Past projects 24
Enhance our Reading Experience!
Funded Nov 8, 2013Thank you so much for contributing to my class' Donors Choose project. We love our new chairs and use them constantly throughout the day! They look so beautiful in our classroom that whenever other students stop in to visit, they always enviously ask how we got them! I think that that's a sure sign that the chairs truly are kid-friendly!
The kids and I were amazed that the chairs arrived just three days after our project was fully funded (yay, Amazon!) I set them up at the small group table while the class was at P.E. When they came back from their specials, you would have thought it was Christmas morning in our classroom! They were literally squealing with glee when they caught sight of the new chairs. I tried to move on with the morning to teach, but everyone was too distracted. They were all DYING to sit on the chairs, so we had to dedicate a few minutes to letting everyone try them out. They all commented on how much more comfortable the chairs were than the buckets they sat on before!
On the first day we got the chairs, I observed as students- lost deep in thought- moved freely in their chairs as they worked on solving math problems. It is so natural for them to move while they work- I am just so thankful that they now have chairs that allow them to do so. I do believe that the opportunity to move while working helps the kids concentrate. They continue to love sitting on these chairs and the cool-factor definitely helps them take more pride in our classroom. Thanks again for contributing to my project! We really love our chairs!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg
Replacing Miscellaneous Classroom Supplies
Funded Mar 18, 2013It was so hard for my students and myself to lose our classroom in February. On top of all of the books and supplies, I lost over five years worth of hand-made learning tools and many students lost sentimental items that were in their desks. We were all so devastated to learn that our stuff was lost- and it seemed impossible that we could ever rebuild a classroom environment that we had worked for months to build at the start of the year.
However, thanks to donors like you from all over the country, my students and I have truly learned how fortunate we are, and our classroom is finally back to normal. In the words of one of my students, "we never knew how lucky we were until we lost it all!" This has become the new philosophy in our classroom. Because of your kindness and generosity, my students and I have seen firsthand what it means to be caring community members- and I know that that will be a lesson that they carry with them throughout their lives. We are now grateful for every item and learning tool that we have in the classroom. You, in being caring citizens, have become role models for my students and myself as community members!
Again, thank you so much for donating to our classroom. We were very excited to receive the books and supplies- the kids were ecstatic to see that our Dr. Seuss collection had been replaced! We were also glad to receive our favorite pens and some other supplies from your donation.
Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg
Replacing Books Lost in Class Fire #2
Funded Feb 23, 2013It was so hard for my students and me to lose our classroom last month. On top of all of the books and supplies, I lost over five years worth of hand-made learning tools and many students lost sentimental items that were in their desks. We were all so devastated to learn that our stuff was lost- and it seemed impossible that we could ever rebuild a classroom environment that we had worked for months to build at the start of the year.
However, thanks to donors like you, my students and I have truly learned how fortunate we are, and our classroom is finally back to normal. In the words of one of my students, "we never knew how lucky we were until we lost it all!" This has become the new philosophy in my classroom. Because of your kindness and generosity, my students and I have seen firsthand what it means to be caring community members- and I know that that will be a lesson that they carry with them throughout their lives. We are now grateful for every item and learning tool that we have in the classroom. You, in being caring citizens, have become role models for my students and myself as community members!
Again, thank you so much for donating to our classroom. We were very excited to receive the books this week- the books you replaced had come from a previous Donors Choose project and the kids had been devastated to lose them! My students had grown accustomed to having exciting books to read each night and it was really tragic for them to lose the many books they had read and loved, and the books they were anticipating reading. When the students saw the big boxes of graphic novels arrive in the classroom, they were overjoyed to have them back! They actually began arguing about who got to read them first!
I believe that there is no gift more influential on a student's life than the gift of reading- and that is what you have given them.
Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg
Books Ruined in Classroom Fire! #3
Funded Mar 14, 2013It was so hard for my students and me to lose our classroom this year. On top of all of the books and supplies, I lost over five years worth of hand-made learning tools and many students lost sentimental items that were in their desks. We were all so devastated to learn that our stuff was lost- and it seemed impossible that we could ever rebuild a classroom environment that we had worked for months to build at the start of the year.
However, thanks to donors like you, my students and I have truly learned how fortunate we are, and our classroom is finally back to normal. In the words of one of my students, "we never knew how lucky we were until we lost it all!" This has become the new philosophy in my classroom. Because of your kindness and generosity, my students and I have seen firsthand what it means to be caring community members- and I know that that will be a lesson that they carry with them throughout their lives. We are now grateful for every item and learning tool that we have in the classroom. You, in being caring citizens, have become role models for my students and myself as community members!
Again, thank you so much for donating to our classroom. We were very excited to receive the books this week- the books you replaced had come from a previous Donors Choose project and the kids had been devastated to lose them! My students had grown accustomed to having exciting books to read each night and it was really tragic for them to lose the many books they had read and loved, and the books they were anticipating reading. When the students saw the big boxes of books arrive in the room (especially the mystery novels!) they were overjoyed to have them back! They were begging to be the first to read them!
I believe that there is no gift more influential on a student's life than the gift of reading- and that is what you have given them.
Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg
Graphic Novels to Engage Reluctant Readers
Funded Dec 7, 2012Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classrooms. When our boxes of books came in last month, the students were practically dancing with excitement over the new arrivals!
Many of the single books you donated were used right away. These books never even made it back to my library because as soon as one student finished one, another student would snatch it up to read next. They especially loved the Bone and Hardy Boys Graphic Novels.
Unfortunately, our classroom burned down last week and I hadn't taken pictures of the students using the books yet. The books I got from this project were one of the most difficult things for me to lose- because many of the book sets had never even been opened! We had planned to do our graphic novel study in May- after all of our testing was over.
The students were also sad to lose these books- when I announced on Monday that our class caught fire and everything was ruined, one student raised their hand and asked, "but what about the Bone books?" Another student asked if I could bring a Nancy Drew book out of the burned classroom even if it was wet- just so he could finish the last page. So, while we only had the books for a short time, they really had an impact on the students.
I truly am so thankful that you all cared enough about our class to make a donation. I appreciate that you helped out a classroom and a teacher that you have never met. It really, really meant a lot to us.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg
Books Ruined In Classroom Fire!
Funded Feb 19, 2013It was so hard for my students and me to lose our classroom last month. On top of all of the books and supplies, I lost over five years worth of hand-made learning tools and many students lost sentimental items that were in their desks. We were all so devastated to learn that our stuff was lost- and it seemed impossible that we could ever rebuild a classroom environment that we had worked for months to build at the start of the year.
However, thanks to donors like you, my students and I have truly learned how fortunate we are, and our classroom is finally back to normal. In the words of one of my students, "we never knew how lucky we were until we lost it all!" This has become the new philosophy in my classroom. Because of your kindness and generosity, my students and I have seen firsthand what it means to be caring community members- and I know that that will be a lesson that they carry with them throughout their lives. We are now grateful for every item and learning tool that we have in the classroom. You, in being caring citizens, have become role models for my students and myself as community members!
Again, thank you so much for donating to our classroom. We were very excited to receive the books two weeks ago and have already been able to start our book clubs up again! My students had grown accustomed to having exciting books to read each night and it was really tragic for them to lose the many books they had read and loved, and the books they were anticipating reading. When the students saw the big boxes of books arrive in the classroom, they could hardly contain their excitement. We could begin reading once more! I believe that there is no gift more influential on a student's life than the gift of reading- and that is what you have given them.
Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schenkelberg