Past projects 17
Steps to Success: Writing Materials for Students
Funded Feb 18, 2025Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader!
Funded Dec 4, 2024I can not even begin to tell you how much my students are enjoying the materials provided by your generous donation! They are excited to learn the high frequency words that they need in order to read and write. We have created lots of games where they need to look deeply at the connections of the words in order to decode them. They love having new and exciting materials to make this happen.
We do a great deal of work using sound boxes and breaking apart words in order to hear each sound in a word. This helps with their reading and their writing. They have a level of confidence now that they did not have before because they have an awareness that they are not quite reading on grade level. With these new materials, I am able to keep them engaged and excited about working with words throughout our daily routine.
These activities would not be as invigorating or exciting for them without these new materials.
Many of my students are second language learners and they do not have the ability to practice these skills at home. It is essential that I make the most of every moment that I have with them. Thank you again for your generosity! You are making a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
Foundational Skills for All
Funded Feb 11, 2024I thank you so much for your generous donation. My students have enjoyed using the materials. I have students who struggle with sounding out grade level words and using these fun and hands on materials has helped them to stay engaged.
Many students like new and interesting ways to work with words and word building and so these new materials have helped us tremendously. I am always trying to find ways to allow them to sound out words in creative ways that they get excited about.
I have students who are second language learners and struggle with sentence writing as well as with word building. The materials that you have allowed me to purchase have made such a difference for them . It is giving them the opportunity to have a stress free way to explore word building and sentence writing. I can even send some of these materials home to allow them to include families in what we are doing here at school.
Thank you again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
Kindness Counts
Funded Aug 31, 2023My students were overjoyed when they received the new desk pets! They felt proud of themselves for earning something that they worked very hard for. They try to show responsibility within the classroom all throughout the day. This was a wonderful incentive for them to strive for. They know the responsibilities within the classroom and they saw the connection between classroom behavior and earning the desk pet. We use the pets as motivators for the other students to want to make appropriate choices.
One of my students struggles a great deal with making appropriate choices throughout our day and this was a huge motivator for them to do the right thing. This activity helped that student to feel like they belong with the other students who were able to earn a pet.
Students take the pets out to recess and are allowed to take them home from time to time. This activity would not have been possible without your generosity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
Building Connections While Building Minds
Funded May 11, 2023Thank you so much for your donation to my project. My students love using STEM in our classroom and have such a need for interactive learning with their peers. Social emotional needs are at an all time high and my students thrive when able to interact with peers in a safe and supportive way.
They love the STEM kits as a creative way to interact with each other and work together toward a common goal. These activities allow them to think creatively and abstractly and work together while problem solving. They come up with a plan collaboratively and work through steps of the process together. It is such a treat to be able to allow them the time to earn these rewards as part of our classroom environment. Thank you again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
Small Hands, Big Ideas
Funded Nov 29, 2022My students were so excited when we received our latest set of materials! They are so engaged in our learning activities and being able to get their hands on new items is so invigorating for them! The earphones help us to continue to listen to stories online; especially my struggling readers. They are able to listen to material that would be difficult for them if they were expected to read independently.
We love to work with numbers in many ways so using the number tiles allows us to build equations, look at place value and build number reasoning skills.
Grammar is always something that we struggle with and the grammar game has allowed us to work on a grammar skill while practicing our social interaction. The game has actually inspired my students to create their own grammar game to practice at home with parents!
Thank you so much for your generosity. These interactions would not be possible without your support. I appreciate it very much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.Empathy and Responsibility Challenge
Funded Sep 7, 2022I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your generous donation to my project. The smile on my students' faces is priceless. Having these incentives of desk pet animals is something that I will do each and every year moving forward. They were so excited when I told them about the project and that they were going to have the opportunity to earn one of these pets. Almost every student in my classroom has earned one at this point in time. They had to show responsibility in order to earn one of the pets and continued that empathy and kindness in how they care for these pets. It has done so much for my classroom environment and the social emotional growth of my students. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to provide them with this experience!
Thank you once again for being so generous!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
The Best Learning Is Fun Learning!
Funded May 4, 2022I wanted to thank you for the supplies to make learning fun in my classroom. We have been using the materials in reading to segment sounds in words and in breaking apart numbers math. Using hands on materials like these really make it more engaging for the kids and helps us to stay motivated and excited for our learning adventures.
The students were so excited when they first saw the materials and they thought we were just going to "play" with them. They were beyond impressed once they realized that we were also going to use them as a learning tool. Their engagement was over the top!
Thank you once again for donating to my project. I am always looking for ways to motivate my learners and get them excited for hands on learning. That would not be possible without donations from supporters like you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and one other donor.Reading Makes the World Go Around
Funded Dec 19, 2021Thank you so much for the donation to allow me to be able to purchase the books for my students. They have loved being able to get their hands on actual books and begin to explore literature circles. My students have developed a love for reading and I am beyond grateful to have given them the chance to explore literature in this way. It fills my heart when my students show me that they are excited to read and explore new books.
These next texts allow me to give students "just right" books that they are excited to read. At this point in the year we are able to explore and push our thinking deeper by working in literature circles. The students each take on a role and dive deeper into critical thinking while reading great texts. It helps us grow as a community of learners by giving us time to work together.
My struggling readers are usually apprehensive to pick up a new book but the excitement build around these books really gave them the motivation that they needed to want to open the books and dive right in.
Again, I would like to thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
Reading and Writing Essentials
Funded Oct 21, 2021Thank you so much for the donation! My students love reading and getting their hands on new books! We were able to add to our classroom library and choose a new book to enhance our love of literature. We lost so many books due to Covid and sending books home with students. Many of the books never returned to school. This is so appreciated to be able to add to the books that they can read.
I like to give time for reading independently as well as reading at home and in small groups. We have started to implement literature circles and these books are allowing us to be able to differentiate the book choices.
My students who are struggling to find appropriate book choices are really loving the ability to interact with these new book titles.
Thank you again for your wonderful donation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Penna
This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and one other donor.