Past projects 77
We're Wild About Our Outdoor Classroom! Part 3
Funded Oct 3, 2014Thank you again for the donations toward our new environmental learning library! As a teacher there are few things more exciting than opening boxes and boxes of new books for your students! There is so much learning that will be taking place between those pages and we are excited to get our new books in the hands of our students.
Now that the initial construction has been completed on our Outdoor Classroom, the next step in our process is going to be furnishing the space. In the coming year we will be laying a cement floor to the structure and installing convertible bench tables for student use. As you have seen from our photos, we also have a new storage shed that will house our new library and learning supplies. Once the weather breaks, you're not going to be able to keep the kids out of the Outdoor Classroom!
Throughout the years, I am anxious to continue building on this new student learning environment. Not only have you impacted my current students, but your generosity will continue to influence environmental stewards for many years to come. Thank you again for all you have done to positively change the climate of our school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and 6 other donors.We're WILD About Our Outdoor Classroom! Part 2
Funded Sep 24, 2014I cannot thank you all enough for the resources you have provided for the students of Bennetts Valley. Since we received our project supplies, the school PTO has gathered and installed all of the bird, bat, and insect houses, as well as the bird feeder and weather vane station. Because of the additions, the Outdoor Classroom has finally become a certified wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. Our students have been so excited about our 'official' certification that they have been researching ways to further encourage wildlife habitation at the space!
This fall the students have finally begun to visit our Outdoor Classroom, and while we don't have any permanent residents in our bird boxes yet, I have a feeling with winter approaching there are sure to be some new tenants. The kids have already spotted cardinals and finches perched near the houses! My students have used the rain gauge in the weather vane station to measure our very first snowfall. During our visits, the boys and girls have also been able to view wild turkey grazing in the nearby field. It has been so exciting to see this project come full circle and to finally have the kids learning in the space!
Throughout the years, I am anxious to continue building on this new student learning environment. Not only have you impacted my current students, but your generosity will continue to influence environmental stewards for many years to come. Thank you again for all you have done to positively change the climate of our school.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and 8 other donors.I Learn With iPads!
Funded Apr 30, 2014Thank you so much for your generous donations toward our classroom project. As you all know, the current economic climate has not been friendly to public school budgets, and the availability of supplementary supplies is limited at best. As a teacher, I'm always frustrated when the structure of a classroom revolves around the confines of desks and chairs. It is essential for 21st century students to be technologically savvy and work in a real-world environment, so I love to immerse my students in the newest technology and get them out of their seats collaborating as much as possible. Little by little I have gathered technological resources from garage sales, Scholastic book points, or from what was left over from previous teachers, but despite my efforts I still was not adequately providing my students with this essential component they needed to be successful.
The iPad is used daily in my classroom. Not only does it play a key role in my core instruction, but my students are using it on their own individualized goals, both independently and in cooperative grouping settings. I also recently purchased the Reflector program, which allows me to mirror the work I am doing on the iPad onto our classroom Promethean board. This has enabled me to provide large-group iPad instruction to my students, which previously was nonexistent, as well as professional development opportunities for my colleagues.
Above all else, as an educator I strive to teach my students academic independence, and the iPad has been a great resource at the backbone to that initiative. My students are now setting goals, self-monitoring, working independently, and are making gains at their own differentiated pace, which to my delight has been by leaps and bounds! My students and I are deeply grateful for your generosity, and it is our collective goal to take your selfless spirit and "pay it forward" as we grow together as life-long learners. Thank you again for all you do.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 3 other donors.We Want to Read What They're Reading!
Funded May 4, 2014Words cannot express how truly grateful I am to all of you who donated to our classroom project. The opportunities to provide supplies such as these to my students are few and far between, and it was amazing to come into school the morning our boxes arrived and watch my students jump out of their seats and cheer with excitement! As supporters of public education, you know how difficult it can be to motivate a discouraged reader. The listening station has given those students such a boost of confidence because they can finally "read what everyone else is reading!"
My fourth graders have been working exceptionally hard at piloting the Daily 5 program in our elementary school. The listening center has allowed my students to quickly organize and gather all of their Daily 5 learning materials for the "listening to reading" component, optimizing their instructional language arts time. The kids now have a fun, flexible, mobile station to diligently work towards their personalized goals. The supplies have been a fun and useful treat for them as they continue on their fourth grade reading journey!
I am anxious to continue building on this new technique in student learning. Not only have you impacted my current students, but your generosity will continue to influence readers for many years to come. Thank you again for all you have done to positively change the climate of my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 4 other donors.Take Us On a Magic Carpet Ride!
Funded May 5, 2014Thank you so much for your generous donations toward our classroom project. As you all know, the current economic climate has not been friendly to public school budgets, and the availability of supplementary supplies is limited at best. As I began researching the Daily 5 reading program, I was frustrated to find that so much of the structure revolved around creating a comfortable learning environment for my students outside the confines of their desks and chairs. Little by little I began gathering furniture and supplies from garage sales, Scholastic book points, or from what was left over from previous teachers, but despite my efforts I still was not fully providing my students with this essential component they needed to be successful.
The carpet is just what we needed to warm up our classroom. My room is small, but now it feels like an entirely new space with our new reading corner. My students are motivated to work hard on their Daily 5 goals because they have the incentive of using the carpeted corner. I am so thankful that I am able to break my students from the restrictions of their desks and help them be more relaxed in their learning.
Above all else, as an educator I strive to teach my students academic independence, and the Daily 5 reading program has become the backbone to that initiative. My students are now setting goals, self-monitoring, and are making gains at their own differentiated pace, which to my delight has been by leaps and bounds! My students and I are deeply grateful for your generosity, and it is our collective goal to take your selfless spirit and "pay it forward" as we grow together as life-long learners. Thank you again for all you do.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 4 other donors.JUMPing Into Fourth Grade Math!
Funded Jan 8, 2014Thank you for your donation towards our new Jump Math curricular materials. The resources have been invaluable to our classroom. I began utilizing them in preparation for our state standardized testing, and immediately I saw a newfound confidence in my students. Last year, my students were discouraged as they approached "the test." The Common Core requirements overwhelmed them, and as hard as they prepared, they walked away feeling defeated. This year, my students attacked their PSSA math testing with a positive attitude and were encouraged by the many new skills they had mastered. The change in the morale of my classroom in just one year was astonishing.
Like my students, I have also felt quite overwhelmed with the onset of the Common Core. In the past our school district has always been a leader in our mathematics curriculum across the region. However, our district has left it up to the grade-level teams to realign the curriculum and supplement our outdated materials to fit the new national requirements. The task has been endless. Since receiving Jump Math, I have realigned the fourth grade math curriculum to the Common Core with Jump Math as my primary resource. Having had such success with the program, many of my colleagues have investigated the program themselves, and now our district is pursuing purchasing the program for the entire district. Jump Math has breathed new life into what seemed to be a hopeless cause.
The resources you have given to our classroom have reached far beyond just 26 students and one teacher. Not only did you change the climate of their entire year, but you have also influenced the curricular decisions of an entire school district. Thank you again for all that you have done to support our public schools.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram
This classroom project was brought to life by Innovate Foundation and 2 other donors.Leaders are Readers Who Take The Daily 5 Challenge!
Funded Nov 30, 2012Thank you so much for your generous donations toward our classroom project. As you all know, the current economic climate has not been friendly to public school budgets, and the availability of supplementary supplies is limited at best. As I began researching the Daily 5 reading program, I was frustrated to find that so much of the structure revolved around creating a comfortable learning environment for my students outside the confines of their desks and chairs. Little by little I began gathering furniture and supplies from garage sales, Scholastic book points, or from what was left over from previous teachers, but despite my efforts I still was not providing my students with this essential component they needed to be successful.
The book boxes and clipboards, although basic supplies, have completely revolutionized the reading climate in my classroom. Not only are the kids able to organize their journals, books, and strategy cards, but engaged learning time has been maximized because students are able to easily start and stop tasks within the Daily 5 structure without losing focus.
Above all else, as an educator I strive to teach my students academic independence, and the Daily 5 reading program has become the backbone to that initiative. My students are now setting goals, self-monitoring, and are making gains at their own differentiated pace, which to my delight has been by leaps and bounds! My students and I are deeply grateful for your generosity, and it is our collective goal to take your selfless spirit and "pay it forward" as we grow together as life-long learners. Thank you again for all you do.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ingram