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Mrs. P.'s Classroom

  • Forest Home Avenue School
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • 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 24

  • Electronic Engagement Part 1

    Funded Jan 25, 2018

    It has been a long road to this point, but I have to thank you for your generosity! The project for apps was funded before the project for tablets was, so it took some time to be able to use the apps. But now that we have all of the working equipment, and my students have been able to use it, we are ready to move forward!

    My lower functioning students have 45 minutes each morning (while my higher students are in gym or music with their regular education peers) to work on IEP goals, and to interact with each other and other adults. The apps have helped students who do not usually interact or participate with anything come alive! They sing along with the songs, they dance the manipulatives (letters or number blocks that come with the app) into place, and they smile the whole time! It is wonderful to see them happy and learning at the same time! Thank you for being such an important part of that!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 2 other donors.
  • Sensory Room Start Up

    Funded Sep 2, 2017

    Thank you for believing in this project. It has made a world of difference in the behaviors of some of our most needy students! With your donation, we were able to turn a classroom that was being used as storage into the most relaxing space! This room can be used when a student feels him or herself get to a point where they are completely unable to remain in the learning space, before a student gets to that point, or even to keep from even escalating to the point where further intervention is needed.

    Many students request to go into the Relaxing Reef to simply get away from things that are causing them stress. The items are very much cared for, as the students realize that once things are gone, there is no replacing them. We hope to add more areas to the space each year. We have completed the sensory area, the resting area, and would like to add an area with a small tent where students can just be alone, and we would like to add some social stories to a book area in the future.

    This room has become a focal point for our school when prospective parents come to tour the school, as well as when district officials come to see how things are going. We are able to say with confidence that this beautiful space that you helped create, has made a positive change in the atmosphere at our school.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 9 other donors.
  • Positivity Prizes

    Funded Nov 27, 2017

    Thank you so much for believing in the power of positivity and the power it has over our school and our students! Students earn PBIS tickets for positive behaviors throughout the day. Every other week, they take those tickets and buy prizes from the store. They love shopping at the traveling school store each week, and actually counted down the weeks until I put new prizes in the school store for them to buy! A definite favorite has been the emoji cinch sacks!

    Students are encouraging one another even more now than before! They know their good behavior earns them good things, and they want their friends to be able to participate in those activities as well. These simple prizes have made a world of difference in many of our classrooms! Thank you so much for believing in us, and being a part of our shift in behavior!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

  • Warm Ankles in Wisconsin Winters

    Funded Dec 13, 2017

    This project had an amazing impact on our neediest students. The socks arrived just in time for us to be able to pass a few pairs out to each student before we went on our winter break. What makes it particularly amazing though is that our winter break hit wind chill temperatures of nearly 50 below zero. These children would have literally frozen. While many would not dream of being outside in those temperatures, many students did not have proper heat at home. The students who received them were so grateful to us for giving them, and to you for donating them. Some asked if they could have a few extra pairs for other children in their homes.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Life Essentials Supporters and one other donor.
  • File Folder Frenzy: Games That Teach

    Funded Sep 19, 2017

    My students have learned so much using the games I was able to make through your generous donation! They have learned to match colors, numbers, letters, and animals. I was also able to build a human body unit which included many literacy and math activities that helped to learn core subject skills and about the body at the same time! Students were so excited when I showed them the activities we were going to do using the materials you gave us. I will be building a plant and farming unit for next month's theme, and will continue using your donations. Each time I give one of these games to a student, I am reminded of your generosity. That will happen for years to come.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and 2 other donors.
  • Adapted Morning Work Binders

    Funded Aug 10, 2017

    I have students in both regular education and special education. your donation of items for our morning work binders has greatly helped both groups of students! It has also helped me to help them! I am able to get work at each students' functional level and put it in their binders. While students are finishing breakfast, those who are finished can take out their binder and get a few extra minutes of learning in.

    I can use them to focus on IEP goals, which is something I have not had time for individually. My students' abilities vary so widely that it is difficult to get that direct instruction in for each of them. However, while one student is working on letter identification, another can be working on his list of 2nd grade sight words, while still another can begin to memorize patterns in counting by 2s! I have been able to also incorporate the binders for my lower students in calendar time. While some students write sentences, my lower students are matching letters to spell the name of the month.

    I wish I had something like this years ago, but it is certainly something I will use for years to come!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 2 other donors.
  • Special Athletes Need Equipment

    Funded Aug 16, 2017

    Thank you so much for your generosity in donating to this project! I have been involved in my district's Adaptive Athletics program for about 13 years now. It has grown each year, which I think is an amazing opportunity for the kids! Each year we participate in a bowling tournament, basketball skills tournament, bocce ball tournament, and a track meet. My students love the trips, as they get to be out of the school doing something they don't normally get to do. What elementary school student knows what bocce ball is? But they love it!

    So far, our season has kicked off with bowling. My students were so excited when they saw the equipment! One of my non-verbal and very low functioning students decided he was going to set the pins up during our practices. He did it and was so proud of himself! Another student who chooses not to speak would congratulate other students on their attempts! Today was our tournament at the bowling alley. Eight schools participated today. I've never seen some of the students so happy! They felt accomplished and they felt joy! You were a huge part of that!

    Having this equipment not only helps my students play sports that they normally wouldn't, but it helps the district program grow as well! If we do not have enough practice equipment to go around, that deters other schools from joining the program. Now that we have our own equipment, it saves a set for other schools.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 6 other donors.
  • Now We're Cooking!

    Funded Aug 10, 2017

    Students have been in class for 2 weeks today. We made applesauce! Kids were able to clean apples, slice them, measure sugar and cinnamon, and put it all in the crockpot to cook. The room smelled so good all day while it cooked! I wish I was able to get a picture of the joy on their faces when they cut through apples with the apple slicer! I tasted delicious after all that waiting! Most students loved it. Even if they didn't like the taste though, they enjoyed making it so much! One student asked for the recipe so he could make it at home! These little experiences are something my students do not have on a regular basis. But through your generosity, we can do it more often! My plan is to do a cooking project every other Friday. Several students are excited about being able to wash dishes (they can come to my house any day)! Today, a student who already washes dishes at home volunteered, and one of our speech teachers is working on making a picture board with step by step directions so our non-verbal students can help as well! Thank you so much for your kindness.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 3 other donors.
  • Math Read Alouds

    Funded Jul 30, 2017

    With your generous donations, we have been able to explore topics such as counting, more and less, and number identification. My students have really enjoyed looking at the pictures in the books and exploring the concepts they help to teach. We received the final book in the order just yesterday. It is the one I have been waiting for the most! I cannot wait to get started on the concepts next week! It continues number identification and counting, but the pictures are so vibrant that I know my students are going to love looking at the pages!

    The books have even inspired some projects in the class. Ten Apples Up on Top lent itself to measuring students in apples, and Just Enough Carrots led to a more/less activity. Everything we have done is proudly displayed in our hallway so the whole school can see how lucky we are to have wonderful and caring donors who want to help give our kids the best!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 2 other donors.
  • Let Them Create!

    Funded Aug 10, 2017

    Thank you so much for the materials for our maker space! My students took a couple days to explore the items. There is so much there they haven't even gotten to all of it yet! Last week though we were able to do a group building project, and they loved it! The story was that we went apple picking, but we had no way to carry the apples. I asked what we should do, and the students thought we should build a basket. So we did! Each student had a chance to put popsicle sticks where they thought they should go, and they were able to choose what colors they wanted. The handle was the tricky part, but it worked! Their eyes lit up when they were each able to take turns carrying the apple in the basket that they made! I want to have a new task each month for them to complete, and as the year goes on I want to also put some mini project ideas for them to work on as well. They really enjoyed this and I want to keep it going!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. P.

    This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and one other donor.
My special education students love learning, and they love being able to express themselves! Please help them continue their passions!

About my class

My special education students love learning, and they love being able to express themselves! Please help them continue their passions!

About my class

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