Past projects 13
Can You Hear That?
Funded Jul 8, 2022Your recent donations have helped my class in two distinct ways.
First, many of my students are having trouble blending sounds together to create simple words. By using the red telephones, my students can hear themselves saying individual phonemes. This has increased their ability to hear the sounds that phonemes make as they are blended together to make words. Khloe has particularly liked using the phones. She has recently mastered a number of letter names and sounds directly due to using this tool.
Second, the head phones that you donated have enabled me to set up a listening center in my classroom. Up to six students listen to a single book being read to them. As they listen they follow along with the text, and turn the pages when prompted. In this way I can increase the number of times they can hear a book being read to them properly. My goal is to increase their comprehension as they begin to read on their own.
Both of these gifts assist by students learning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
Look How Well I Can Cut!
Funded Jun 7, 2022We so appreciate the wonder colored paper that donoated to our class. I am always trying to improve my student's small motor skills, so that they can improve their penmanship.
Cutting is a great way to do that. We are always working on cutting projects in our class. Recently, we worked on an art project about what we find inside of pumpkins. Then we used your paper to cut out a cococnut tree and stamp my student's names climbing up the coconut tree.
With your new supply of stronger construction paper my students are becoming so much better at cutting. I already see their printing improving as well.
We so enjoyed getting your kind gift on bright construction paper, and we have so many things we are going to make with them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
Games That Teach Math Skills and Social Skills
Funded Aug 23, 2021My students loved the math games. I taught my students how to play all of the games.
The students enjoyed counting the discs on the white towers in the "Think Fun" game. There are two others ways to play with this game that we have not yet tried.
I was so pleased how many of my students we able place the tiles in the frame of 100 numbers. They were so determined to put them all in the right place.
The students especially liked the Balance Game. A cute frog holds two plates like scales. The students add green frogs on one side and a weighted number on the other side. If they used the right number the scales are level. They loved playing this game.
The last game was a board game called "Sum Swamp." The students loved trying to roll even and odd numbers and making it to the finish line first. I am so pleased with how my students were able to practice their math skills with these delightful games.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 3 other donors.Let's Strengthen Our Little Hand Muscles by Having Fun
Funded Aug 14, 2019I wanted to let you know how wonderful it was to receive all of the great activities for strengthening small motor skills, like printing and cutting.
I have many students who struggle with holding their pencil. The game where the students use tweezers to put colored bears in matching colored containers was my kids favorite. They also loved the lacing cards. There are 26 colorful lacing alphabet cards in this set. My young students love to lace them with the colorful strings. Likewise the beading set keeps them entertained while they are strengthening their hand muscles. They do not even know that they are doing that.
I know that all of these activities will help my students become better at holding a pencil and cutting in the near future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Take a Seat and Read a Great Book
Funded Aug 14, 2019We were so excited to unwrap the new carpet. Our library area used to have an old beige shag carpet. This new carpet has bright green palm leaves all over it. It is so different from the old one. The students love to read in our library now. They even will go to the library to finish other work, because the soft new carpet is so inviting now.
The whole room is brightened because of the bright color of this carpet.
We so appreciate your kind donation. We will enjoy this gift for a long time. I like to teach my students about gracious people like yourself, who are so willing to help.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
Let's Read About Math
Funded Aug 14, 2019I wanted to let you know that my class is really enjoying the wonderful math books. Each one has been so unique. The children loved the one where they looked for numbers in the city. They found numbers in fences, trees and on buildings. Some of them they really had to look hard to find.
They are learning their two-dimensional shapes and three- dimensional shapes right now. The books about shapes helped them see shapes all over our room.
Every time I read one of these great books, it lets me make a real life connection with my kiddos. It is my goal to teach them not to be afraid of math, because it is all around us. Your books are going to help me with this goal.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 5 other donors.Even More Eye and Hand Coordination Fun!
Funded Feb 2, 2019Our students are having a great time learning how to shoot the basketball. The balls are just the right size for my kiddos. They are learning how to use their muscles and improve their hand- eye coordination. They are getting better at it every day. They are loving playing with each other.
The ball catchers are a big hit as well. The kiddos were frustrated at first, because it was hard for them to do. We kept encouraging them to keep trying. It was so fun to see them learn how to swing the ball just right and catch it in the bright cups. The look on their faces was priceless as they yelled, "I did it." Some of our students are still working on it, but they will get it soon.
Thank you so much for giving my students such a fun way to move and exercise their little bodies on our playground.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
This classroom project was brought to life by ESPN and 6 other donors.Headphones for Learning
Funded Dec 5, 2018We are a charter school that uses a number of computer programs to supplement our curriculum. The students like to work on these programs in the room. With 29 students, it is impossible to have them on the computers at the same time without headsets. Your generous donations have made it happen. I can now ask our students to all go the same program at the same time without the room becoming complete ciaos. I have seen such growth in my students since the beginning of the year. Your headset will help that to continue. Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
Eye and Hand Coordination Fun!
Funded Oct 18, 2018My students in kindergarten and our next door neighbors in first grade were so excited to receive the portable basketball hoop and balls and the cup ball-catchers. They loved trying to sink a basket and catch the balls. They were thrilled to have some other activities to play with while on our peaceful playground.
We have been talking about all the things that they do not know how to do "YET." Lots of the students were amazed that they could catch the ball in the cup. Others needed to practice before they were successful at catching the ball. Still others have not mastered these new skills yet.
I liked watching them learn to take turns, to work hard at a new task, and have fun. I know that these new additions to our playground will help our students learn how to become more coordinated when it comes to physical things and learn to work hard at something they have not mastered "yet."”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton
This classroom project was brought to life by Nickelodeon and National Fitness Foundation and 4 other donors.Teach Me What to Do, Don't Tell Me
Funded Aug 21, 2018Our class has so enjoyed listening to and reading the books that you helped our class acquire. Each book has such lessons to teach my students. One of the books taught my students that it is okay to make mistakes. Another book taught us how we should take care of our bodies to be healthy. My students are still learning how to become good friends. These books are re visited often. We refer to them when a situation comes up in class similar to one of the characters in these wonderful books. My students are learning so much from your delightful gift of so many wonderful teaching books.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Grafton