Mrs. Lawrence's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 37

• Outstanding Teacher Training in World Music

  Funded Dec 24, 2016

  I just arrived home from the World Music Drumming workshop in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The experience was absolutely incredible. I had the privilege of studying the music of Ghana with Sowah Mensah, and the music of Cuba with Josh Ryan. I met other music educators in my classes at the workshop and now have a professional circle of friends to reach out to for planning and questions as I bring the music I learned back to my school to my students. I plan to use many of the musical pieces I learned in my classroom, but my favorite and the one I plan to teach to my fifth graders was the drumming parts that accompany Gahu dancing. It was a challenging yet fulfilling week, and the highlight of the workshop was the final sharing concert where I performed an African drumming piece, a Ghanian gyil piece, a Ghanian piece with singing accompanied by gourds, a West African dance, a Native American song accompanied by drums, and a finally a round that I sang with about 100 other workshop attendees.

  I grew exponentially as a musician and a teacher over this past week. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting this project and helping me attend this workshop. I know it wouldn't have been possible without you. grew exponentially as a musician and a teacher. My students this year and for years to come will benefit from what I learned. Thank you for supporting music education and for supporting me!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• A New Xylophone for Beautiful Music

  Funded Jan 20, 2017

  Our xylophone has made itself at home in our music classroom. Students from every classroom have had a chance to test out its beautiful sound. Kindergarten through second grade students have played steady beat accompaniments on it while singing, while third through fifth grade students have improvised, played composed melodies, and created their own melodies on this wonderful instrument. We are so happy to have an additional xylophone so that more students can participate in active music-making instead of waiting for a turn.

  I am humbled by your generosity and kindness. Without you, keeping music engaging for my students would be a lot more difficult. Thank you so much for helping me bring music alive for these kids with this xylophone!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• Building a Musical World Through Literature

  Funded Oct 18, 2016

  We have been having a wonderful time with our new books. Kindergarten through third grade students have been busy learning to play original songs and sound effects that accompany these great books. Some of the activities have been full of fun and silliness, and others have left a thoughtful silence at the end. I have found these lessons to be some of the most engaging I have ever done with my students. Even the kinderg�rtners are completely hooked! The best part is that the kids are coming up with creative new ideas on their own to do with these stories. I'm thrilled that they have taken ownership of their classroom and their learning.

  I love that these books are ours. They will always be in my classroom and I will always have quick access to them. I won't ever have to wait for them to be returned to the library, or wait for them to come from another school. They are always with us! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness and generosity. These books have been incredible, and they will continue to serve my students for years to come! We couldn't have done it without your wonderful support! Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• World Music Drumming

  Funded Mar 9, 2016

  Since receiving our new drum, my students and I have been playing up a storm! The kids were thrilled when they saw another drum their music classroom. I can't even describe how wonderful it is for each of my students to have their own drum to play. They no longer have to wait for their turn to play and participate in music making activities. We are moving more quickly through the curriculum, giving me the opportunity to extend and expand upon lessons. In the spring when I hold our after-school drum ensemble, I will turn away one less student because of lack of instruments.

  I am humbled by the generosity you donors have shown my classroom. You have made an incredible impact on my classroom and in the lives of my students. I feel I can't thank you enough for your support. You have done a great thing for us! Thank you for this amazing gift!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• A Drum For Everyone

  Funded Oct 20, 2015

  Our new drum quickly found its place in our classroom. The students were so thrilled with it, especially our fourth grade classes, where we don't have enough instruments for everyone to play at the same time. The drum has been played every single day since its arrival at our school. Soon the kindergarten and first grade students will begin drumming, and when I showed them the drum, they became even more excited for their chance to play it.

  We have been using the new drum to learn the drum ensembles in the World Music Drumming curriculum. We have also played a number of drum pieces written by percussion guru Jim Solomon. The students have used the drum to keep the beat, play rhythmic patterns, and improvise on their own. Soon our after school Drum Ensemble will begin rehearsals, and we will use the drum in rehearsals and in our final performance at the school.

  We will continue our adventures in drumming with our new instrument. I am so excited about the future of music and drumming at our school. We have a unique program that other schools do not offer, and your contributions towards the purchase of this drum helped strengthen this program. This drum will last for years, giving hundreds of students the opportunity to find their voice through rhythm and drumming. Thank you so very, very much! We appreciate it!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

  This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and one other donor.

• Our Own Place For Music Class

  Funded Jul 12, 2015

  I would like to take a moment to let you know how wonderful you all are for donating to my classroom rug project. The rug has exceeded my expectations! It has been simply fantastic, especially for my younger students. The squares on the rug have given the preschool, kindergarten, first, second and third grade students a very specific place to sit with boundaries they can easily see. I rarely have to redirect one of these students to keep their hands to themselves because they know where their space begins and ends. I no longer need to count off for groups, I just say a color and they are instantly together! The students have repeatedly said how soft it is, how colorful it is and how it brightens up the room. I am just so happy to have it!

  Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the support I receive from people like you, who donate their time and hard-earned money to Donors Choose and to my classroom in particular. Please know that your generosity has made a huge difference in my teaching life and in lives of the hundreds of children who walk into my classroom each week. Thank you so very much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• Keep Our Instruments Safe!

  Funded Jan 28, 2015

  Since arriving in our classroom last spring, the three bass xylophone stands have had a wonderful impact on our music classroom. These stands make it easy for my students to stand comfortably and play. The stands help them focus on music making rather than sore knees and tired backs! Having the large instruments on these stands has made setting up for concerts much faster and easier. Rather than having two or three students slowly and carefully carry the instruments out of the room and into the auditorium, one student can simply roll an instrument in under a minute! The ability to roll the instruments around the room gives us the opportunity to use them in in cooperative small groups. Since our three bass xylophones have been on the stands and off the floor, there have no incidents of students running into them or tipping them over. The kids have commented on how great the stands are to transport the instruments from one side of the room to the other and to the auditorium for our performances.

  Thank you again so very much for your kindness and generosity. We really appreciate it! It is because of people like you that our music classroom keeps getting better and better!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• Building a Community of Drummers

  Funded Feb 5, 2015

  We received our new Remo tubano last spring. Since its debut in my classroom, it has been played just about every day the students have been in school. The older students were very excited about the new drum, as we don't have enough drums for every student to have his or her own. One more drum mean less sharing and more playing! Since school began this past August, the drum has been played by students in grades 2-5. The students have played ensembles from the World Music Drumming curriculum, have improvised rhythms, and have created their own rhythmic patterns on this drum. It will be used again next spring in our school's Drum Ensemble, a before-school performance group. It has become an integral instrument in our classroom.

  Thank you so very much for this wonderful gift! My students absolutely love to drum. This drum will have an impact on students today and for years to come. We really appreciate your generous donations. My students are lucky to have you on their side! Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

• Orff-Schulwerk Level II Teacher Training

  Funded Mar 22, 2015

  I attended the Orff-Schulwerk Level II teacher training class in Lincoln, NE this past summer. It truly has made an incredible impact on my teaching since school began four weeks ago. I better understand the process of teaching music using Orff-Schulwerk, and I can see a big difference in my students already. I feel better prepared both in lesson planning and in my actual teaching. Every day, in every grade, in every class, the students are singing, moving, playing instruments, and having fun. I feel I have finally reached the point in my Orff-Schulwerk teaching that I can allow my students to take more control over their own learning. They have come up with some amazingly creative creations already! Each day I think of more ways to extend lessons to give my students more opportunities to practice skills and create on their own.

  I am so very thankful to each and every one of you for your generous donations. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to attend this class. It warms my heart that there are people in this world that are willing to give so freely to help someone learn and grow as a professional. It is because of you that my seventeenth year of teaching is off to an amazing start. I can't wait to see where my students go in music class this year! Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 75 other donors.

• A World of Music

  Funded Aug 24, 2014

  Thank you so very much for your donation to my project, "A World of Music". Your kindness allowed my classroom to receive new shekeres, claves, cabasas and a rainstick. The older students use the shekeres and claves during our World Music Drumming lessons. They don't have to wait for their turn to play anymore. We've been able to cover far more material because of this. Many of my students had a chance to use the rainstick and cabasas when we created music and sound effects to accompany stories. When our package of instruments arrived, my students were incredibly happy and excited. They said they couldn't believe how nice people are to donate money to purchase instruments for them.

  It is because of people like you that my students have had these wonderful experiences in music class. I am so happy for and appreciate of your support. It means so much to me and my students. Once again, thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Lawrence

  This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 20 other donors.