Past projects 8
Movement Through Gaming
Funded Oct 14, 2023What a thrill to have this project funded so quickly! My student's couldn't believe me when I told them we were getting a Nintendo Switch. To say they are excited about it would be the understatement of the year.
It has been amazing watching students increase their stamina for physical activity. We've seen an increase in respect and sportsmanship as they learn to play both together and on opposing teams. It has been a fun journey for me to learn different modifications I can make to the Switch to make it more accessible for all of my students to try.
Again, thank you so much for your donation that made this all possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and one other donor.Fiber Arts for All Abilities
Funded Sep 9, 2023I can't thank you enough for your generous donation to our fiber arts equipment. It has been incredible to see students try new things and find joy in making something with their hands.
We finished our first weaving last week. Some students are working on choice making and got to pick which color comes next. Other students are working on multi-step directions and have mastered the rhythm of using the loom.
I have a student with limited mobility. They don't like working hand over hand and there is not much they will manipulate meaningfully with their hands. After a few weeks of watching other students model using the loom, I put in in front of them and they reached for the heddle (the rectangle that holds the threads) and pulled it toward themselves (what you're supposed to do after each pass). I was floored! We now have a system where they collaborate with another student to complete the steps together.
My wheels are turning on more wonderful projects our class can make this year and beyond. Both the loom and the knitting machine are so accessible that every one of my students can utilize them in some meaningful way.
Thanks again for being a part of making this all possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 8 other donors.Measuring Up With Task Boxes
Funded Nov 16, 2021Thank you so much for your generous contribution to my classroom. Having new, matching boxes for activities has made getting my students set up with work tasks streamlined and accessible. Students can easily pick what they would like to work on and take turns with resources.
The Montessori screw driver board was a great way for me to assess my students functional fine motor skills. I was able to confidently recommend a student for a job site using tools to deconstruct electronics because I had seen him in action in my room. He is thriving in this role and he might have missed out on the opportunity without this tool.
Another fun development has been the use of pom-poms we made with the tools you donated. In art therapy, our students are creating sound dampening panels for our cavernous music therapy space. They needed something to fill the spaces between egg cartons and student-made pom-poms have been a perfect solution.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and 5 other donors.STEM Fun for All
Funded Oct 4, 2021I can't thank you enough for your generous donation. Having games and resources to share with our program has made the transition to full in person instruction more meaningful for my students. There are daily Connect 4 matches and lots of learning around shapes and how they fit together. Headphones have made a huge impact on our independent iPad time. Every student can now listen to their own program at their own volume. Having games like bingo and "Guess in 10" available to fill in during down time has kept my students engaged while we continue to navigate this year in person.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and 4 other donors.Adaptive Gym Class at Home
Funded Sep 25, 2020What a treat to learn this project is fully funded on a Friday afternoon! I can't wait to get these materials into my student's hands.
Your donation will bring joy, stability and physical fitness to my students during what continues to be such an uncertain time. I look forward to all of the ways our students will be able to use this gym equipment to continue working on their gross motor goals.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by Mission Tiger and 5 other donors.Hands on Geometry
Funded Feb 26, 2019Thank you for your commitment to my classroom! I can’t wait to dig into the Which One Doesn’t Belong book and look forward to the conversations and learning that will spark. My students are going to be thrilled with the new manipulatives and games! Thanks for helping me make math fun and meaningful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
Hands on STEM Supplies
Funded Aug 23, 2018Thank you for your donation to my classroom. The students were thrilled when I first brought out the Osmo kits. Having the tactile manipulatives has made learning on the ipad so much more meaningful.
We have been using the letter tiles in reading across levels. From identifying the beginning sound to spelling out the whole word, my students are having fun but making gains in their reading skills too.
The pizza math game has been the most popular! My students love this game and I love that it is accessible to the wide range of learners that I have. My students who are working on 1:1 correspondence have fun following directions to make pizzas. My more advanced students are learning how to make change.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 2 other donors.Graphic Novel Library Launch
Funded Aug 15, 2018I can't thank you enough for bringing my first Donors Choose project to life! I have students choosing to read actual books over using their ipads! My students have been so motivated by titles and characters they recognize at levels they can read independently. I have been using the picture books for small group book clubs. We have gotten to have in depth discussions about Malala, Mandela and the "Lost and Found Cat" story from the Syrian refugee crisis. It has been such a joy to be able to use current books that really capture my students attention and foster their own love of reading.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maria