Past projects 25
Breathe for Change Reading Material and Supplies!
Funded May 14, 2021Participating in the Breathe for Change 200 Hour Training has transformed the way that I approach my teaching practice. It provided intensive practice in leading mindfulness, social emotional learning, and yoga activities for students and teachers alike, as well as motivated me to practice mindfulness and gratitude as ways to deal with daily stressors at school. The reading materials and supplies allowed me to dive deeper and support my own learning. This training has certified me to teach yoga classes to my students and in my community. I learned about making yoga inclusive and culturally responsive for all and the importance of honoring the history and philosophy of yoga. This experience allows me to add something unique to my school community that will support students physical, mental, and emotional well being!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 4 other donors.Health and Wellness to Empower Young Learners- Part 2!
Funded May 4, 2021Participating in the Breathe for Change 200 Hour Training has transformed the way that I approach my teaching practice. It provided intensive practice in leading mindfulness, social emotional learning, and yoga activities for students and teachers alike, as well as motivated me to practice mindfulness and gratitude as ways to deal with daily stressors at school. This training has certified me to teach yoga classes to my students and in my community. I learned about making yoga inclusive and culturally responsive for all and the importance of honoring the history and philosophy of yoga. This experience allows me to add something unique to my school community that will support students physical, mental, and emotional well being!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron and 7 other donors.Health and Wellness to Empower Young Learners
Funded Jan 21, 2021Participating in the Breathe for Change 200 Hour Training has transformed the way that I approach my teaching practice. It provided intensive practice in leading mindfulness, social emotional learning, and yoga activities for students and teachers alike, as well as motivated me to practice mindfulness and gratitude as ways to deal with daily stressors at school. This training has certified me to teach yoga classes to my students and in my community. I learned about making yoga inclusive and culturally responsive for all and the importance of honoring the history and philosophy of yoga. This experience allows me to add something unique to my school community that will support students physical, mental, and emotional well being!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 5 other donors.Writing About STEAM
Funded Oct 23, 2020My students have received their books and the stories have already begun to inspire curiosity. We are currently operating in a hybrid school model which means that I don't currently get to see every student every day, and we haven't had a lot of time for science instruction so far. These books will be a great jumping-off point as we begin our science study.
In my opinion, one of the secrets to effective science instruction is providing opportunities for students to communicate about the phenomena they are discovering. I chose these books specifically because they model how to use various writing genre (narrative, informational, and opinion) to communicate about scientific information and discoveries. These mentor texts will support writing instruction in addition to reading and science. After we read a book together, we discuss the author's craft and analyze the choices they made. We then try to imitate some of their techniques in writing about our own topics. This strategy allows students to be successful in writing about science and also enhances their vocabulary and reading comprehension at the same time.
Thank you again for continuing to support my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 2 other donors.GLAD to Be Teaching STEM
Funded Jul 25, 2019As I clean, organize, and prepare my classroom for a new school year, I realize how many materials have been provided to my students thanks to the generosity of my community. I’m getting excited to meet my new students and I am so grateful to you all for supporting my classroom. This donation will allow me to start the school year off right, implementing the routines and strategies I learned through the GLAD program to enhance my students’ learning. It’s going to be an amazing year!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 2 other donors.Powerful Play for an Inclusive Classroom
Funded Dec 18, 2018Thank you for your generous contribution to my students. Thanks to our engineering resources, students were able to spend the first few minutes of the school day building, creating, and collaborating with their classmates. Adding new games and materials to our morning STEM bins kept students engaged in these activities up until the very last day of school.
The biggest lesson my students learned from these new materials was probably flexibility. We have enough for everyone to play with something, but not everyone gets their first choice. The marble run set was by far the most popular of the new materials, and students did argue over it almost daily. This was a fabulous opportunity for me to reiterate the importance of flexibility and being considerate to others. I encouraged students to solve their own problems and use appropriate cooperation strategies. Even the big kids need these lessons over and over.
Being able to give my students opportunities to learn through play always makes me feel good. Thank you so much for your continued support through this process!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by CRUNCH and 9 other donors.Technology for Young Geographers!
Funded Jan 30, 2019It took the better part of the school year but our class has made a lot of progress mapping rural villages in The Gambia! Without your contribution of computer mice, students would not have been able to experience the world of work through the eyes of a Geographer. They learned that precise and accurate maps are so important to communities for many reasons, including health and safety. Thanks to the computer mice, my students were able to map these villages very carefully so that health workers and first responders can find them in cases of emergency. Many students had never used a mouse before, but have since opted to use one for all of their assignments! Thank you for this simple yet important addition to my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 3 other donors.STEM for an Inclusive Classroom
Funded May 8, 2019Thank you for supporting my students and their social-emotional growth. They are going to love the additions to our classroom STEM activities. These activities will help them explore STEM concepts and will be particularly engaging as we start state testing this month and need new ways to unwind afterwards. I appreciate everything you do for us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 5 other donors.Let's Hydrate!
Funded Sep 13, 2018Our Fourth Grade Running Club has inspired my students to be active, healthy, and persistent. Running was very hard for most of them at the beginning of the year, and I would hear a LOT of complaints. But they've been slowly increasing their endurance and most of them can now run a mile without any complaints at all.
The water bottles that you've donated are contributing to their success. Students are working to achieve Running Club Membership by getting their total number of laps run this year up to 50! They can now stay focused on their task while staying hydrated. We live in a very warm area, and our school doesn't have much shade. Students used to constantly leave PE to get water. Now they bring their water with them and keep on running!
My students are also enjoying keeping their water bottles on their desks while they work. This again keeps them focused on their school work and prevents them from leaving the room for water breaks. In the field of education, saved time is a real gift! Every minute counts!
I appreciate your dedication to helping public school students. Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and 5 other donors.Flexible = Comfortable = Ready to Learn
Funded Sep 3, 2018Flexible seating is such a gift! Thanks to your generosity, my students now have the freedom and flexibility to learn in kid-friendly ways - sitting on the floor, perched on a stool, or lying on their stomachs on the carpet.
Flexible seating has been a buzzword in education for a while now. It should be obvious that kids learn better when they are comfortable, and benefit from having some power over the environment they spend most of their day in. Flexible seating allows different seating options for different students, lets students choose where they sit, and is comprised of furniture that can be moved around to serve different functions.
Your donation of stools and floor cushions for our classroom has significantly enhanced our already flexible seating arrangement. When the materials arrived, students unpacked them and decided where to put them. Now, whenever a student is feeling restless, they have more way to solve the problem. Several times a day I have a student tell me, "I can't focus here. I need to choose a more comfortable seat."
Thank you, as always, for supporting your community!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Killeen
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and 3 other donors.