Past projects 10
Reading for All With Decodable Books
Funded Oct 22, 2020I am blown away by your generosity and support for my project. As I have learned more and more about the science of reading (what research shows about how kids learn to read), I have been eager to apply the strategies to my classroom. One critical component of enforcing good reading habits and skills in students is having them read decodable texts. Decodable texts allow students the opportunity to put into practice the phonics skills that they have been learning. However, decodable texts can be difficult to find, and many are either not engaging or feel too childish for older students.
The books that I received through this project were designed to be both decodable and engaging for older students who have struggled with reading in the past. The stories come in a variety of levels, so there is a book for every reader. So far my students have been thrilled to have books with engaging storylines that they can read for themselves. I know that these books will provide a critical confidence boost for my students to thrive as readers. Thanks for all your support in making that happen!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 2 other donors.Furthering Education: Research-Based Literacy Instruction
Funded Oct 18, 2020Thank you so much for supporting me in furthering my education to better serve my students. In the busy season of the first few weeks of school, it has been difficult to make time for personal reading. However, as soon as this package arrived, I began reading and haven't been able to stop!
I'm currently diving into Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read and The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System - And How to Fix It. Both texts have been eye-opening in revealing how changing the basic principals of what I teach and prioritize in my classroom can have huge impacts on reading outcomes. As I read, I've been keeping notes on what small changes I can begin implementing now and what larger changes I'd like to implement over time.
As I think about the impact this will have on my current and future students, I am filled with excitement. The knowledge that I'm gaining from these texts can truly change the trajectory of students' reading lives. Thank you so much for your generosity - I would not be able to go on this journey without you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
Immigrants: They Get the Job Done (A Social Studies Investigation)
Funded Oct 10, 2020Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and my students' learning. The globe and wall maps have already been such an important visual tool. As students wash their hands (which they do frequently!) they get to explore a map of the world and discover new places.
I can't wait to begin our immigration unit and share with my students the wonderful books you helped provide. As author Chimamanda Adichie discusses, we must be wary of the "dangers of a single story." With this vast collection of engaging picture books, my students will be exposed to the stories of many people and families from around the world. These texts will help grow them into knowledgable, empathetic global citizens. I cannot thank you enough for providing this learning opportunity for my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.Picture Books for Global Citizens
Funded Sep 16, 2020Thank you so much for your generous contributions to this project! I, and my students, are so grateful. In the few short weeks that we have had together this year, Social Studies has quickly become our favorite period of the day. As you can see in the pictures, we have A LOT of questions about government and the election! This collection of books has been the perfect resource to dive deeper into our curiosities.
After sharing our questions about the government, we started learning about the Constitution (or the PLAN for our country). We learned about the separation of powers, and we role-played trying to pass a law through different branches of the government. My students loved the role-playing so much that they asked if we could make it a daily activity! We have only touched the tip of the iceberg of our learning, and I can't wait to see all the learning that continues to happen thanks to these amazing texts. Your generosity has truly made an impact on the lives of the students in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 4 other donors.Early Series Books for Lifelong Reading
Funded Feb 21, 2020Thank you so much for your generous donation to help get this project funded! In the time before schools transitioned to remote learning, I saw a noticeable change in the excitement level of many of my early readers. These new series books truly had an impact on our love for reading! Many of the bins of new books remained empty because as soon as one student returned a book, another would check it out - that is a great sign in a classroom library!
Because of your donation, I was able to send my students home with decodable and engaging books to help keep them entertained while they are home. I'm so grateful to know that they have incredible books to keep them busy during this uncertain time.
There is truly no way to overstate how big of an impact these books had on our classroom and my students. We are so lucky to be supported by amazing donors like you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
iPads to Put the Individuality Back in Learning
Funded Feb 21, 2020Thank you so much for your generous contribution to fund my "iPads Put the Individuality Back in Learning" Project. While teaching looks vastly different now than it did when I first envisioned this problem, what remains the same is my gratitude toward you for helping me get this project funded.
Before schools moved online, I was able to set up learning stations in Reading, Writing, and Math where students got to engage with individualized lessons and activities on the iPads. Because of the foundation and familiarity the students gained with using the iPads, our transition to online learning has been much more seamless than it would have otherwise been.
While I am not sure what the future holds in the classroom, I am sure that these iPads will remain a critical part of our classroom structure. With the new importance of being ready to transition to remote learning, these iPads feel even more important now than when I first requested them. So while I don't know exactly what schools will look like when they are back in session, I do know that myself and my students will be so grateful to have these iPads to continue to support our learning journey!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
Social-Emotional Book Baskets
Funded Aug 13, 2019Myself and my students are so grateful to you for providing the resources we need for our social-emotional learning units. We just completed our first unit on building community where students discussed topics like the following: What is a community? What does a community need? How is listening important to a community and how can we be good listeners? These discussions have helped us think critically about the kind of classroom community that we want to be and how we can best support one another.
We started off the unit by reading Alejandro's Gift, a story about a desert farmer who initially feels isolated and lonely. Then by providing water for the animals around him he is able to help meet their needs as well as his own. Using that story as a model, we discussed what sorts of things our community needs to be successful (things like kindness, listening, and friendship). Throughout the unit we read other books together and talked about the examples of community that they set. Students then had access to the texts to revisit on their own.
This was just the start of our social-emotional learning journey and I can't wait to see how the books will continue to support our learning throughout the year. We are so grateful for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Who Needs Words to Love Reading?
Funded Aug 13, 2019Although I expected the wordless picture books to be a hit, I could never have imagined how much my students would love and gravitate toward these books. From the first day of school, I have seen many of my students come to life as readers. Whereas before books felt daunting and intimidating, now books are something to be enjoyed and shared.
As I reflect on the impact these books have had, I picture one student in particular. At the start of the year, his confidence around reading was really low. When I put a basket of books on the table, before even trying to read them he approached me to say that he couldn't read and couldn't find any books that he enjoyed. I pointed him toward the wordless picture books, and although hesitant at first, he quickly fell in love. Now, I watch him during independent reading time poring over books and excited about sharing the stories he reads.
With these wordless picture books, students have been able to build their confidence in and love for reading. I can't wait to see how their reading identities will continue to grow throughout the year. Thank you for all your support in helping us find books that we love!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Expanding Classroom Walls: iPad for Lesson Sharing
Funded May 11, 2019Thank you so much for your support in funding a new iPad and accessories for our classroom. We use the iPad everyday for our math lessons and I'm already seeing the impact on how students are learning. Additionally, the option to record the screen while I teach has allowed me to create videos that relay the content we teach in class to families.
The students love using the iPad to assist in their learning. They particularly enjoy getting to use the Apple Pencil to show how they solved a problem. Additionally, they are enjoying using various e-readers and playing educational games on the iPad. It has been so fun to watch how excited they are to explore all the new topics and books they have access to with the iPad.
As the students and I continue to learn and explore with the iPad, I can't wait to see all the ways this technology will impact my teaching and student learning. It is such a joy to see my students grow and I'm so grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 7 other donors.A Library for Us All
Funded Oct 1, 2018Thank you so much for your help in providing a robust and diverse classroom library for my students. The arrival of these new books has re-invigorated a passion for reading in our classroom. Students can't wait for independent reading time the and the chance to explore new books from a variety of genres. Some students have even started "book clubs" of students interested in the same books and they share books amongst each other and give each other recommendations. It is so exciting to see how their love for reading is growing.
This product has been particularly impactful for one of my students. This student is an English Language Learner who is still developing in his language skills. While he is passionate about reading, many books prove to be difficult for him because of the language barrier. When we put the new books in our library, this student immediately gravitated toward the "March" graphic novel series by John Lewis. With the support of the graphics, this student is comprehending the text better and better and he can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Watching my students grow in both their reading skills and their passion for reading has been so encouraging. We always tell our students that the only way they will get better at reading is by reading. With these new books, our students are begging US for more reading time, rather than the other way around. Thank you so much for supporting us in this learning journey, all this growth would not be possible without your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Loren