Ms. Ervin's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 7

• Just the Basics!

  Funded Sep 20, 2023

  Thank you so much for your kind donation! Because of your generosity, my students have been able to practice their written English every day via journals. Having physical journals to write in is so important to their English learning. Research shows that physically writing on paper helps in learning. It also promotes students to rely solely on their own thinking as they don't have access to a computer to aid in their writing. Finally, it helps establish the routine of daily sustained writing.

  In the beginning of the year, we used the glue to glue in "What's wrong with this picture?" pictures because they not only make the students think by being able to identify errors in the picture, but the sentences to describe these errors are very basic. We have since moved on to more difficult pictures and videos. Soon we will be moving on to writing prompts.

  This would not be possible without your help!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

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

• Let's Get Organized!

  Funded Sep 13, 2022

  Thank you a million times for the materials! Since I asked for this project, I have gotten more than 10 new students; and because of your generous donation each one has been able to be given a binder, paper, and organizing tabs. Every Friday we work together to make sure our binders are organized and every day I help students use their binders to find their anchor charts to help them with their work. If they did not have these materials, they would assuredly lose every paper given; thus they would not only not have the anchor charts to help them study, but they also would not be learning the invaluable skill of organization.

  Again, a million thanks!!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

  This classroom project was brought to life by Amazon.com, Inc. and 2 other donors.

• How Do You Say That in English?

  Funded Oct 21, 2021

  With these new dictionaries, every student in my class has been able to have one at their desk to use at any time. I have been able to get rid of their reliance on Google Translate, which most students will use to translate complete sentences. This does not help them learn how to construct sentences on their own. With the dictionaries, students are forced to think about how to use that word in a sentence and how to construct the sentence. They are creating connections in their minds that will help them not only in my class, but in all their classes. I was also able to teach them how to use a dictionary. Because each student has their own dictionary (and each dictionary was the same) they could all be literally on the same page with me as we explored how to use it.

  In short, we are forever grateful for your generosity. These dictionaries will not only help these students this year, but also hundreds of students in future years.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

  This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 5 other donors.

• A Better Hybrid Learning Experience

  Funded Feb 23, 2021

  I can't thank you enough for your generosity! Having two screens this year was an absolutely necessity. The moment I put up a second screen, it was a game-changer.

  It was just really great to have one screen displayed on the board for students to see and keep one screen private to check work, send messages, monitor what students are doing on their computers, among other things.

  I believe that I will continue using technology in my classrooms in the future and thus continue using two screens, as it really allowed me to have control of more things going on in the classroom simultaneously.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

• Welcome to My Class!

  Funded Dec 4, 2018

  Oh my gosh, thank you so much! You can't imagine how much this has helped me in my classroom! Already, since we came back from vacation, I have had 5 new students. And because of the printer, I was able to print off materials for them so that they were able to participate in the classroom.

  After school, I've had students come for help or for information and I've been able to print off information for them right at that time instead of having them wait until the next day. Pre-printer, I would have to go to another part of the building to where the community printer was located; and I was unable to leave students alone in the room, so they were not able to get the information unless I made them all leave the room, or until the next day.

  I have also had students that needed to print off some information for classes and instead of helping them in my room, then having them send it to their Google Drive (and thus explaining to them how to access their Drive on a desktop in the library since they work on Chromebooks), I can just have them print it here in my room.

  I have had students ask about their grades. And instead of having them come after school the next day to give me time to print the information and then collect it elsewhere; I can print it while they wait and talk to them the same day.

  I have also had times where the photocopies I requested (we have a copy center) hadn't come back in time and I was able to print off copies to get me through the class.

  I and my students are very, very grateful for your generosity.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

• Stuck in Neutral

  Funded Jan 13, 2010

  Well, we have just finished reading the book and you can't believe how proud I am of these students! I placed them in groups to work with the book every week, requiring them to read certain chapters before group day. Although I helped them while in their groups, I read very little of the book to them. They were able to read an entire book themselves. You can't imagine how exciting it is to see students not only reading a book, but discussing it; especially students who have only been in this country a couple of years. And none of this would have been possible without YOUR help. I tried my best to capture the book "in action" in my pictures; but I don't think anything can fully capture the feeling of watching students read a book and discuss it by themselves. You have not only provided them with a book; you provided them with the feeling of accomplishment at being able to read a book and understand it. Even if we have instilled a love (or even a slight appreciation) of reading in one student, we have done our job.

  A million thanks from me and all my students!!!!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin

• A Modern Day Scarlet Letter

  Funded Oct 12, 2007

  WOW! I am so excited to have gotten this project sponsored! I can't wait to get my students started on the books. We just started reading some of Poe's stories (for Halloween), so the books will come just in time -- as we finish up Poe. I have been planning this project for the past 6 months, but have been trying to figure out how to get them to read the book without an actual copy for them. I can't express how excited I am to be able to get this project started! Thank you! Thank you!!

  Sincerely,

  Michelle E

  ESL Teacher, Chelsea High School

  Chelsea, M”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Ervin