Past projects 66
Snack Time!
Funded Jul 8, 2021The school year has just started and my students are already getting a glimpse of the wonders of DonorsChoose. The amount of boxes I've received alone gets them curious and wanting to know if it's stuff for them. My favorite part of getting a project funded and receiving items is telling my class that what's in those boxes is for them. When they saw the snacks, they politely asked what it was for, and I told them it was for them. The smiles on their faces were priceless.
With our new school schedule being so different and hard to get used to, we've had to adjust to our early lunch. Because of that, I've made the afternoon dismissal period our snack time. Some students don't have a snack, or didn't eat the lunch because it's been a cold sandwich for three days in a row. I'm grateful to be able to offer them something if they are feeling low in energy, or if they are feeling left out during snack time. I've already been able to help one student with a little pick-me-up, and it felt great. Thank you for making this possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
Book Obsessed!
Funded Sep 2, 2021I must say that my favorite kind of project to get funded is one for new books. The arrival of these new books had perfect timing, because they came right when I was receiving my new class for the school year. They were just as excited to see boxes as I was. I've made sure my students know and understand that the classroom library is open and available for them to explore, so new books are always a good attraction.
One of the best parts about the books I chose is that they are excellent "Beginning of the Year" reads that help set the tone for the school year, and give reminders to students that their character matters. I loved that I was able to read "The Day You Begin" to them on the first day of school. It's definitely one of my favorites and I hope that it can become one of theirs too.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 2 other donors.The Great Return
Funded Mar 9, 2021It's finally here! The first day back to to in-person learning at school, and my students and I couldn't be more excited. The materials that we received to make us feel prepared are perfect too! The personal humidifier for my desk makes me feel safer in my teacher space, in addition to the district-provided ones for the students. The wobble chairs have also been a great addition to the class, especially since we are no longer allowed to meet on the carpet.
The class favorite has been the sketch books. I tied the sketchbooks into a lesson about how to "Say Something" in different ways. When I introduced them my students were pleasantly surprised and ready to express themselves in their own ways. I have to say that was my favorite surprise as well.
We are very grateful for all of the support we continuously get and are excited for the year of projects to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Allstate Foundation and 4 other donors.School Supplies to Keep at Home
Funded May 7, 2021The tote bags of supplies were hit! It was the perfect first day surprise for my students, and it served the purpose of a name tag for students to find their desk also. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I loved the compliments from other teachers about how cute the idea was. Most importantly, my students were very grateful and appreciative of having school supplies that they can use for their school needs at home. Some of them were in need of the materials for class as well, so the timing was perfect.
One of the most important things about these tote bags of supplies is that they give students a sense of responsibility. They understood that they needed to keep track of their things so that when they are ready to be used they would be easy to find. I am excited for them to make use of them as the school year continues. My class and I thank you again for making this possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Oak Foundation and 4 other donors.An Extra Home for Our Books
Funded Jul 17, 2021I can honestly say that these bookshelves have been a lifesaver! The extra one purchased was definitely needed, and I am so grateful it arrived in time for my classroom setup. It is exactly what was needed to make the library section of my class much more inviting and cozy. There is a place for every book now, and room for more later down the road!
I am more than positive that when my students come back to school after a year and a half of being at home, they are going to be instantly drawn to that part of the classroom. These bookshelves have made a big difference in my classroom atmosphere, and I can't wait to continue to fill it with more books! Thank you again for making this dream come true.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 3 other donors.Games Galore!
Funded May 2, 2021New games are always fun, and my students were very excited to see that they had good options for indoor recess. I decided to bring them out for my summer school class, which was perfect since the heat index has been keeping us from outside. It's without a doubt that the class favorite is the giant connect 4. It's perfect for social distancing, too, since they aren't required to be directly next to each other. I personally like playing games of Emoji Uno with the students that love a good card game. We haven't had the chance to use the Karaoke microphone yet, but I know it will be a staple for our monthly celebrations when the actual school year begins. We are extremely grateful that there are wonderful people like you who can provide things as small as games to make school enjoyable. Thanks so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Oak Foundation and 3 other donors.Teachers Need Supplies Too!
Funded May 2, 2021Teacher supplies are just as important as student supplies, but somehow we get overlooked in that area. Thanks to you amazing donors I have been able to feel properly prepared to fulfill my teacher duties. The markers have already come in handy for making anchor charts and posters. I have especially loved the assorted pens that make it easy to take notes and color code during teacher trainings and professional development. Even though the school year has not officially started, the Lysol spray has been great for disinfecting my classroom furniture and carpets. So, again, I thank you for helping get ready for a successful school year.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Oak Foundation and 2 other donors.A Home for Our Books
Funded Apr 13, 2021The new bookshelves look awesome! They were easy to put together, and fit perfectly in the classroom library corner they were bought for. Before this, we had Pre-K cubbies for bookshelves. Even though they served a purpose in my class, they didn't quite give that library feel our class really wanted. With that being said, we are extremely grateful that we can now display our books beautifully and even classify them by genre. Thank you again for helping us improve the look in our classroom. I can't wait to share pictures of the completed project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
This classroom project was brought to life by Oak Foundation and 5 other donors.Diverse Reading
Funded Mar 15, 2021When virtual learning started, I wasn't sure my students would get the same impact from a good read-aloud like they did in person. I desperately needed to change my attitude, and getting an awesome collection of diverse books was a great way to help me do that. The inspiration came from the new direction "Read Across America" week has taken, and many of the new titles added to my class library were ones we loved listening to the same week I made this project. Needless to say, my students were stoked to see that there were more amazing stories to be read-aloud to them, but this time by their own teacher!
It's been very easy to incorporate diverse stories into our everyday routine. Each morning, during our community building time, we have a moment of mindfulness. I love to introduce topics of discussion and reflection, and books such as "I Am Every Good Thing," and "Mixed Me!" are great to spark these important conversations. I'm also very much looking forward to using these books in the near future to guide lessons on acceptance and equality.
We are so fortunate to have donors that support us in our endeavors like you. Thank you again for encouraging out learning.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston
Surprises for Successful Students
Funded Mar 3, 2021My students were extremely excited to hear that we had received our new incentives. They were not expecting them to arrive so soon. As a reminder, these items were things that my students specifically requested, so needless to say, they were eager to see them straight from the box.
Since getting the new participation prizes, my students have made some noticeable differences in their active participation. There are more cameras on and they are more willing to answer questions. I'm very grateful that these incentives have given them the push they need to finish out this year strong. I can't wait to share pictures of them receiving their prizes once we have our next book drive at school.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Alston