Mrs. Webster's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 58

• Comfy Collaboration Couch-Part 1

  Funded Apr 12, 2018

  Let me start by saying my second graders were ecstatic to see the new aqua couch and chair arrive as they were carried into the room by our custodian! The class quickly set it all up, and we had to create a management system for students to share the furniture. It was a hot area in the room to say the least.

  The children enjoyed reading on the furniture as well as working in small collaborative groups while sitting comfortably. The music teacher even loved the new area, so he had the students gather on the furniture to teach his class.

  This project is one of three projects posted to help set up a new collaboration station area for students to work on STEM projects and for me to teach small reading groups. They also use this comfy learning space throughout the day during math, social studies and writing. We received a long table through another project to place in front of the couch and chair. I can't wait to see how the next group of second graders react to this new learning area.

  I appreciate you for supporting public schools and helping me improve my classroom!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by Lakeshore Learning and 2 other donors.

• Escape the Boring Lessons With Breakout Edu

  Funded Apr 23, 2018

  Breakout Edu is AMAZING! We received the kit about a two weeks ago, and another teacher and I implemented our first Breakout today! My second grade students were completely engaged in their learning, and I LOVED watching them work together like little detectives trying to find clues or artifacts around the room to help them solve the mystery. Their mission was to discover lock combinations and find a key to a lock, and they only had 45 minutes to do this. Within their small groups, they had to read the book, If You Take a Mouse to School, which was written as a play script. As they read it, there were some letters that were in color and the rest were in black font. As the groups were whisper reading, they figured out the words written in a color spelled numbers which was the first combination code. They found pictures of mice picture cards hidden around the room and shined their UV ray lights onto them to reveal letters. After all five letters were discovered on all of the pictures, they rearranged them to spell the word BRUSH, which was the next combination for a lock. The escape continued as they discovered more clues to help them solve the remaining combination codes.

  I was amazed with the problem solving skills and collaboration these students exhibited during this activity. Another second grade teacher also received a Breakout Edu through Donors Choose, and we look forward to creating our own escapes to integrate multiple second grade standards the next school year. We also plan to share this exciting and motivating program with other teachers in our grade level. Thank you again for donating to this project and allowing me to have the resources to plan creative and meaningful lessons!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by Arconic Foundation and 5 other donors.

• Ron Clark Academy or Bust!

  Funded Oct 18, 2017

  When a colleague and I arrived at the Ron Clark Academy, we were greeted by students who firmly shook our hands, looked us in the eyes, introduced themselves with strong, articulate voices, and welcomed us. We walked through the Harry Potter-themed school in awe looking at the detailed decor, paintings and a multitude of photographs of happy students covering the walls. The professional development began with the students singing and dancing a well-rehearsed step routine followed by Ron Clark speaking the truths of educating children. One of my favorite Ron Clark quotes that still echoes in my mind is, "It's easier to raise strong children than repair broken adults." After hearing this motivational speech, we then traveled to various classrooms to observe learning in action. I observed many master teachers and attended workshops on student engagement, best teaching practices, how to increase rigor while teaching and family involvement. I'm overwhelmed with ideas and creative ways to engage my students in the learning process, and I already started implementing many of these within my own classroom of second graders upon returning to my school.

  Everything I witnessed blew me away. The class participation, student engagement, their response to learning, and determination to succeed was incredible. The students even practice ways to articulate their thinking, reason with their peers, respectfully debate and critique one another. These skills don't just prepare them for the next grade level, they prepare them for life.

  My entire day visiting the Ron Clark Academy was inspiring, validating and moving to say the least. I am thankful for this experience and time to grow as an educator through observing these incredible teachers and students. My colleague and I have already raised our expectations to a higher level and strive to implement the best teaching practices our students deserve. We are already making preparations to plan and present a professional development to teach others what we learned.

  Thank you for donating funds for the best professional development I've attended in my twenty-three years of teaching.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Around the World in 15 Days

  Funded Jan 25, 2018

  My second graders were thrilled to receive and open the boxes of books, globes and passport stamps. Through reading all of the quality children's literature, the students learned about a variety of cultures, holidays different countries celebrate and about the similarities and differences in cultures. Students earned passport stamps as we 'visited' and learned about different countries. The inflatable globes provided a visual model of our 'flights' we made to other countries.

  The students LOVED learning about all of the countries, and I had a few students from other countries present their traditions and cultures with our class by dressing up in traditional clothing. They also brought in treats and foods for students to sample.

  Each Friday, our second grade class buddy reads with a kindergarten class. They each have a buddy to sit with side-by-side, and my students read to them. It was exciting to see my students share the books, globes and passports with these five and six year old children. I saw my second graders' confidence improve through teaching their buddies what they had learned in our class.

  Thank you again for your generous donations for these amazing, quality books, globes and passport stamps! With these resources, students are motivated to read and learn about their world through engaging activities. I look forward to using them for many years.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 4 other donors.

• Reading Adventures

  Funded Nov 28, 2017

  My students have taken so many reading adventures through the quality fiction and nonfiction literature you have donated! I was able to use the Harriet Tubman biographies to meet the needs of all levels of readers in my class. After reading the biographies, students wrote about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Their creative illustrations decorated the top of their papers, and we displayed them for others to see!

  Students read about the Mayflower and the First Thanksgiving and kept a journal of their adventures on the Mayflower from the perspective of a Pilgrim. The If You Sailed on the Mayflower books provided excellent details, illustrations and support for my second graders to feel as if they were actually passengers on the Mayflower.

  We read Stellaluna and created a flip book I designed all about the story and facts about bats. They analyzed various fictional story elements as well as nonfiction facts they learned using these books. This book was also used to as a teaching tool to model quality descriptive writing using adjectives and similes.

  We are currently working on a study about the Civil Rights Movement in reading and social studies. The students are creating a project that contains various poems and activities to highlight the character traits of important leaders during this time in U.S. history. The Ruby Bridges book and Teammates (about Jackie Robinson) have been some of their favorite books to read, and they provide quality information about segregation, the Jim Crow Laws and racism that is easy for second graders to understand.

  In May, students will research famous Tennesseans using some of the biographies. They will create a book called Tennessee from A to Z which will highlight key information about places, events and people from our state. They will also create a pop-up card project, dress as the famous Tennessean researched and present what was learned to first grade students during our Tennessee Traveling Museum. I was able to make a biography reading section in our classroom library with all of the donated books.

  Thank you again for your generous donations for these amazing, quality books! With these resources, students are motivated to read and learn about their world through engaging activities.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 4 other donors.

• Wobble to Learn

  Funded Oct 16, 2017

  Thank you for funding our class project called Wobble to Learn. My second-grade students were excited to help me open the boxes and take out the wobble stools. These stools have provided much needed alternative seating options for my students, especially for students who are hyperactive and need to move while working. By allowing kids to select seating options, I've noticed improvements in their learning and willingness to work harder. We rotate the wobble stools each week with seven children to use at their desks. They love having this option!

  Since my students love the wobble stools so much, I plan to write another Donorschoose project to request more of these amazing seating options. I love the results I'm witnessing while providing alternative seating choices!

  With your generous donation to funding our project, I'll be able to use these seats for many years to come. I appreciate your support in improving education for my second grade students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In.

• Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto

  Funded Oct 3, 2017

  My second-graders were excited to help me carry all of the boxes to the room that were delivered a few weeks ago. The next day, I purchased a cart and quickly organized and labeled all of the Legos, puzzles and STEM challenges so the students could begin their problem solving and exploration.

  During math workshop, students have enjoyed working alone and with partners building creative structures, working Rubik's Cubes and creating geometric figures. A small group began building a robot with guidance from the iPad Lego Boost app. They will then read the directions to learn how to code it as soon as the robot is built. They have loved using the Learn to Learn individual kits to design and create their own ideas as well as building simple machines with the Lego Building Box Creator. The construction and robotic kits have been a huge hit for students who love to work together. Watching them learn from each other has been inspiring as well. Our invention unit began this week, and I overhead students conversing using vocabulary they learned from our reading lesson today such as contraption and ingenious idea. I love that they are excited to use all of these engaging and fun materials to not only challenge their thinking but also allow them to share and listen to others' ideas constructively.

  With your generous donations to fund our Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto project, I'll be able to spark the curiosity for my students to learn and work together using these tools for many years to come. I appreciate your support to improve education for my second graders.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and 5 other donors.

• Tech Bytes

  Funded Jul 18, 2017

  Thank you for your generous donation to provide necessary resources that improve our classroom instruction and learning. The iPevo document camera has been a huge hit with my 2nd graders. It was simple to connect to the computer and use right away without having to download software. My students LOVE sharing their work on the Activboard by placing it under the document camera. The clarity is AMAZING!! They are able to snap pictures of their work, record their voices as they present their projects and make time elapsed photos to use to create a video. I'm able to use the iPevo document camera to model expectations I have for handwriting, process writing lessons, math and all other subject areas. The camera has also been used for students to share small items such as family photographs, coins, stamps and rocks so all students can clearly see the details of the items projected on the Activboard. Next week, I will use the document camera to show students how to dissect an owl pellet so they can follow along with their dissecting.

  The external DVD/cd player/ burner is a much needed device as well. I have already used it for students to view some of our old School House Rock DVDs and show teacher-made DVDs of PowerPoint charts and Jeopardy games I have created. We also use it to play classical music compact discs during silent work time. Students can use the text book CDs with headphones to listen to stories as they follow along in their books.

  Thank you again for your significant contribution to my project, Tech Bytes. It's a blessing to have financial support from you to inspire my students and watch them get excited about learning through the use of these technology pieces.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

  This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and 5 other donors.

• iMovie Magic and Beyond!

  Funded Nov 14, 2016

  I would like to express my sincere gratitude for funding our classroom project called iMovie Magic and Beyond. I appreciate Orkin for your dedication to continuously improve schools by providing grants. The kids were thrilled to learn that our project was funded!

  Since receiving the two iPods, I have used them to engage students in multiple opportunities to meet their various levels of learning. I have organized a station using the iPods with apps such as Show Me, Telligami, Ticket to Read, iMovie, Mental Math, Math Problems, Q.R. Codes, and Weather Bug.. Through using Air Server software, we are able to connect both iPods to our Activboard to play review games, present research simultaneously, and compare and contrast ideas side-by-side. Another favorite app I use is called Plickers. I create tests online and the students hold up answer cards. Using an iPod, I quickly scan their answers on the cards. I gain immediate feedback on the Activboard, and only I can see the answers students selected. I am able to know right away which students need additional instruction on a specific skill. Another app that has helped me improve instruction and motivate my students is called Morfo. I am able to take a picture of book characters with the iPod and use the Morfo App to animate the them. I then record voices for the characters to introduce a reading lesson to the students. The kids were amazed that the book characters talk and even personalize their message to them!

  The kids love using the iPods to practice skills, challenge their thinking and create amazing projects. Now that I see how iPods can greatly improve student learning, I am planning to write more grants with a goal to have one iPod or iPad for every student. Thank you for providing the two iPods for our second-grade classroom. Creativity, imagination, problem solving and collaboration are key components to authentic learning in our classroom, and your generosity in funding our project support our learning environment. By providing the funding for the iPods for our classroom, I am able to engage the students with creative lessons and activities so they will improve in all academic areas. They will gain confidence and develop much needed 21st century skills through technology integration.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster

• Hydroponics-2nd graders Inspired by Astronauts in Space

  Funded Nov 4, 2016

  My second-graders were excited to help me open the various boxes that were delivered to our room throughout the week. The microscope station has been a big hit for students to become scientists and keep a journal of their findings. One student even said she would like to be a doctor one day because she loved looking at bacteria samples under the microscope. The clipboards are excellent portable desks, and they love to get comfortable on the rug using the boards to work on activities. We also use the clipboards during 'around the room' movement activities and lessons. The hydroponics seed growing kit has inspired curiosity and excitement to learn and discover. We recently planted basil, parsley and dill seeds, added water and nutrients and now students are excited to come to school to watch the seeds begin to sprout and grow! They are amazed that soil isn't needed for this type of gardening. One student's mother even sent in a news article about real life hydroponics gardens being used in Alaska. We can't wait to continue watching and documenting our garden!

  With your generous donations to fund our Hydroponics project I'll be able to spark the curiosity to learn using these tools for many years to come. I appreciate your support to improve education for my second graders.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Webster