Past projects 15
Students Concentrate Better with Quiet
Funded Nov 28, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donations. The ear muffs/headphones arrived weeks ago and have been distributed to the students. Each ear muff is labeled with a name, to prevent confusion and aid students.
Initially, students had a transitional period where it was important to learn when to wear the ear muffs; wearing them during the learning part of a lesson would be a distraction, and not wearing them during the independent work part of the lesson meant that they didn't help anyone! With some practice, students are finding that they block out others' speech (including helpful discssion of the material) and help to focus students on their own work. The kids love these ear muffs!
Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Students Concentrate Better With Quiet
Funded Apr 27, 2022Firstly, I want to thank you for your generous donation. My project aimed to help students who have a sensitivity to noise or who are easily distracted to focus. This is done via the use of headphones, which dull outside sounds and help students turn away from them and towards their work. It's one of the simple, yet effective uses of technology that you can find in a classroom.
Both last year and this year, I've had students who would benefit from the headphones. Sadly, the headphones were unavailable, according to Donor's Choose. They asked me to choose other ways to spend the monies that you gratiously donated.
I chose to purchase several books that focus on fun and engaging math routines in the classroom. I wanted some ideas that I could put into effect right away, and I have. My morning routine incorporates many of these routines each day, and they are focused around getting the students in my class to talk about math.
I hope this corresponds to your wishes.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Privacy Partitions Against Distraction!
Funded May 13, 2019We received the privacy partitions yesterday, and the whole class let out a small cheer.
One of the two boxes was delivered early in the morning. That gave me time to unpack and set up 20 privacy partitions. When the kids arrived, they immediately saw the partitions set up on their desks, and everyone cheered. It was doubly nice because we had a math test scheduled for the morning, and the kids got to use them immediately.
I will continue to offer students the option of using the partitions (we have other options, including some flexible seating options, as well.) These will undoubtedly be chosen for tests, but also for writing time, math independent work, and any other time the kids want to work without being distracted.
Thank you so much for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 5 other donors.Total Participation Baggies!
Funded Sep 21, 2016Thank you so much for generously funding "total participation baggies". In my classroom, one of the great challenges has always been to get children to the learning area equipped with everything they will need. Sometimes they cannot find one thing: a marker or a whiteboard. Other times they have difficulty knowing where to store their supplies, or possibly will find supplies moved or damaged over the course of their day if they are not protected.
With the sturdy bags you have provided, my students avoid all of these problems and can focus on learning. Time that would be spent looking for some supply is spent in a lesson, and we all benefit. Thank you for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Bean Bag Reading Space!
Funded Sep 21, 2016Thank you for your generous support of the project "Bean Bag Reading Space". The children that I teach use your gift each and every day.
You bought 8 bean bag chairs for my classroom and that of my collaborating teacher. Each day, children are able to use those to create comfortable, welcoming spaces in which to read. They can move away from the constraints of their desks and hard chairs, placing themselves anywhere in the classroom or even outside of it (there is space in the hallway where the children can read comfortably). We have even created a basket of materials (pens, post-its for notes, etc.) that can be moved with the seats to help the children keep track of their reading and thoughts.
One lucky, albeit unintended consequence, is that children have found other uses for the chairs. The chairs are asked for during writing time, during math time, and throughout the day. Thank you all for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Math Materials Help Children Provide Evidence of Reasoning
Funded Mar 23, 2016Hello donors,
Thank you so much for your generous help funding "Math materials help children provide evidence of reasoning". These new resources, all of which are games (or material that is being used to replace missing material in other games, such as replacement bills) is being used by small groups of students as enrichment.
When the students first saw the materials, they were very excited. The magnetic money, for example, replaces an older set that is exactly the same but the new box, being the first students to use the material, and the "newness" of it all really got the kids into using the materials.
As we move forward, we'll be using the games during the day to supplement our math lessons, and give students more time to work with and learn about money. They'll be playing in groups and will have to work together to add, subtract, and make totals in fun ways.
Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Seat Sacks Help Students Store Books Neatly
Funded Oct 29, 2015When we received the seat sacks, approximately three months ago, we had 42 children sharing 24 desks....twice (I'll explain). As you can imagine, the desks were messy and it was difficult for students to find what they were looking for in each desk. This meant that a lot of time was lost each time we wanted to continue writing, find a math example we were working on, or pull out the book we were reading. They often moved things that had been organized by the person with whom they were sharing a desk. This was made even more difficult by the fact that they had to do the same thing in two different rooms (as they spend every-other day in an English-language room, and "un jour sur deux" in a French-language room).
Not anymore.
Each student has a desk. Each student has a seat sack. Each student knows where to put their things. No student needs to search through the affairs of any other student to find their work or their book. Students transitioned more quickly to working, and lost less time to frustratingly looking for work. The difference is apparent to anyone who visits the classroom, who will see students getting right to work rather than searching for a particular paper or looking in someone else's things.
Thank you. Helping students to organize is difficult, and having solutions like these sacks goes a long way. That organization is important, though, because it helps students to spend more time learning. Your support has offered that time to our students, and we are very grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Legos to Help Young Engineers Build Bridges!
Funded Oct 20, 2015It has been a great three months since we have received the magna-tiles. They arrived in our classroom in the middle of the school day on a Wednesday, and generated a lot of interest. Students eagerly watched the boxes being unpacked, and asked what they were for. I was almost sad to tell them that had to wait two days to find out, as we wouldn't be using them until that Friday.
It was very exciting to bring out the tiles that Friday and explain to the students that they would be using them to model a skyscraper. We first built one as a class (and it fell down, to great applause!) The fun truly began, however, when we broke up into groups in order to build several models of the Empire State Building (we are studying New York City monuments). Students were wonderfully creative and tried all sorts of interesting ways to decorate and embellish their models. Everyone in the classroom was engaged and learning.
We've used the blocks several times since then, and each time students are hard at work. You can really see the difference the magna-tiles have made, and I (and all of the students) are incredibly grateful for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
Math fun to learn about money!
Funded Apr 1, 2015Today, we were able to break out the various games from this grant and play them for the first time. As a result of your great generosity, all of the students were able to choose the games that interested them, and many had the chance to play two or three different games. As I believe the pictures show, the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were also learning the whole time; students had to read instructions and explain them to each other; they had to discuss how to interpret the instructions and how to play well together; they had to count and recount each other's play-money; they had to solve problems and put forward arguments to show that their solutions were effective.
We set up the games at two points during the day: our lunch-time celebration of student excellence, and during a period we set aside for math games concerned specifically with money. Students had to count different sets of coins, set aside sets of coins using constraints (for example, make a total without dimes), buy things, and solve abstract math problems using realistic toy coins.
It is obvious from listening to them that they were motivated to problem solve, as well as to work together to help each other handle money. It is also obvious from the photos that they really enjoyed it. I look forward to hearing the same laughter each Friday during math time, as well as the same kind of conversation happening about math in each group. Thank you again for all of your generosity and help.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz
This classroom project was brought to life by PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. and 7 other donors.Listen to Learn to Read!
Funded Mar 9, 2015Hello parents and donors!
We received the listening center this week, and were able to set it up and get the children listening to books already. So far, the students have been gathering in groups of three to listen to the different audiobooks we have (they have found it hard to share one print copy among more than three students). Their feedback has been strongly positive.
Initially, I set a group of students who are learning French up at the center. We have several books for novices, and they were able to follow along. They were very excited, and really felt like they understood the story. This, of course, caused quite a commotion in our French-speakers; they wanted a turn, too!
Luckily, our PTA had previously subscribed us to "J'aime lire", which comes with a CD. The francophone students were able to enjoy these stories and, as everyone gets to take a turn, everyone will have a great time.
I look forward to hearing the students read after having this increase of exposure to French and strongly believe that it will help them grow more comfortable with French syntax, as well as help them to build vocabulary.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Goetz