Past projects 45
Poetic Science! Creative Arts and Hard Science Mashup!
Funded Mar 9, 2016What a great surprise it was to see that our class proposal had been fully funded! In one day, the number of Chromebooks in our classroom nearly doubled. Last summer, I set the audacious goal of creating a class set of devices for my students. Now, we have 28 Chromebooks for 32 students. We are nearly there!
In the past, we had to schedule rotations and get the students to share devices. Now, we are (nearly) able to all work at the same time. It is a great resource to have regular access to.
We have been focusing our efforts on utilizing Google Classroom. The online program acts like a command center so students can all view their assignments and then work on their tasks on Google Docs. This allows them to work on it at school and then continue at home or anywhere with an internet connection.
The great thing about it all is that these devices are significantly cheaper than traditional laptops. So much of what we do is internet or cloud based. The students are able to do anything they need to and don't feel like anything is missing on the devices.
I know we are on the right track when one of my students told me that he loved the devices so much that he persuaded his family to purchase one for his own personal use.
There is still so much more to do with these devices. The great thing is that they are tools that students use to research, develop skills, and create on. They're no different than the pencil in their hand. The students are adapting to having a resource they can use across the curriculum.
Your contributions have made it all possible. Thank you very much.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
Poetic Science! Arts and Science Mash Up!
Funded Mar 9, 2016What a great surprise it was to see that our class proposal had been fully funded! In one day, the number of Chromebooks in our classroom nearly doubled. Last summer, I set the audacious goal of creating a class set of devices for my students. Now, we have 28 Chromebooks for 32 students. We are nearly there!
In the past, we had to schedule rotations and get the students to share devices. Now, we are (nearly) able to all work at the same time. It is a great resource to have regular access to.
We have been focusing our efforts on utilizing Google Classroom. The online program acts like a command center so students can all view their assignments and then work on their tasks on Google Docs. This allows them to work on it at school and then continue at home or anywhere with an Internet connection.
The great thing about it all is that these devices are significantly cheaper than traditional laptops. So much of what we do is internet or cloud based. The students are able to do anything they need to and don't feel like anything is missing on the devices.
I know we are on the right track when one of my students told me that he loved the devices so much that he persuaded his family to purchase one for his own personal use.
There is still so much more to do with these devices. The great thing is that they are tools that students use to research, develop skills, and create on. They're no different than the pencil in their hand. The students are adapting to having a resource they can use across the curriculum.
Your contributions have made it all possible. Thank you very much.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
Breaking News: Robots Take Over School! Students Inspired!
Funded Oct 21, 2015These classroom resources couldn't have arrived at a better time for our class. We really lucked out. Last year, my class worked on Hour of Code, as an introduction to Computer Science. This year, we've been working more deliberately, working through an accelerated 20-hour Coding course. They've been coding their way through Minecraft, Angry Birds, and Star Wars challenges, which they love. The Sphero SPRK robot ties right into this. Students are working on coding and problem solving, seeing that programming is nothing more than a series of steps to achieve a goal.
The robot has grabbed their attention. It makes the programming take on new meaning. It's not just a video game. This is tangible. They can see how their directions affect the robot's movements. Students have been able to take turns controlling the it. It's been great to see students who have struggled in other areas of math take to the coding so well.
The next step will be to incorporate some geometry. We'll be constructing a maze or classroom course for the robot to follow. Students will have to measure angles and distance to be able to properly guide Sphero on its way. Math with real-world applications. It's no longer something that students have to learn "because the teacher tells them to", but rather becomes something that they want to learn in order to build the maze and code.
The interactive whiteboard has allowed students to take over the role of teacher. It allows a new dynamic in the classroom. They love when I sit down in a student's seat and let them get up and "take over" the class. We know that we learn best when we feel that we have to master the material in order to teach it to someone else.
These are new technologies in our classroom. The most exciting part is that the teacher is learning right along with the students. I don't have to know all the answers. The students seem emboldened to suggest new ideas when they feel like we are all a community of learners together.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 6 other donors.Chromebooks for Creatives!
Funded Oct 21, 2015This past summer, I decided that I was going to find a way to create a class set of computers for my students to use. We have spent many years with one computer for the entire class to share. Now, through Donorschoose, amazing friends and family, and other resources, we have cobbled together enough Chromebooks for half our class to work with.
I am committed to making this audacious goal a reality for my students. I will continue to work until they can all work on computers at the same time.
We are having a great time with the Chromebooks. We have been working with Google Classroom and Docs to communicate, collaborate, and create. The joy is that I, as teacher, don't have all the answers. We are all learners together.
An unexpected benefit of having the devices in class? We've been using them on a different class project. I have undertaken the mighty task of labeling each of the hundreds of books in our class library with its individual reading level and genre. My students have been helping me at recess using the Chromebooks to look up the levels. We could have never done something like that before!
We keep seeing different ways to use the tools in our class. For writing, for research, for skills practice. And so much more. Having the Chromebooks in class is great and I know we haven't even reached their full potential.
Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
Poetry Ignites Passion: Arts and Science Unite!
Funded Aug 22, 2015Wow! We have barely started our second week and already we've had a surprise delivery. Many of the students knew what to expect because we'd been talking about getting our families to support the project. And they sure did! It's a great satisfaction to have the support of students' families in the different projects we work on in class.
The students are now familiar with Chromebooks and know that they are like laptops that connect to the Internet. They know that they will get to use them to work with in class. After many years of having a single-computer classroom, this is a major upgrade. With 4 devices from a previous project, this means we will now have 6 Chromebooks for my 32 students to share. It's not perfect, but it's a huge step in the right direction. No more will we be relying solely on a weekly 45-minute visit to the computer lab. Now, students will be able to work on their writing right in our own classroom and start using Google Drive to compose and edit their writing pieces. By working directly on the cloud, my students will be able to edit in class and then go home or to the local library and continue working on their essays and poems right where they left off. This is a major shift for them.
There is an excitement in the class. One, there's something special about unwrapping some shiny new, bright red computers! But, also, the students have a sense that their success is important. And not just to them, it matters to others. There are people outside of our classroom who are watching over them, pulling for them, encouraging them in their creative and academic pursuits. That's a powerful feeling.
My students are already eager to get started. We will be setting up their Google accounts later this week. Then, they will be able to work on the Chromebooks for their writing, but also to research topics online, review math skills, and collaborate on projects. It's an exciting time in our fifth-grade classroom. Thank you for your support in getting us to this point. I can't wait to see where the students go from here!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
A Passion for Poetry: Arts and Science Converge!
Funded Aug 22, 2015Wow, we've been in class for a few weeks now. This year, we're in a new classroom and we've seen new resources come into our room. It's a tremendous thrill to see something new, and my students' eyes literally bulged as we brought in the large delivery boxes. Last year, I had 1 computer for my entire class, now we have 7 Chromebooks and a new printer!
The thrill of new is there because they know these are not just toys, but are tools for work. To improve the caliber of their work. When I started teaching, it was a rare family who had a computer in their home, much less an Internet connection. Now, it's inverted, most have some kind of internet-connected device. By having proper technology in class, they get to work at a higher level.
We are still working through the best ways of sharing our resources. The students start their writing on paper to focus them and in time transfer their work onto the computer. This allows their initial draft to capture the immediacy of their ideas unencumbered by the less-familiar process of typing. Once all their ideas are captured, they can take the time to revise and edit them knowing nothing is lost and that their work is now more efficient. Students will all have their own Google accounts that will let them save their work on any device in class and then continue it at home or the next day regardless of where they are. It's an amazing advantage. No more leaving work at home or at school!
Having a proper printer in the classroom has allowed us to publish our work more easily. An added bonus feature is that the printer is also an in-class copier that has saved us a few times when we were short a copy of an article to read.
I look forward to seeing where the Chromebooks take us this year. It's all new this year and the learning curve is sharp, but it's exciting to be learning new things right along with my students.
This experience has been different for my 32 fifth-graders. First, they know the impact of the technology in the classroom. But, moreover they know that people outside of our class walls are concerned with their progress and success. It was a great motivator when they saw that many of their own families contributed to this project. Their success is important to not just them or me, but to a greater community.
I thank you for supporting our class in this project.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
Biggest Loser
Funded Jun 8, 2015The second week of school has been full of surprises for my students. Today, I finally told them about the surprise that was waiting for them in the closet. A box had arrived just before classes started and I was bursting to watch them open up the box and discover the treasures inside.
It was just as I imagined, they looked in and were surprised to see tablets, clipboards, a pencil sharpener, along with a brand new whiteboard/easel.
I explained that this was a project that we were going to be working on later into the year, but that we would be using the materials immediately.
Our class of 32 had one computer to share last year. It didn't go well. Now, we want to be able to take advantage of all our devices. I purchased a set of Bluetooth keyboards and tablet stands so that we can use the tablets as mini work-stations. Now, students will be able to maximize our materials by using the tablets with Google Drive so that they can compose and edit their writing directly on the cloud. This way, as they rotate through their turns, students can then go home or to the local library and continue their writing process right where they left off.
These devices make it much easier for each student to have access to tools that we didn't have before. We will be setting up their Google Drive accounts later this week. We are all very anxious to log in and start using these new resources.
Thank you so much for making it all possible!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
This classroom project was brought to life by PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. and 3 other donors.Computer Programming for Young Minds
Funded Jun 22, 2015It's our second week of school and I sprung a bit of a surprise on my students today. I told them about Donorschoose and some very kind donors who have chosen to support out classroom this year. They couldn't seem to get over the idea that people outside of our local school community were so interested in helping them have the tools that they would need to be successful. They seemed to sit up a little taller knowing that there were other people who cared about their achievements and growth.
I explained to them that we were now going to have 4 Chromebooks in our classroom. I was a bit surprised when their response was lukewarm. Finally, I had to ask them, "Do you know what Chromebooks are?" They didn't. A-ha! Once I explained that they were like laptops that we were going to be able to use in our classroom for all kinds of different activities, they were much more excited. We just went from one computer for 32 students to having 5. It's a big jump and there will be more to come to ensure that they can take turns to work on their writing, practice math skills, research topics, and develop computer programming skills.
This week, we will be setting up their Google Drive accounts so that they will be able to create and edit writing in class and pick right up on it at home or the local library on any computer. This changes things so much for them. This provides access for them to technology that others may take for granted.
Instead of visiting a computer lab once a week for 40 minutes, we now have permanent access to tools to work with. This will allow them to work longer and in more depth on their different investigations, projects, and writing pieces.
Thank you again for making this a reality for them.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 4 other donors.Math Domination for All!
Funded Jan 30, 2012We have had a powerful few months with our new tablet computer. My students demonstrated needs in core areas regarding math basic skills and language arts vocabulary development. Now, with our tablet, students have been able to access a new form of review. They've been leading the charge in looking at new apps and uses. We've focused on a few that give them timed practice for basic math facts. It's been really great to see how different students respond to a unique tool. Over the past few weeks, I've seen students ignite new interest in monitoring and improving their own records.
Thank you again for your generous support. It will surely have a lasting impact on my students!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 33 other donors.Word Domination for All!
Funded Jan 27, 2012We have had a powerful few months with our new tablet computer. My students demonstrated needs in core areas regarding math basic skills and language arts vocabulary development. Now, with our tablet, students have been able to access a new form of review. They've been leading the charge in looking at new apps and uses. We've focused on a few that give them timed practice for basic math facts. It's been really great to see how different students respond to a unique tool. Over the past few weeks, I've seen students ignite new interest in monitoring and improving their own records.
Thank you again for your generous support. It will surely have a lasting impact on my students!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Landazuri
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 31 other donors.