You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mrs. Durbin's Classroom

  • Jesse Stuart Elementary School
  • Madisonville, KY
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

  • Monthly
  • One-time

We'll charge your card today and send Mrs. Durbin a DonorsChoose gift card she can use on her classroom projects. Starting next month, we'll charge your card and send her a DonorsChoose gift card on the 17th of every month.

Edit or cancel anytime.

cancel

Support Mrs. Durbin's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

  • Monthly
  • One-time

We'll charge your card today and send Mrs. Durbin a DonorsChoose gift card she can use on her classroom projects. Starting next month, we'll charge your card and send her a DonorsChoose gift card on the 17th of every month.

Edit or cancel anytime.

Give to a project to support this classroom.

Your custom url is https://www.donorschoose.org/megan-durbin

Current requests

Smart Birdwatching: Real-Time Learning with a Camera Feeder

Help me give my students a smart bird feeder so we can learn about birds in our neighborhood in real time.
Mrs. Durbin
Jesse Stuart Elementary School
Madisonville, KY
  • 2 donors so far
  • $292 still needed
show projects from all time

Past projects 12

  • Kaboom! Volcanoes and Lava Galore!

    Funded Nov 13, 2024

    Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our volcano project! The students were absolutely thrilled to explore the fascinating world of volcanoes through the books you donated, which sparked their curiosity and deepened their understanding of this natural phenomenon. The highlight of our learning experience was watching the model volcano erupt—an unforgettable moment that brought science to life in a truly exciting way! Your support not only provided valuable resources but also created joyful and engaging memories for our students. We are so grateful for your generosity and the difference it made in their learning journey.

    All week long, students buzzed with excitement every time they walked into the library and saw the model volcano proudly on display. They couldn't wait for the big moment, eagerly counting down the days until they would finally see it erupt! We expanded the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment by hypothesizing that increasing the surface area of the baking soda would create a more dramatic reaction. To test this, we crushed the baking soda into a fine powder before adding it to the vinegar, resulting in a faster and more intense eruption.

    Our next exciting unit is our One Book, One School initiative, where the entire school will come together to read *The Mouse and the Motorcycle*. This shared reading experience will not only promote literacy and build a sense of community but also inspire kindness and giving. As part of the unit, we will embark on a school-wide community service project to collect supplies for our local animal shelter, teaching students the value of helping others while fostering a love for reading. We can't wait to see the impact this unit will have on our students and community!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by Young Sheldon and one other donor.
  • ELL in the Library

    Funded Nov 6, 2024

    Students are enthusiastically using the new ELL resources in small groups during library and class time. They were excited to explore the new materials, which are designed to enhance their learning and language skills. This initiative is already fostering a collaborative and engaging environment for all learners. I really enjoyed working with the two individuals I'm pictured with as they were enthusiastic to share how much they are learning and growing, both of whom arrived at school this school year speaking no English.

    Our next unit will focus on the fascinating topic of volcanoes, where students will get hands-on experience with a real live baking soda and vinegar "explosion." This interactive experiment is sure to ignite their curiosity and excitement for learning. Following this, students in the upper grades will delve into researching an individual they admire as part of our Fan-u-Ary project, while the younger students will enjoy reading books nominated for our state book awards. This combination of engaging activities will foster a love for science, research, and reading across all grade levels.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 9 other donors.
  • Book Fairs "Arrr" a Good Time

    Funded Sep 17, 2024

    We are beyond grateful for your generous contributions to our pirate-themed book fair! Your thoughtful donation of pirate decor truly brought our theme to life, creating an exciting and immersive atmosphere that sparked the imaginations of our students. Thanks to your support, the book fair was an unforgettable event for everyone involved, and it set record-high sales for our school! The funds raised have made a tremendous impact, providing books for nearly all of our students and ensuring that they left with new stories to explore and enjoy.

    Additionally, your donations helped us add over 80 new titles to our school library, enriching our collection and providing even more opportunities for students to discover the joy of reading. The success of this book fair wouldn't have been possible without your kindness, and we are so grateful for your commitment to supporting our students' literacy and love of books. Thank you for helping make this event a true success and for making a lasting impact on our school community!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.
  • Hatching Interest in Farm Animals

    Funded Mar 28, 2024

    To say the students were amazed by this project is an understatement. I teach in a suburban area where most students have never had the opportunity to witness egg hatching and baby chicks, so the excitement in the classroom was off the charts.

    The students were so happy to see the incubator all set up with eggs and even happier when they finally hatched out. We set up a live cam on hatching day so that classrooms all across the building could watch in real time since the whole school was, at that point, really invested in the chicks. Then they got to watch these babies grow, fluff out, and change as they grew from tiny little fluff balls to small chickens.

    What's next for the JSES library? I think plants and vegetables. I think it would be a great experience for these kiddos to know how to grow plants and harvest the vegetables. In a dream world, our families would have access to fresh fruits and vegetables year round through a greenhouse and/or sell potted plants as a fundraiser. That just may be our next great project.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

  • STEM Center Needs Magna-Tiles

    Funded Aug 22, 2023

    This project has been a game changer in the classroom! The MagnaTiles are perfect for our younger students who don't quite have the hand-eye coordination to build with the wooden blocks without toppling the creation.

    It has also been a welcome addition to our Wednesday centers! One day a week, classes are able to choose from board games, puzzles, or STEM activities, and the MagnaTiles have quickly become a fan favorite. The students were ecstatic when I took the lid from the tote to expose the treasures within. :) I told them Magantiles were now an option, and while they didn't know what those were at first, they were soon enamored.

    Thank you so much for this welcome and enjoyable addition to our classroom!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by The SONIC Foundation and 7 other donors.
  • Spanish Titles to Bridge Literacies

    Funded Feb 14, 2023

    The addition of these books to our library has been amazing. When my English Language Learner students found books written in their native languages, the smiles on their faces just lit up the room. This was something familiar to many of them that they hadn't previously had.

    Additionally, my other students found them interesting as they explored a new language. During checkout time, I found some students drawn to this new addition to our library. They enjoyed looking through the books and matching unfamiliar words to familiar pictures.

    Thank you so much for these resources as they make our ELL students feel so much more comfortable and at home at our school.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

  • Plank Sets for STEM Learning

    Funded Dec 5, 2022

    We have loved using these new resources! Originally I had planned on using these Keva plans with our Gifted and Talented students in our weekly activity time, but when I had the opportunity to use them as a center in my 2nd grade classroom, I realized that these are perfect for both uses!

    The students had a lot of questions when they found the boxes on tables a few weeks before I was ready to roll them out. I kept telling them they would find out later what they were for so that I could build the suspense and excitement. But when I opened the boxes and set them out on a random Thursday afternoon, the students were overjoyed! I appreciate that the kits even came with recommendations for simple structures the students could build if they didn't have a plan before starting.

    Next we will work to make center time a regular rotation in the library with a variety of different activities. I'm already in love with teaching teamwork and social skills through games, so this might be the next natural step.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 6 other donors.
  • One School, One Lemonade Stand

    Funded Dec 12, 2022

    These books made it possible for us to do our first ever one book, one school program. Each teacher had their own copy to read to students on a schedule so that everyone started and finished at the same time. It also allowed opportunities for cross-curricular lessons in math and economics. When it came to the math lessons, it was especially important and useful for them to have an individual copy to display on the document camera.

    I also was able to purchase a few copies with leftover Scholastic Book Fair dollars, and those copies flew off the shelves as soon as they were put out! The students loved having a book they could talk about with all of their classmates.

    I look forward to gathering feedback from students and planning for next year's program and growing it into something even bigger and better.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

  • Our Graphic Novel Shelves Are Exploding

    Funded Aug 10, 2022

    The students are loving a separated junior graphic novel section. This makes it easier for readers of all levels to access the graphic novels that have become so popular. Second and third grade students especially enjoy it because it contains high interest books that are easily read independently. Some of our older students love it as well as it lets them "fit in" with the graphic novel movement but still contains texts they can read.

    When it first arrived, students were excited. The first few days, the shelves were a mess because students were digging through them so much. Now that they're a staple in the library, the students are a little more respectful of the organizational system.

    Coming up next, I will continue to add to and this portion of the library using the books we receive through our Junior Library Guild selection and options found at the book fair. I'm constantly looking for great graphic novels that students of all ages and reading levels will enjoy.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Durbin

    This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 4 other donors.
These materials can make a great difference in the lives of students by helping them learn through what seems like play. It is my goal that all students can participate in a STEM center or enrichment activity during their weekly library time in addition to checking out books and learning more library skills. Students need to know how to work together to solve a problem or accomplish a task, and there are not many opportunities during the school day to do so, especially in a fun way. I want centers to feel like fun while still engaging their brains and helping them grow. These materials will support my dream of letting students learn through doing. While Lego and K'Nect kits may seem like just a bunch of toys, students engaged in learning with these tools learn how to engineer and create objects while working with other students. They are developing science and engineering skills in a fun way. Other items like pipe cleaners, Play Doh, building blocks, craft sticks, and velcro dots allow them to create their own materials for building challenges. I have a variety of task cards in the library already available that ask students to create various objects (a bridge, house, car, etc.), but I do not yet have many materials students can use to do so. Games such as Jenga and CandyLand build community and communication skills, allowing students to learn the soft skills needed to be successful in the future.

About my class

These materials can make a great difference in the lives of students by helping them learn through what seems like play. It is my goal that all students can participate in a STEM center or enrichment activity during their weekly library time in addition to checking out books and learning more library skills. Students need to know how to work together to solve a problem or accomplish a task, and there are not many opportunities during the school day to do so, especially in a fun way. I want centers to feel like fun while still engaging their brains and helping them grow. These materials will support my dream of letting students learn through doing. While Lego and K'Nect kits may seem like just a bunch of toys, students engaged in learning with these tools learn how to engineer and create objects while working with other students. They are developing science and engineering skills in a fun way. Other items like pipe cleaners, Play Doh, building blocks, craft sticks, and velcro dots allow them to create their own materials for building challenges. I have a variety of task cards in the library already available that ask students to create various objects (a bridge, house, car, etc.), but I do not yet have many materials students can use to do so. Games such as Jenga and CandyLand build community and communication skills, allowing students to learn the soft skills needed to be successful in the future.

About my class

{"followTeacherId":4818528,"teacherId":4818528,"teacherName":"Mrs. Durbin","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4818528_272x272.jpg?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506014130393","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"vanityURL":"megan-durbin","teacherChallengeId":21009052,"followAbout":"Mrs. Durbin's projects","teacherVerify":1712376683,"teacherNameEncoded":"Mrs. Durbin","vanityType":"teacher","teacherPageInfo":{"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"teacherHasClassroomDescription":true,"teacherClassroomDescription":"","teacherProfileURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/megan-durbin","tafURL":"https://secure.donorschoose.org/donors/share_teacher_profile.html?teacher=4818528","stats":{"numActiveProjects":1,"numFundedProjects":12,"numSupporters":59},"classroomPhotoPendingScreening":false,"showEssentialsListCard":false}}