Ms. Backman's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 78

• Engineering with the 3 Little Pigs

  Funded Apr 20, 2015

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! My students love the engineering kits! They love reading the stories about the 3 Little Pigs, The 3 Bears, and The Billy Goats. After they read the story they get to work on the engineering problem. They get so excited to try different ways to solve the problem. It is so fun to see them try different ways to build their designs. I have seen my students' abilities to work in a team improve so much!

  Thank you for taking an interest in my students and supplying them with these wonderful engineering tools!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• The New Boogie Board is for Writing!

  Funded May 5, 2015

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! We absolutely love the new Boogie Boards! These LCD eWriters allow my students to work out math problems quickly without wasting paper. I am able to have my students hold up the Boogie Boards at the same time so that I am able to make sure that they are all learning the concepts that I am teaching. If I see a student having trouble I am able to work with them to help them learn the concept.

  My students have also used the Boogie Boards to practice writing. They love writing their sight words and spelling words on the boards and then erasing them with the touch of a button.

  Again, thank you so much for caring about my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• First Graders Can Be Engineers!

  Funded Apr 29, 2015

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! My students absolutely love the Snap Circuits! They beg to use them all the time! They are learning so much about engineering, problem solving, reading directions, and working together. This week we are having our open house. The kids can't wait to show their parents the Snap Circuits and the fun things they can create.

  You have filled my classroom with more excitement. The kids are so grateful for your kind gift. They appreciate it more than you'll ever know.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• Boogie Boards Aren't Just For The Beach Anymore!

  Funded Jan 7, 2015

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! The Boogie Boards have filled my classroom with so much excitement! We have been using personal white boards and markers for several years now. On a daily basis my students would complain that their marker ran out of ink or that the white board wouldn't erase. This used up valuable class time and disturbed the other students. These Boogie Boards allow the students to write using a stylus and erase with the touch of a button. I am able to monitor student work and quickly check to make sure that they are all understanding my lesson.

  Thank you so much for improving my students' classroom experience and for taking an interest in my California public school.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• It's a Whole New Math Game

  Funded Oct 21, 2014

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! Your gift of magnetic ten frames, math games, and the math puzzle have really helped my students with their math skills. The magnetic ten frames have made the biggest impact in my class. We are able to use the ten frames for addition, subtraction, and for visualizing how we can add in new ways. Since the ten frames are magnetic, the students can place the counters and then hold the ten frame up in the air. This allows me to quickly check and see if my students are understanding the lesson or if I need to present the information again.

  Thank you so much for caring about my students and for supporting my public school.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• Little Artists Need Supplies

  Funded Sep 30, 2014

  Thank you so very much for your generous donation to my class! The children were ecstatic to see all of the new art supplies. They are always begging me to do art activities with them. The old paper and glue activities are fun but my kids always love something new.

  Your donation of modeling clay and perler beads has brought so much fun to our art time. My kids have loved making creations with the clay. They are currently sculpting a present that they will give to a family member for Valentine's Day. The perler bead craft has been so interesting to watch! As I watch my students create their shape I am astounded by how artistic some of them are! They are really able to picture in their heads what they want to do and then use the beads to make their idea come to life. It is so fun to watch!

  Again, thank you so much for helping my students and taking an interest in public education!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

  This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Attention Getting Books for First Grade

  Funded Aug 23, 2014

  Thank you so, so much for your wonderful and generous donations to my classroom! It was so exciting to see how many of my friends and family and their friends and family supported my project! My students were so shocked that people wanted to buy them books!

  Your gifts provided my students will brand new nonfiction books. These books go home with them each week to be read with their families. Most of my families struggle financially so they aren't able to provide books for their children. These books allow the families to read new books each week to their their children become better readers. The students are also learning so much from the nonfiction books.

  I also received a entire set of Junie B. Jones books. These chapter books are perfect for my advanced readers. They love the books and try to read them every chance they get! (Even during math instruction!)

  Again, thank you so, so much for taking an interest in my students and my classroom! I am so grateful!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

  This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 6 other donors.

• Wiggle Worms Need A Safe Way To Wiggle!

  Funded Sep 14, 2014

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class! I have a couple very wiggly students this year. They are unable to pay attention unless they are moving! Several times these wiggly kids have actually fallen off of their chairs!

  Since the wonderful Hokki Stools have arrived my kids have been able to safely wiggle during lessons! They are much less distracting to the other students and to me. These stools have helped them to focus and get out their energy in a safe way.

  Thank you so much for helping me and my students!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• Technology for All!

  Funded Mar 26, 2014

  Thank you so much for your very generous donation to my class. My students LOVE the Mimio. They are so much more engaged with lessons when I use it. Everyone wants to participate and come up to use it. I love when we make diagrams together and then we are able to save it on the computer. I can pull up the image any time. It is so much more convenient that rolling up paper to save for later.

  Again thank you so much for your kind donation. And thank you for taking an interest in public education and bay area students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman

• Write On!

  Funded Aug 26, 2014

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to my class. I only got the white boards and markers last week but I have already used them numerous times. I have used them for math, spelling, and writing. They are so helpful and my students are able to learn so much. The supplies are also helpful for me because I am able to quickly check each student's understanding to make sure that all of my students are understanding my lessons.

  Thank you so much for helping my students and taking an interest in public education.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Backman