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Ms. Alston's Classroom

  • Broad Rock Elementary School
  • Richmond, VA
  • Nearly all 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

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Past projects 65

  • I Challenge You to Read!

    Funded Apr 1, 2025

    Thank you so so so much! My students have been begging for new books and this challenge I have planned for them is going to excite them even more. It is because of people like you that care about education that makes it all worth it. Thank you again for your support!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.
  • We're All Wimpy Kids

    Funded Jan 9, 2025

    I still am in shock at the fast response I got to this project and how quickly support came in. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of my student's favorite series of all time. Boys and girls alike love reading about Greg's life. I'm considering a book club that can lead to a fun movie watch party, because the love for these stories are real! I had one student in particular so elated at the newest additions that he was determined to finish the first ten right away and get to the rest. Honestly, I can't thank you enough for making it happen for, not me, but them. It's all about what keeps them reading. So thank you again for your kindness and support.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

  • Ink-credible Stories

    Funded Dec 18, 2024

    One thing is for certain: My students LOVE graphic novels. I love to encourage my students to read and I can do that easily by getting them books they want to read. I am thankful to have been able to fulfill their requests for more of their favorites like Dog Man on behalf of DonorsChoose and their supporters. It makes my teacher heart so happy when they are asking to come borrow books that I never give a time-limit on, and only return the one they finished to borrow another. I know that it means a lot to my students to know that I am doing my best to keep up with the latest in graphic novels so they can continue to stay entertained as they read for leisure. Thank you for helping us get there and we look forward to more!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Mo & Cher Willems Foundation and 3 other donors.
  • No Longer Incomplete

    Funded Dec 9, 2024

    One thing is for sure and two things are for certain, my students LOVE a graphic novel, and I've been running out of new ones for them to read. I decided to make it a commitment of mine to keep adding to our classroom library by completing some of their favorite series. We are at the point that there is barely any room for the new books we've received. It's a good problem to have though, because they are reading now more than ever. I'm thankful to the community that has helped, and continues to help, build up our classroom library and encourage readers to keep on reading. Thank you!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Mo & Cher Willems Foundation and 4 other donors.
  • Let Me Upgrade You

    Funded Dec 3, 2024

    The purpose of this project was to not only to update our treasure box, but to also allow me, as a teacher, to improve my quality of delivery while teaching. The students, of course, were eager to get their hands on the takis and stickers the most. While I have not received a new smartboard yet, I am still putting the standing desk to use. It's made it much easier to display things on the screen as I project from my laptop, especially since I now have a place to put the laptop! The backpack has made my commute around the building less burdensome with all of the teaching tools and elements fitting with ease. We are just so grateful for the help of the community that cares about helping make the school experience for teachers and students a great one. Thank you again for helping us upgrade our classroom!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.
  • Language Learners Love to Read

    Funded Oct 19, 2024

    My students can't get enough of new books just as much as I can't! I was super excited to share the new bilingual stories and Latin-themed graphic novels and stories with my students that are reading and learning to read. My favorite part of it all is showing them the newest additions to the class library and seeing their faces light up as they beg to borrow them.

    Because I don't necessarily have my own class of students now, I allow the students to borrow the books and take them home so they can take their time enjoying stories that they may resonate with. That's the part that makes it even better. They see characters that are like them, and I'm sure they appreciate those elements that I have taken into consideration. I love hearing about the stories they've read and giving the space and time to summarize them for me. My goal is to get them reading purely for pleasure, and thanks to DonorsChoose, I have really been able to accomplish that.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.
  • Eye on the Prize

    Funded Sep 5, 2024

    The prizes have been a hot commodity in my classroom! It's exciting to have rewards for my students that they actually enjoy. When they saw all of the different choices they could make they were wide-eyed. They had so much to choose from, but I guaranteed there would be more opportunities for them to earn something in the near future. The slimes were really popular, and so were the colorful pens. But what they will never tire of is the candy.

    These are just small tokens that I share with my students to brighten their day and to let them know that they deserve a little treat for their best efforts. Seeing their excitement puts a big smile on my face.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 4 other donors.
  • New Year, New Role, New Classroom!

    Funded Aug 31, 2024

    My project got funded fast enough to arrive right on time before having to receive students in my classroom. I immediately put up the decorations and lights, and set up the Air Wicks to give my students a welcoming environment and inviting atmosphere. The feedback has been amazing! I constantly get complimented on how cozy and cute my classroom is, and the students are showing their appreciation for it.

    I feel so grateful that I am able to provide this safe space for kids. I also want to recognize how useful the books have been. I have had many students with that desire to read, but struggle because of the language barrier. Bilingual books have been the missing piece, and I only hope to build more of my classroom library with them. Thank you for your kindness and support.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.
  • Midyear Replenishment

    Funded May 7, 2024

    It felt pretty amazing to get another project funded, right in time for the end of the school year. We didn't really get a chance to take advantage of much of it, because we were right in the thick of testing. However, the students were still curious about the boxes of stuff arriving. The biggest excitement was definitely over the mini basketball hoop and new books. My students love a set, and the new graphic novels were a big hit. I had one student read through the Magic Treehouse Series in a week!

    We love reading and I love bringing the joy of reading to my students. Even though my library is completely overgrown, I don't plan to stop getting them excited about new books. Thank you for helping me achieve that, and I look forward to creating more projects to expand.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.
  • We Love Snack Time

    Funded Dec 11, 2023

    When I tell you my students love snacks! I truly believe it is their favorite delivery from DonorsChoose. They were gone within a month, and that was me providing one for almost every student daily after cleaning up the classroom. It really shows me how much they enjoy them, even if they are healthier options. I love that they don't take for granted when they get a little extra treat at the end of the day, so much so that they are already asking when we will be getting more. I always let them know that it is all thanks to the kind people who care about classrooms like ours.

    I look forward to creating another project for snacks, and seeing the excitement on their faces when they see that we've gotten a restock. Thank you for always helping to keep a smile on their faces.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Alston

    This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.
I teach 5th grade science and so that students don’t find it the least bit boring I make every unit as hands on as possible! We start with interactive notebooks, which they enjoy putting together. However a lot of glue is needed for foldables and pictures. Glue sticks would be very helpful in making sure that we never have a shortage and all students are prepared daily. Although many students enjoy putting the notebooks together, some have a hard time feeling motivated to stay seated. Wobble cushions are flexible seating options that can help combat that issue. The seat cushions I have now are being worn out and used frequently between my three blocks. I would like more options for those in seats, as well as those who want to sit on the floor to take notes or do seat work during stations. Lastly, science gets messy in our room! It’s not always easy getting a custodian up to our room in enough time to avoid any accidents or injuries. We would like to tackle them right away (especially when using food and liquids). A Swiffer, along with refills, would be an ideal cleaning tool.

About my class

I teach 5th grade science and so that students don’t find it the least bit boring I make every unit as hands on as possible! We start with interactive notebooks, which they enjoy putting together. However a lot of glue is needed for foldables and pictures. Glue sticks would be very helpful in making sure that we never have a shortage and all students are prepared daily. Although many students enjoy putting the notebooks together, some have a hard time feeling motivated to stay seated. Wobble cushions are flexible seating options that can help combat that issue. The seat cushions I have now are being worn out and used frequently between my three blocks. I would like more options for those in seats, as well as those who want to sit on the floor to take notes or do seat work during stations. Lastly, science gets messy in our room! It’s not always easy getting a custodian up to our room in enough time to avoid any accidents or injuries. We would like to tackle them right away (especially when using food and liquids). A Swiffer, along with refills, would be an ideal cleaning tool.

About my class

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