Past projects 96
A Recipe for Writing Success, Julia Cook Style.
Funded Aug 6, 2013Thank you for choosing to support this project. This is a project we have been planning for some time. Our journey began two years ago when Julia Cook, a children's book author, came to our school. She motivated the staff and the teachers. We started ordering more of her books and as the counselor I started using many of her books for my lessons. The topics she addresses are the topics I cover.
My second grade team jumped on board and became very active in using her books and coordinating with me. We have very attractive and engaging bulletin boards based on the books we are using. The activity books that goes with the books have a variety of materials that supplement the lessons and also provides for writing activities. This started us down the road to develop a plan to have encore teachers also read a book and include writing in their classes, a district priority.
We then wrote another project to get some journals for the students to write in. The special education teacher designed a cover for each journal. The students are now using the journals as we read the books and learn important live lessons such as how to deal with teasing, bullies, grief, and a variety of other topics. I am looking forward to the end of the year to see the completed journals.
Thank you for helping us with this journey, it is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 15 other donors.Cooking up Counseling
Funded Aug 6, 2013We are really cooking now! We are in full swing with our Julia Cook book project. We have the books by Julia Cook and are using them in a lot of classes.
One of the first books we are using is "My Mouth is a Volcano". The students loved the book and are now actively writing about what the consequences are for interrupting. Each book covers important social and life skills. These skills are hard to teach. Having such great motivational books is really beneficial. We are also using this as a way to teach writing skills. The students are very excites. Even the music, art, and other teachers are going to participate.
Thank you again for supporting education and for helping our school. We really do appreciate it.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
A is for Attendance! The First Step to Learning!
Funded Aug 6, 2013Thank you so much for supporting this project. We just finished the first quarter and made the announcements for those classes who earned the rewards for top classes for overall attendance. They were so excited when I brought their bags of goodies!
Attendance is becoming more and more a focus for state and district standards. At our school we have led the district (over 35 schools) in attendance for 3 straight years, and by a nice margin. Regular monitoring of attendance, parent communication, and an incentive program all are important to success. This project allows me to keep the incentive portion of the program. Students notice the weekly announcements that list the top classes for the week, and the display in the cafeteria that shows top classes at each grade level. They want to be the class that earns the rewards.
If students are not in school, they can not learn. Thank you for helping us with our attendance program!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 12 other donors.Help us Polish our Stars!
Funded Oct 1, 2012My students are really enjoying the books! Words can not express how much it means to students to have books that help them develop personally. When you feel good about who you are, you are more likely to do well in school and to have friends. Materials such as these go a long way in helping students understand themselves and others.
Laura, you do so much for so many teachers. I want you to know that I really appreciate what a special person you are. You inspire so many, and give them the help they need.
I want to thank General Growth Properties, Horace Mann Companies and Match for Kansas City Schools. Each of you are making education better and helping many students. Thank you so much for helping education!
Again, my deepest thanks.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 4 other donors.We Want to be Green!
Funded Sep 2, 2012We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your generosity. The books arrived and they are even better than we had hoped for. I care deeply about conservation and nature. I want to be able to inspire students to learn about these topics, and have high quality reading material to use at the same time. This project really helps me accomplish this. There is such a wide variety of topics that the materials cover, it will reach so many students!
It is very hard to get materials for schools in the tough economic times. I greatly appreciate each and every donor, individual or corporate, that contributed to the project.
Thank you for caring about education and students!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 2 other donors.Help Us Process our Grief Creatively with Art
Funded Aug 27, 2012Thank you so much for funding this project. When I shared the news with the students they were very excited.
In the small groups the students will be able to work through the feelings that they have about the issues that they are dealing with in a creative way. This really helps students come to terms with their feelings and end up with something to remember their loved ones.
Without funding to help us, this would not be possible. Words can not express how important it is to my students. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
A is for Attendance! The First Step to Learning!
Funded Oct 3, 2012I am so thrilled to have the incentives for our attendance program. It is very motivational for our students. The current state requirements for schools regarding attendance makes it even more important for students to be in school. This attendance program is making a huge difference in our attendance. Currently we are almost a whole percent higher than the other schools in our district. Without individuals and corporations that support these projects, it would be very difficult to have as an effective program. The students were so excited when they saw the incentives! They are working hard on next quarters attendance! Last week we had two classrooms with 100% Jacqlyn, you are an angel! Thank you for your support of teachers!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 3 other donors.Letting Our Stars Shine!
Funded Sep 30, 2012I have worked with special needs children for many years, and now as a school counselor I work with students will many needs. Often there is a need for a student to be able to read about the concern he or she has, or those that friends might have.
Sharing information about disabilities is a great way to take the ignorance out of the picture. I teach students that prejudice is based on the word prejudging. Once we get to know someone, we often find that we really do have more in common with those we think are different from us. These resources are going to greatly help our student develop this understanding.
It was so exciting to me that you chose to help this project. It shows that you also care about special children and those that struggle with personal issues. I can not thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
A Is For Attendance! The First Step To Learning!
Funded Jun 22, 2012It is very frustrating to teachers to have students who are continually absent. When students are not there, they miss valuable instructional time. Even more time is lost trying to catch the students up when they return. It is also a district priority as it affects graduation rates. Our school is trying to do something about attendance rates.
The past few years we have had an program to monitor attendance and work with parents on understanding when it appropriate for a student to miss school. We have weekly announcements to recognize the classes with the best attendance. At the end of each quarter the classes with the best overall attendance can receive small incentives. The classes love these. After awarding them the first quarter that we did this, one 4th grader said that it was his best day at school.
We have increased our attendance each year. Last year our school, one of 30 buildings in the district, had the best attendance rate each month, and for the year. We want to continue to encourage students to be in school.
Thank you for your donation. It will really help us keep this program going. I am very appreciative of all your support. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and one other donor.We Can Unlock Our Potenial
Funded May 7, 2012Every year the 5th grade students are excited when we get to practice with combination locks before they go on to 6th grade. We play relay races and other games to make it even more fun. This is a important skill so that they feel comfortable with locks and ease some of the fear of transition.
For the past few years my locks have dwindled in number or did not work well. We had to share locks, which meant it took longer for them to get a chance to learn how to open the locks. My time is very limited in the classroom, so it is very important to be able to have each student have a lock.
I felt so strongly about this, that I helped fund the project.
I am deeply grateful for your support and words can not express how much this will mean to my students. The confidence that they will gain will be very important to them as they go to middle school. It is very embarrassing for them to have to be late to class because they could not open the locker.
Thank you, your generosity is deeply appreciated. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cobb
This classroom project was brought to life by Match for Kansas City Schools and 3 other donors.