Past projects 39
Global Read Aloud 2017- Creating Passionate Readers!
Funded Oct 18, 2017First, let me say "Thank you" from myself and my kids for your donation!
The great part of using the books you helped purchase is the joy the students get out of reading the book, just reading. I don't dissect the book the way I would a reading passage, however, I am still able to incorporate the skills in a more subtle way, through discussion.
For example, I am constantly "teaching" context clues, without using the words context clues. When we come across a word they might not know, I'll say, "What do you think this means?" "How do you know?", and we continue with the story.
The books help incorporate skills and lessons without taking the joy out of reading.
Reading "The Wild Robot" looks like a quiet room filled with students with their noses in the book. It is my voice, reading with expression, reading fluently, modeling how the students should read. It looks like a student in the front of the room in a chair(Our guest reader),enjoying their role as a Guest Reader. It is a room filled with chuckles, comments, sometimes gasps, as we worry about Roz the robot and where her adventures will take her.
I'd have to say that all of the students are enjoying the book. Some of them are on their second read, (they read the whole book on their own already), and yet still enjoy reading the book with the class. Many of them are looking forward to sharing the book with someone at home.
We truly appreciate your donation of the book, "The Wild Robot!"”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 4 other donors.Creating Enthusiastic Readers With Comic Books!
Funded Mar 20, 2017One of the mantras I repeat every year to my students, and their parents, is that the only way to become a better reader is to READ. Yes, I write read in caps, and I stress it to my parents. The word "read" is all over our classroom.
Graphic novels, provide a resource that my students want, and need. A resource that will motivate them to read, which of course is the ultimate goal.
A graphic novel is not as daunting as a novel, and it has pictures! Kids will more likely pick up, and actually read a graphic novel. Not fake read it, eyes scanning over the page, seeing nothing, but actually read it, which is awesome! :)
We use Daily 5, so a huge component in our classroom is Read to Self. Too many times we don't give kids a chance to just read. My kids sit in rocking chairs, video chairs, the couch, yoga balls, a standing desk, lay out on the floor, etc...and read. They have their own book bins, and they grab a book, and read. Our room is silent, except for the reaction to what's happening in their pages. A giggle here, a gasp there. The graphic novel is great for avid and struggling reader alike!
The graphic novels are not a tool to teach books, they are a resource to get my kids reading. As they read, without even knowing, they apply the skills they have learned at other times, other lessons.
I want my students to read. I want them to enjoy reading. And who doesn't love reading a graphic novel?”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by TOON Books and 3 other donors.We Are What We Eat!
Funded Nov 29, 2016Thank you so much for contributing to the health and well-being of my students. At first, I thought that my students would think that the resources you helped us purchase would be "lame." :)
But, contrary to my belief, they loved it!
We are using the new resources as a way to continue to get our students to understand how to stay fit and remain healthy, while having fun.
When my students first saw the resources, they were curious. A game about staying healthy? How much fun could that be? A puppet? They thought they were too old for the puppet.
But, after playing the game, using the cards, the poster, and the puppet, they have realized that they are actually learning not only how to stay healthy, but why it is so important.
These resources are also a fantastic component to what we are already trying to accomplish at our school. We incorporate healthy "snacks"(fruits or vegetables) every day, nutritious lunches, and we even have our school garden, which the students take care of. The food from the garden is used in the students' lunches.
The resources you have provided reinforce what we expose them to on a daily basis. Hopefully, they will take this information and share it at home, continuing the cycle of a healthy, fit, lifestyle.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and 5 other donors.One Book Connects Us to the World!:Global Read Aloud 2016!
Funded Aug 25, 2016There is no time of day I love better than reading aloud to my students. And that is what your donation has done, provided every one of my students with a great book and a chance to read aloud!
The room was quiet, and all you heard were reactions to the story, turned pages, and my, or our "guest reader's, voice. The students absolutely loved being the "guest reader" for read aloud! Groans erupted when the timer went off and we had to stop reading.
If the students were reading on their own, they were completely engrossed in their book. Whether they were at their desk, in a video chair, on a beanbag, 3 to the couch, or wobbling back and forth on the wobbly chairs, they were enjoying "Pax."
Another wonderful thing about "Pax" is that it lent itself to so many of the skills we taught our students. Teaching perspective? "Pax" alternates between Peter, the boy, and Pax, the wolf. Teaching dialogue? There were so many examples. Verb tense? Students saw it used properly, in context, which is so much better than a worksheet. One of my students said, "Mrs.Mims, this book is filled with figurative language!" Yeah! That is a skill I had already taught. I will take a book over a worksheet to teach skills any day, and so would my students. The fact that each child had their own book made whole group,small group, or independent work easy.
I think my struggling readers especially enjoyed this book because it told the story in a way they could understand. They could keep up, and they didn't feel left behind.
What a wonderful, generous, donation, you all have given us!
Thank you for giving us another opportunity to read with each other and the world!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Wriggle While You Work!
Funded Aug 17, 2016"Mrs.Mims," she said as she rubbed her hand over the Wobble chair, "I love these chairs." :)
This is the consensus of all my students. And not only the Wobble chairs, but also the standing desks and the video chairs.
These pieces of furniture have not only changed the physical space in my room, but it has also changed the way my students, or any students that enter my room, interact in and with our room.
When I watch them work, sitting or standing at the desk, wobbling on the chair, (in the beginning I had to resist the urge to tell them to stop), or rocking back and forth on the video chair, I realize that this is a great gift to them.
It allows them the freedom to MOVE while they work, which is huge. They are no longer relegated to desks in a row. It is a room for children.
Because of this they are more productive, more engaged, more open to learning.
They have also learned how to resolve issues of who gets to sit in the chairs, and when, creating a tighter community who respect each other.
We love and appreciate what your generosity has done for our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and 2 other donors.Exercising Body And Mind!
Funded Aug 5, 2016Dear Donors,
I told my students about the bikes before they arrived. When the boxes finally arrived, they could hardly contain their excitement. I gave them the responsibility of putting the bikes together because I am a strong believer in student ownership. Some of them came out well, some didn't.:) We were able to get them all fixed properly though. The students immediately took to the bikes, and they are using them up until today.
Not only have these bikes given my students a chance to stay active as they work, but they have also taught them respect, empathy, and responsibility. They share the bikes, they don't fight over them. They are conscious of who has not used it in a while, and who has. They are responsible for making sure they are put away at the end of the day.
In the beginning, I watched them struggle to learn how to ride the bike and work at the same time. They figured it out. Sometimes, I look around the room and smile as I watch them, pedaling and working, pedaling and working.:) This works wonders for my babies who feel the need to move constantly.
Your generous donation gave us 14 bikes, which gave me the chance to share 2 with the teacher next door who was struggling with 2 students who needed constant movement as well. Sharing is caring.:) Love that your donations were able to impact beyond our classroom.
My students will continue to pedal and work, burning off that excess energy, calming those frazzled, and sometimes frustrated, nerves. Thank you so much for the opportunity to add something to their space that adds to the element of "our" classroom."Thank you for making a difference!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and 2 other donors.Reading A Book with the World!-Global Read Aloud 2015
Funded Aug 19, 2015Thank you all for the books "Fish in a Tree!" They have led to a successful Global Read Aloud 2015 experience!
Many people think that once kids reach a certain age, they will no longer enjoy a book being read to them. Not true! My students have thoroughly enjoyed "Fish in a Tree", along with the read aloud experience.
Every morning, they pick a spot in the room, the couch, video chair, standing desk, carpet squares, rug, some even prefer their desk, with their very own copy of "Fish in a Tree', and read along silently with me.
Many of the students relate, or empathize, with the main character in the book, who has trouble reading. There are so many issues in this book that have led to fruitful, meaningful, discussions regarding mean teachers, dyslexia, and bullying, to name a few.
The author uses figurative language every other sentence, which is a hard concept for students to grasp, this book has made teaching this concept practically effortless, they learn while they read.
We have had parents come in and guest read, which the kids love. Some of my students have even volunteered to "guest" read!
We have used Schoology to connect with other classes and discuss the book online. We have participated in Twitter chats with other classes who are reading the book.
This book is not just a book. It has helped build speaking, listening, and writing skills. It has exposed my students to new vocabulary. And most of all, It has made my students, even the most reluctant reader, realize that reading can be fun, which is the most important lesson of all!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
LIVE from ROOM 8! Classroom News Reporters!
Funded Aug 19, 2014Thank you so much for your generous donation! My students were very excited about receiving the tripod and the Ipad, especially when they found out what they would be doing with them. They were used to using Ipads, but the tripod added another dimension. My students use social media, blogs, Twitter, etc... to share news, but they were really excited about being given the opportunity to pretend to be reporters, and share the news of what's going on in our classroom with their parents.
My students and I are using the Ipad and the tripod, along with the Imovie app to create video "newsletters" for our parents. Before we received the Ipad and tripod, I would post pictures and send emails to the parents. The video "newsletter" is a much more innovative and fun way for their parents to receive the same information. The students are allowed to choose what information we send out for the month. They videotape a "report" of events that they feel are important enough to share with their parents.It is amazing to watch them work with what they have created. Talk about student ownership in the classroom!
This project boosts my teaching, and my students' learning, because it allows me the opportunity to cover a variety of concepts in an engaging manner. This project covers a number of skills that my students can use and/or need throughout their life. Decision-making, collaboration, writing skills, listening and speaking, videotaping, and creating a movie.(the video "newsletter).
What an opportunity you have given us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
One Book-Global Connections! Global Read Aloud 2014
Funded Jun 16, 2014Thank you so much for the 80 copies of "Edward Tulane!" The students LOVED the book.Not just because they were able to have a brand, new, book of their own, (believe it or not, that is still a treat to kids), but because they enjoyed the story. They enjoyed following along as we read to them. They enjoyed the discussions that ensued each time we read. They also enjoyed the suspense of the next chapter, tweeting about the story with students around the world, and making connections to share a story. And most of all, they enjoyed a fantastic story!
We used the resources to enhance our participation in the Global Read Aloud project 2014. Each of our students read their books as we read aloud to them. We used the books to not only enjoy a great story, but to build connections with other students around the world.We skyped with other classes who were also reading the book. The students not only posted to our 5th grade discussion groups, but also created projects based on the book.
It's very difficult to get our "computer generation" students to read. The novel, "Edward Tulane", made readers out of our kids! It was very easy to incorporate this book into our curriculum. Story structure, higher order thinking, character traits, figurative language, you name it, it was covered! What a great way to teach what could otherwise be quite boring.
Again, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to enjoy a great story and participate in a great project!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson
Don't Play A Game: CREATE A Game! Coding In The Classroom!
Funded Mar 19, 2014Thank you so much for your contribution! We really appreciate your generosity! My students were very excited to receive the headphones! As a matter of fact, they were excited when they heard that I posted on DonorsChoose asking for them.:) Whenever my students were ready to code, we had to beg, borrow, and "steal" to get enough headphones. Of course, a few students were left out, because the other teachers needed their headphones for their classrooms. Well, because of your generosity, that problem is resolved, and each student has their own headphone!
The students are using the headphones when they are coding. Yes, my 5th graders are coding! We use a site called Tynker.com which teaches students how to code. This is important because it is preparing my 5th graders for careers that exist now, and will be there for them in the future. It's always easier to learn things at an earlier age. With the headphones you provided, my students sit in front of the computer and learn how to program. Imagine being able to develop videos, games etc... at the age of 10! Amazing!:)
I cannot teach coding, but I can provide the resources my students need to learn how to do so. Headphones might not seem as if they are important in the scheme of things, but they are. Imagine being able to sit, listen, and focus on what you are learning, without the distraction of sound from other students' computers. I have already evidenced the work my students are doing. The other day one of my girls approached me and said, "Mrs.Mims, I can code!" I just finished creating my "Knock,Knock,Joke" video!" She didn't write this on a piece of paper, she put it together using code! I am so proud of what my students have accomplished!
Thank you again for providing our class with the opportunity to learn to code!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hudson