Ms. Alliegro's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 2

• Operation Organization

  Funded Aug 14, 2015

  As a second-year teacher, the best thing about returning to the classroom in September was feeling more prepared than last year. I felt more confident in my classroom, ready to face the new school year (and all of its ups and downs) head-on.

  And, amazingly, I also saw the materials funded by this project do the same for my students.

  Because of your generous donations to my classroom, I was able to provide my 7th graders with brand-new binders, dividers, notebooks, dictionaries, clipboards, white-board markers, and a whole smattering of other organizational supplies. With some careful instruction, my kids learned how to use their binders to file all of their paperwork neatly and systematically, they learned how to keep their notes labeled and in order, and, most of all, they learned that staying organized is something to be proud of.

  Now, my kids are confident in my classroom, and this has made a world of difference. They are confident in their study habits and how to apply them to other classes. They are confident in their organizational systems and how to make them work in other aspects of their personal lives. And, best of all, they are confident in themselves, because they know that they have the tools they need to succeed.

  Your contributions to my classroom made this all possible, and I cannot thank you enough for that.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Alliegro

• Reading Is Believing: Class Books for Novel Study

  Funded Dec 13, 2014

  In nearly a year of teaching, I have learned a lot—about my classroom, about my students, about my school, about literacy. And I have failed even more times than I have succeeded, it seems. But perhaps my greatest and most meaningful success so far is learning how I can make a difference in my kids' lives through literacy.

  It is a far-reaching and ambitious goal, yes, but my first Donors Choose project truly exemplified just how much impact I might make through literacy instruction.

  The day that my box of books was delivered to school, stacked to the brim with class sets of "Scorpions" (Walter Dean Myers) and "The Skin I'm In" (Sharon Flake), I grappled with how I would entice my students and excite them about our end-of-year novel study unit. For my kids, who tend to struggle with reading and generally have difficulties with literacy concepts, I worried that these books would be just another "assignment" rather than the truly special gift that they were. Luckily, I was wrong.

  I asked a few students to help me open the package to "unveil" the books, and their responses were pricelessly captured. I didn't know that I could get my students so excited about books. But they were. They shrieked in awe at the new novels, scanning hurriedly through their pages. They devoured the reviews on the backs, asking me more about each one and when we planned on reading them. I couldn't help but grin ear-to-ear just watching them.

  This, to me, exemplifies my work as a literacy teacher. It is not enough to teach children how to read and write and speak and communicate, although those are certainly the foundational elements of any great ELA educator. But great ELA educators become exceptional when they also find ways to excite their students about literacy.

  Before I really started teaching, I viewed literacy as a comprehensive, interdisciplinary subject that would provide my students with the tools they needed to succeed in life. While all of this still rings true, my time in the classroom has shown that literacy also drives a hunger for knowledge, a passion for learning, and a desire to achieve. You can see it in my kids' faces, holding new books in their hands and flipping their fingers through the crisp pages.

  As we are beginning our novel studies this month, I am looking forward to once again piquing my students' interests about reading. I am looking forward to seeing them make connections, invest themselves in the text, and reinvigorate their love of learning... all through "Scorpions" and "The Skin I'm In."

  These "intangibles"—eagerness, motivation, inspiration—are the "end goals" of literacy instruction. They are the lasting impressions that I can leave on my students that will serve them better than any other piece of content I could teach.

  But I wouldn't have known that if these books weren't so generously donated by all of you.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Alliegro

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kia and 10 other donors.