built the Make-a-bot by following the engineers' plans. I explained that if I didn't follow the steps exactly or if I didn't assemble the parts correctly the design would fail. When I explained and compared the M-Bot parts like the human body, they understood the importance of each component of the M-bot was essential in order for it to work.
On the day of the build, I place my students into three groups, two of the groups worked well together. It became the girls versus the boys, of course I was partial to my girls. # Girl power! Just so you know the girls won and they were excited about their accomplishment. We need more young ladies interested in the world of
S. T. E. M. therefore, I truly appreciated the support I receive each time one of my projects gets funded. Thank you again for your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by IF/THEN, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and one other donor.S.T.E.M. Love !
Funded Jul 10, 2020When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you're making a commitment and difference in that person's life. Encouragement really does make a difference. Zig Ziglar
S.T.E.M. love is fantastic for my kiddos because I can expose them to science, technology, engineering , and Math. I love technology and science because you can create, experiment, observe changes and think outside the box. Even though, school will be starting virtually, I can create engaging technology lessons and activities for my students.
The 6 in 1 Solar kit will be an awesome activity to show my students about solar energy and how we a power many thing with the Sun's energy. I know am excited to teach this lesson, so I know my students will too. After we discuss solar energy, I will show them how to design their own solar panel with basic household items. This will be so fun. I can't wait to work with my students on Solar energy. They will be excited. S.T.E.M love! I thank you again for supporting my student's learning you are making a difference .”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 3 other donors.Reading Is Powerful!
Funded Jul 10, 2020You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. Zig Ziglar
Reading is Powerful !
Since I will be working virtually, the reading fluency task cards will be used during my Morning jump-start routine. Plus, these resources will assist me with reteaching certain concepts my students missed over the summer. I will also implement this during my breakout sessions as a review once we have learned the concept. Once we return to the brick and mortar, I will be capable of create peer to peer learning center for my struggling readers. The other resources within my project will be used for centers and independent work.
I believe my students will be so excited to work with work games, Building fluency card bank, matching and sorting vocabulary, as well as creating their own stories. This year will be a wonderful test, but we will overcome and be Victorious.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.Going the Distance in Learning
Funded Jun 8, 2020"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." Zig Ziglar
I Love this quote by Mr. Zig Ziglar because my students would tell me, "Math is hard" or "I don't like Math and I can't do it." I would tell them, " Don't start with a negative, you should always start with a positive attitude." You can't do anything with a "Can't Do perspective". You can do anything, as long as, you have a Can do attitude.
I find myself starting this school year with a negative factor therefore I have changed my perspective with my students learning, to rephrase Mr. Ziglar's quote, I may not have a great start, all I need I do is just START!
Due to COVID-19, we will start this year virtually, as a result, my students and I will need to very creative when using these manipulative during our Math Blast lessons. Math blast is a quick jumpstart activity, to get my students ready for math. These resources will help to increase my students math fluency with regrouping, double-digit addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. This will be an exciting year for my students and I through the world of virtual learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.A Journey Through Literature
Funded Mar 7, 2020Thank you for supporting my project "A Journey Through Literature ". During this dark and perilous time, I reflect upon a song by Toby Mac called" Light Shine Bright". It starts, Lights shine bright everywhere we go, Music for the people to illuminate the
Soul..., I would play this song for my students every day in class. I told them let your light shine where you go and don't let anyone steal or dim your light. I think about them every day during this pandemic, are they shining their light during this season.
I know I supposed to talk about how these books would have assisted me with my struggling readers, as well as my ELL students, with their fluency and comprehension of the text, but my thoughts go towards their well-being. They would have been a wonderful tool for my students to increase their reading levels and perhaps boosted their confidence in reading.
Lastly, I wanted to shine a positive light on this dark time in my students lives. Lights shine bright everywhere we go. Thank you to all my donors and be safe.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by A group of anonymous donors and 2 other donors.The Coding Experience
Funded Dec 12, 2019My students truly enjoyed receiving the Bee Bots. They were so excited and quite curious to see how they worked. When I first introduced the Bee Bots, they weren't sure what to expect or what they were going to learn. When I explained to them how coding worked their eyes lit up with excitement.
I also explained to them, how they were going to learn basic coding skills. I described how they would be capable of controlling these Bee Bots. When I demonstrated how to control the Bot, then placed it on the floor they were awestruck with delight to see it move. My students were totally engaged and they loved learning a new skill.
I decided to challenge my students to a coding competition, in which they have to plan and work as team to control their Bee Bots through had obstacle course. My classroom is setup into four groups of five, and it will be a major competition between these groups. Each group has to plan, calculate how steps forward, which way to turn {left or right}, and lastly work as a team. I will keep you posted on how the competition went. Thank you for supporting my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Williams
This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Supporter and 9 other donors.