Past projects 9
Easel-ly Creative!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Our new easel has provided my students with the ability to take leadership of their learning. They have easy access to the easel for small group instruction. They are able to create questions and answer questions. Most importantly, they are able to share their findings, growth, and new learning in written and verbal form with the use of this dry erase easel. Their ability to share and interact with their peers has increased with the use of this instructional tool.
When the students first saw this tool they couldn't wait to get right to work. Their engagement was high and they were ready to show what they know. The easel is a large part of our small group area and has provided a space for them to learn and grow.
As the school year progresses, we plan to continue to utilize this tool inside of our classroom. We use it with our guided math problems. We also use it to help us with our reading instruction from guided reading to phonics. Our goal in the classroom is to have students continue to share and lead. This tool will provide students the ability to share out and lead with their knowledge. They are practicing their skills, but also their leadership skills and communication skills. This easel is providing our classroom with a space to expand our learning.
Thank you for being a part our of everyday learning by supporting our classroom project for an easel.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.It's "Time" for "Money!"
Funded Aug 13, 2019Our classroom is crazy about Math! We love telling time and counting money. Students are able to relate to this concept, but struggle with this concept. Students are improving their skills with the materials. They are able to have hands on manipulatives to help them interact with these concepts. They are able to dialogue about money and time.
As we progress with time and money students are relating their experiences to real life examples. This has been a positive experience. Students are making connections to the real life world.
In addition, this resource has helped the leaders in my class with word problems and having concrete examples to help them in this learning process. Most importantly, with this project they are having fun while learning all about time and money.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Positive Leaders in Action!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Our classroom is full of leaders. Our leadership skills are in full force with the resources we have received from this project. Students are reading about various leaders and dialoguing about their importance in history. This project has encouraged them to continue to research about more change makers that have had a positive impact on the lives of others. Students are showing responsible behaviors inside of the classroom and are sharing praise with their peers with the superhero buddies.
Our class was very excited to showcase their leadership qualities with the resources from this project. Students are reading about leaders or continuing to research those leaders. Others are praising the leadership skills of their peers the overall morale of our classroom has been high!
As the year goes on, students will continue to take their knowledge of leaders and create presentations to lead to their wax museum presentation by creating a PowerPoint about their favorite leaders. Most importantly, they are continuing to recognize the leaders within their classroom. This project has increased their confidence in recognizing how they lead throughout the classroom and school community.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.We Like to Move It-Move It! We Like to Learn!
Funded Sep 6, 2016My little movers have been moving away in the classroom with the items from this interactive project. Children are wobbling away throughout the day with smiles on their faces and a focused mind to get themselves ready for their next learning adventure. Children are bouncing high as they interact in centers. Children are moving side to side and round and round during guided reading. Children are bouncing sightly with each stroke of a pencil or click on the keyboard.
The students in my class, my little movers, have been actively engaged in the lessons with the help of the wobble seats and stability balls. These items are keeping my Inclusion Special Education Kindergarten class full of energy and motivated to move and keep their mind on task. They are focused more on the task with the help of our flexible seating.
Our school community and families are ecstatic with the items that support movement in the classroom and help encourage focusing skills and on task behavior to ensure learning is occurring. Thank you contributing to the everyday learning that occurs in our classroom and the future of my learners as they continue to benefit from the project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and 2 other donors.Target My Little Movers!
Funded Aug 25, 2016My Inclusion Special Education Kindergarten classroom is full of motivated and diverse little learners. As the year has progressed their minds continue to move and they are ready to learn. Through your donations my students have been able to wobble and learn. I have seen that my students are engaged more when they can move around the room while exploring the daily academic topics. My students are constantly wanting to use the wobble seats throughout the room. It has helped many of my students with various disabilities and those students that have a lot of wiggles.
My students and I are incredibly grateful for your donation and belief in keeping them active and moving in their learning day. Our incorporation of wobble seats in our classroom has become noticed throughout our school community. Our Physical Education teachers have used them in our classroom to teach core strength. Our families have shared how important the wobble chairs have been in their child's lives. Families are wanting to come and volunteer in the classroom to be able to see and experience the children and our wobble chairs.
Thank you for believing in my students and I to increase their need to move and learn. They are enjoying each day as they wobble and learn!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and 3 other donors.What Time Is It? Math Center Time!
Funded Aug 6, 2016Cheers are heard throughout the room when it's Math Center Time! My students are incredibly happy to see what center they will be exploring today! Play dough mats, number locks, building, addition and number recognition centers are building their number sense, fine motor skills and peer to peer interaction. They are exploring and working together to solve math problems while smiling and engaging in rigorous centers. As a teacher, I have seen an increase in motivation to explore numbers and the mathematical world around them. They are increasing their manipulation of shapes and using higher order thinking to create and construct things. My students are teaching and applying the concepts in the math centers with their peers.
My little math learners are having a positive math experience as they explore various math topics. Through your donation and dedication to my learners my students are learning different math topics and exploring various math topics. Most importantly, they are having fun all!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by the estate of Dorothea Lutz and 3 other donors.Hip, Hip, Horray for our Little Movers!
Funded Aug 26, 2016The sounds of children laughing, feet running, balls bouncing and encouraging cheers are all the sounds you will hear in and around our school with the materials from our Hip, Hip, Hooray for our Little Movers project. My students have received the items from the project they have created to increase their physical activity. The goal of their project was to increase their physical activity and get their bodies moving throughout the school day. They wanted to work together as a team to create games and have fun interacting with their classmates.
They helped gather and sort balls, cones, jump ropes. We have modeled how to use these items inside and outside of the classroom with collaboration and help of our Physical Education Teachers. My little movers were ecstatic to use the basketball net. They created ways they could use this basketball net inside and outside of the classroom. They have explored games they can play and created their own games.
As their teacher I have seen how important my students receiving these materials has increased their desire to move throughout the day. They have a positive attitude while using the materials with their peers. Their leadership qualities are blossoming and their friendships are growing as they feed their bodies with the benefits of physical activity. My little movers are incredibly thankful for supporting them and as their teacher I am grateful for your generous donations that are providing my students with the chance to move throughout the day.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and one other donor.Time to Listen! It's Listening Center Time!
Funded Jan 26, 2016My students have received their listening center and books and they couldn't be more excited to listen away! As I announce to the class that it is literacy activity time the cheers come, especially when it's their time at the listening center or when a new listening center book is added. The listening center, leveled books and headphones have provided my students with the opportunity to listen to a fluent reader while I am reading with small groups during Guided Reading. Students are actively engaged in reading while I am able to work in small groups. The listening center provides my kindergarten students with the opportunity to listen to a fluent reader in school and practice the reading skills they have learned in class.
They are able to review their sight words in the context of the text. As well, as respond to the characters, setting and sequencing of the story. Students also get to discuss their favorite part of the story. They love to discuss books with their friends after reading. My students' excitement to go to the Listening Center has improved their love for reading.
The Listening Center technology in the classroom has made my struggling readers want to read. They are not afraid to read along. Their love for reading has enhanced and they are more willing to take risks while reading. My parents are excited that their children have this opportunity in the classroom. My student's siblings want to come in and listen. My class want to share this gift with their family and share their love for reading in the Listening Center. Thank you for being a part of my students' educational journey. Your generosity has allowed my students to grow as readers.
Thank you again,
Ms. Krysta Szymanik”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
My Super Readers!
Funded Aug 23, 2014Thank you so much for donating to our Super Readers! Project. My students were so thankful and grateful to see the numerous amount of books that were donated to them. My students said many great things about the books that they received, such as: "We can practice our book handling skills. We can read books with great illustrations. We love to read. I am excited to have new books to read."
My students have explored these books in guided reading lessons, independent reading and partner reading. They are engaged in the various texts on different levels throughout the room at their book nook areas or at our guided reading table. They are interacting with the texts as they read by reading sentences, searching for the newest sight words that they have learned and examining characters and settings.
My students are motivated to read more with the new books provided. I have seen an incredible change in their book handling skills. Many of our previous books were not in the best conditions from years of use. My students are determined to read these books, but they value the importance of taking care of them inside of the classroom. They are reading more and showing improvement in their reading levels. The more they read the better readers they will become. As an educator having this project funded was one of the most valuable gifts I can give to my students. Books are so important to our young children and exposing them to books is an essential part of their educational journey. I am excited to watch them read independently or with a partner. I am grateful that I can bring a group of students to the guided reading table and read with them based on what they need.
Thank you for taking being a part of my students journey as readers! You have put smiles on my students faces, as well as mine!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Szymanik
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 3 other donors.