Past projects 5
Bilingual Books for Babies
Funded Dec 31, 2024What a great way to end this year! Your generosity will have a positive impact on the lives of many babies who will be introduced to the joy of books and stories at an early age.
Wishing you all the best for the new year 2025!
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
This classroom project was brought to life by Allison and Austin McChord and one other donor.Books on Diversity and Color Images for Multilingual Students
Funded Feb 22, 2022The impact of the books donated through this project is extremely positive for my multilingual students. I teach 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who speak a variety of languages at home, and they are developing the English language. These titles are great examples of "mirrors and windows" (metaphor created by Rudine Sims Bishop) where students see themselves represented in the characters, settings, and plots, or where they explore new experiences, places, and people. These books also address issues that our world is currently experiencing, such as racism, climate change, or immigration. These titles allow my students to have deep conversations and work on projects that bring the stories alive through their creative eyes.
The color printer also funded with this project is a great resource. All materials, which I create myself, such as graphic organizers, vocabulary development cards, book review templates, and a myriad of other documents are printed in full color. This motivates my students' engagement and interest in the work.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
Color Images for English Language Developmet
Funded Dec 31, 2018The color printer donated to my class of English language learners has had an incredible and colorful impact in their lives. Vocabulary development is a big part of children who are learning English as a second language. The ESL department at our school creates our own vocabulary cards with full color images, and the definitions, which we discuss by projecting on our smart board. After oral discussion, students have small print outs of those same vocabulary to use in their writing and oral projects. Before the printer, these cards were in black and white, and even though we tried to print them in color paper to make them more attractive, the effect was not the same. Now, with our color printer the printed cards are an exact replica of the ones projected. Students are excited and more motivated to use the cards in full color for their personal use.
Also, the fact that we can print other resources in color for special projects, copy students' work or instantly print materials in our classroom has made our teaching and learning easier and, certainly, more colorful. Over 5 ESL teachers and 80 students from all over the world benefit from this new possibility, and are very excited and grateful to have this technology available in our own classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
Images at our Fingertips
Funded Feb 4, 2015First of all, thank you so much for your contribution to my "Images at our Fingertips" project!
The resources this project has been able to bring to my students and my teaching have made a tremendous impact. Technology is a tool that all students always welcome and appreciate because they are native users. The difference in using technology in the classroom is that it opens up new possibilities in learning, saves time, and it is a great resource for small group or independent learning.
The use of the "Samsung Galaxy" has created great enthusiasm in my English Language learners: as the description of my project said, it is very easy to retrieve images that illustrate words and concepts that show up in readings, and everyday language. Let's not forget that English Language Learners need to expand their vocabulary, even the most basic domestic words need to be explicitly taught due to their cultural and linguistic backgrounds. By doing a quick word image search, students have access to illustrations, and the acquisition of those words is supported by a visual aid, which has a greater impact than an oral definition of the word for example. I use the Samsung Galaxy in small group or individualized instruction when I take students for English language development, or when I work with them in their mainstream classrooms.
The use of the Time for Kids Magazine provides a constant flow of reading material which is aligned with the curriculum. It is exciting because of the different non-fiction topics, illustrations, and follow up activities. This is great way for students to create their own libraries at home, and complete their nightly reading assignments in homes where access to books and reading materials is scarce. Receiving a new monthly issue constitutes a great event for the day, and it raises students' motivation to read and learn about new topics, which often have to do with nature and animals, so motivating for first graders. The quality of the illustrations and the adapted reading level to most students' abilities are other characteristics of the impact these magazines have in my students.
On behalf of my beautiful and smart students, I thank you for your kind contribution, and I can assure you that you really made a difference in their lives.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia
Newcomers Reading Non-Fiction
Funded Jul 25, 2012Dear Jeff,
Thank you for your great contribution of books and weekly magazines to our class. My students are taking the magazines home to complete their nightly reading assignments. Their enthusiasm for reading has improved greatly. When a new issue comes to the classroom, my students are incredibly excited to find out about the new topics and activities they will have to complete along with the reading.
The nonfiction books that you made possible have been reinforcing the scientific vocabulary my students learn as part of our reading program, and the science and social studies curriculum.
I deeply appreciate your interest in education.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Garcia