Past projects 2
Engagement For All!
Funded Nov 18, 2013students"I would teach him [or her!] that the press he reads is not as free as it says it is---and that he can do something about that, too. I would try to make him know that just as American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it, so is the world larger, more daring, more beautiful, and more terrible, but principally larger---and that it belongs to him."
-James Baldwin
Back in August, you may remember donating to my project on Donors Choose. In just a few days, an amazing group of generous people came together to fill my wish list basket for my classroom. I was overwhelmed with the support from friends, family and anonymous donors. It has been a while since you may have made your donation students, but I wanted to update you to let you know of the real-life impact that your actions have had on my classroom and my many students.
As you may recall, my goal this year has been for my students to experience history in a way that is engaging, exciting and lasting. Using Social studies to facilitate questioning and exploration of history's "big ideas" as well as my students' own Civic Responsibility has been a big goal of mine this year. Many of the supplies I requested were for the sole purpose of activating the whole studentâinvest them in ways that they may have not been exposed before. These supplies came to my classroom at such an important time. As a teacher who was about to start his second year, I desperately needed to build my classroom full of rich resources and documents to help my instruction. Teachers are given very few resources to help create the classroom that students need to be successful, and your help allowed me to implement many of the activities and experiences I envision for my 8th graders and to provide the very best for them.
The resources that came in the mail week after week have helped my students learn in interactive and personal ways. From the new books and interactive maps in our library to the document camera that allows students to take control of their own exploration, my students this year and diving into text and concepts with enthusiasm and personal goals for their own education.
My 8th graders are curious and hopeful students; however, they come to school with many challenges already standing in their way. It is my goal to provide my students with the very best education possible. That is what every child deserves. However, poverty is a real challenge for many of my students, and they are affected by it every day. About 96.8% are eligible to receive free school lunches, and they are often lacking the resources needed to help them become successful students. I have attached a thank you letter from one of my students. Beyond the physical donation for my classroom, it is important to know that your donation is also a vote of confidence in my studentsâI made sure that my students knew that these supplies were donated because there were many people out there, people who had never met them before, who believed in them and their success. Many of them were fascinated that these "anonymous" people would choose to donate to their classroom. My students are often not given a lot of credit or investment from outside sources, so this is another amazing aspect of your actions.
Hopefully the images attached will give you some idea of the students you are reaching but also how the supplies are used in the classroom on a day-to-day basis. If you ever have any questions or are just curious about how things are going, please don't hesitate to contact me. You are now a part of my students' successes, as I work to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, grow and excel in school. I hope you understand what an impact your actions have had on my classroom and the lives of all of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mintz
Experiencing History Hands-On!
Funded Aug 16, 2012WOW. Thank yall so much for supporting my project. This HUGE project was funded by friends, family, friends of friends, and anonymous donors in just TWO DAYS. Unbelievable... I am honored and humbled by the support that yall have given. As I bring these new materials into the classroom, I also aim to bring that same level of support, respect and love to my classroom.
You will be receiving a much larger thank you package in the mail once the school year begins, and hopefully that will connect you even more with my classroom. If you ever have any questions or are just curious about how things are going, please don't hesitate to contact me. You are now a part of my students' successes, as I work to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, grow and excel in school.
I hope you understand what an impact this will have on my classroom and the lives of all of my students. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Mintz