Past projects 3
Making Math Fun With Math Games!
Funded Jul 26, 2018Words cannot express my gratitude for your generous donations to this project. Thanks to your donations, math has come alive in my classroom. Students are engaged, excited and best of all learning from the games I was able to purchase through this project.
Students want to know each day, "Can we play Mobi?" This has quickly become a class favorite. The problem solving, teamwork and practice of math skills required to play makes me eager to let them play. Who would have thought practicing math facts, and creating number sentences could elicit so much joy in students? It makes me so happy to see students willing to take risks and stretch themselves in math as they try and create more complex number sentences.
Molkky is also a class favorite. Students love that they can get outside and play with their friends. I love that they are practicing their addition skills. It really is a win, win.
When we can take math out of a classroom setting, or change it from practicing route facts or paper and pencil methods and replace it with meaningful learning games and experiences students learn so much more.
What are students clamoring to do now? Play multiplication and division jenga! As we begin the topic of multiplication students will now have a fun way to practice what can be seen as dreaded multiplication facts. And really it is all thanks to you, donors! I could not create this fun environment for students without your support. Through your donation, you have made our classroom a fun, low stress environment that fosters independence and risk taking in math. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. White
Flexible Seating for Flexible Minds
Funded Aug 19, 2016Dear Donors,
I can't begin to thank you enough for your generous donations which allowed me to include flexible seating for students in the classroom. Since the fundraising goal was met before the first day of school I was able to put together the new seats and have them ready for students to use right from day one. Let me tell you, students were thrilled when they entered the classroom and saw all the great seating options. They were abuzz with excitement as they had the opportunity to try out the new seats. We talked about all of our flexible seating options as a class and practiced using each type of seat, so students could get an idea of what they thought they would like to use best throughout the day. We talked about how a wiggle stool might be the best spot for math, but students may want to change up their seating for reading. Different seats to meet different needs. How many teachers can say they can provide that for their students?!
The green seats have been the perfect addition to floor seating. Students no longer just have the rug to sit and work. After lowering a table so students could sit and work, the green seats were a great fit. Students love setting them up to a comfortable angle, grabbing work, and getting cozy as they work. The green seats are a coveted spot for students looking to have a quiet space for working or a place to read with a partner. They have also made center work more fun when students can snuggle in and work from the floor.
The blue wiggle stools have also been a big hit in the room. Students enjoy trading in their regular chair for a wiggle stool to have at their desk. Whether students are working on math, worksheets, or a partner activity the wiggle stools have proved to be a great spot for learning. Students are able to move around and wiggle as they work. The blue stools have also been a great addition to a center work station as well. All set up at our center table, students are always eager to get to the blue stool station so they can move around as they work.
Life in room 118 has been great with our flexible seats. Students are excited to take ownership over their seating choice. As a result they are more focused, motivated and ready to learn. Through your generous donations you have made flexible seating a reality for my students. I can't tell you how much that means to me, thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. White
Go Global With Minis!
Funded Sep 4, 2014I cannot begin to tell you what a difference the iPad Minis have made in our classroom. Through your generous donations you have sparked imagination, inspired creativity and taken learning to a whole new level in our room. Having the iPad Minis available to my students has changed the way I teach and in turn the way students learn. We are gearing up for our big Costa Rica project which was the main reason why I requested the iPad Minis.
To prepare students for this research project they have used the iPad Minis to learn about Costa Rica. I created a webquest for students where they answered questions about Costa Rica using a kid friendly website. Students have also used the iPad minis to watch short video clips about Costa Rica. Both the web based research they did and the videos they watched have sparked conversation and questions. These will be a great jumping off point we as we continue to learn about this Central American country.
For our big project students will collaborate to create iMovies about different regions of Costa Rica. Now that all students know some general information about Costa Rica, they will be able to use the iPad Minis for an in depth look at specific regions. In January students will be given group assignments and begin collecting information about specific regions of Costa Rica. The iPad Minis will be essential as they collect information from both website and app resources. Once they have finished collecting notes they will apply the information they have learned by creating an iMovie that will be shared with the class.
To prepare students for their Costa Rica projects students have used the iPad Minis to create other iMovies on a variety of topics. In the classroom we call this "Teach a Friend". Once a student has mastered a topic they can brainstorm how they would put it in a movie format, fill out a graphic organizer and then film. This has provided them with great 21st Century skills that the Common Core requires them to know. They have the opportunity to work cooperatively, use technology, practice both writing and speaking skills and synthesizes information in a clear and concise way. By creating these iMovies students prove they understand what they are learning in a fun way.
Students in the classroom absolutely love using the iPad Minis! There is an app for just about everything we do. Whether it is to brainstorm a writing assignment with a graphic organizer, practicing math facts, watch a science video, learn about Costa Rica, take a trip around the world with Google Maps, the iPad Minis have met so many learning needs. Students always want to know when they will have a chance to use the iPad Minis next. I hear students sharing ideas, taking turns and excited to learn whatever topic we are covering when the iPad Minis are involved. This simple piece of technology has transformed my students into eager learners.
Thank you so much for your donation. The impact these iPad Minis will have on my classroom not only this year but for years to come is incredible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. White