Past projects 81
A Class Set of "The Pearl" (and a Little Shakespeare)
Funded May 24, 2020I cannot thank each and every one of you enough for helping to fulfill this proposal. Currently, I am a hybrid teacher at my school, which means that I teach groups of students in-person, as well as virtually. Either way, it doesn't make a difference though, because both groups will be able to read "The Pearl" and some various Shakespearian works, all thanks to you!
Now more than ever, having class sets of books is crucial to my daily time spent teaching. With kids not being able to share books or resources, I am beyond fortunate to have enough copies of these classics so that each student can have their very own book.
And no worries... the students that I teach virtually will be getting in on the action as well! I'm currently scanning pages so that my at-home learners will have a digital copy of the books from this proposal. Learning for everyone!
Once again, thank you for your generous and much. MUCH NEEDED support.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 4 other donors.Watch Your Fingers, These Books Are Hot!
Funded Jun 15, 2020I cannot thank each and every one of you enough for helping to fulfill this proposal. Currently, my school is still receiving information from the district and the mayor's office in regards to if we're even permitted to have a classroom library this year (because of COVID-19). Unfortunately, these amazing books haven't made it into any students' hands as of yet, but don't worry, that'll change soon.
If the year continues with teachers and students not being able to share books, I've already secured a scanner and will be scanning these amazing titles, page by page, so my students can read them virtually. I figured, "I can't go outside anyway, so I might as well start scanning some pages!" It won't be the same as having one of these beautiful, brand new books in their hands, but my students are already beyond thrilled at the notion of virtually being able to read some books that have been on their "wish list" for a while.
Once again, thank you for your incredible and generous support. Three classes full of students wouldn't be as happy as they are right now if it wasn't for you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 4 other donors.Diving in to Some New DICTIONARIES!
Funded Mar 27, 2018Thank you so much for the amazing generosity it took to fund this proposal. New dictionaries and thesauruses may not sound that exciting, but when you're in the 7th grade and making a poetry portfolio, they come in very handy! My classes are in the midst of creating at least 6 poems for each poetic style that we learn in class. So far we've covered 12 different styles, so that equals A LOT of writing. When my kids get stuck or need a different word with a correct amount of syllables, they are thrilled and relieved to have these brand new dictionaries and thesauruses at their fingertips. These books are having a tremendous impact now during our poetry unit, and will continue to do so on a daily basis in my Language Arts class. Once again, thank you very much for making a tremendous difference in the daily lives of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Hot Books to Read During the Cold Winter Months!
Funded Mar 13, 2018Thank you so much for bringing these terrific books into my classroom library. This amazing box of in-demand books couldn't have arrived at a better time. The delivery came in on the day of Parent-Teacher Conferences AND just three school days before a big, stressful State exam. The books were a very much needed bolt of energy and happiness for my students. It allowed them to relax and rejoice during a time when they really needed something to make them all smile.
The usual policy in my classroom is that students can read one book from the classroom library at a time, but that had to be immediately adjusted once the new book box was opened. I saw the confusion on my students' faces because I knew they wanted to quit the book they were currently reading (which they know is frowned upon) and select a new one from the funded proposal. There was a roar of cheers when I announced that they could have a "bonus second book" from the new delivery to read at home.
Besides all of that, my favorite part of these new books is that there is something for everyone. There are brand new, exciting books for kids who are emerging as readers. There are higher level books for kids who are ahead of their peers. There are books that have been made into movies, which always has the kids interested. Thank you so much. This funded proposal has made a huge and important difference in the lives of my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
A Journal to Call My Own
Funded Feb 2, 2018Thank you sooooo much for providing each and every one of my students with their very own writing journal. For the overwhelming majority of my students, this will be the first time that they'll have a place to write about their thoughts, feelings, emotions, successes and struggles in a place other than a boring black and white marble notebook. We haven't received the journals just yet, but that hasn't stopped my three classes from bubbling over with excitement and enthusiasm.
Students have already created their very own list of writing topics. Yes, I can't believe it either. They decided that since they have so much to write about and they don't want to leave anything out, that they should start making a list of everything that they can't wait to fill their brand new journals with.
Once again, thank you so much for these writing journals. They will make an immediate and lasting impact on my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
Bring "The Outsiders" To My Classroom!
Funded Jan 9, 2018Thank you for coming together to fulfill this proposal. Within days of receiving the brand new books, we started reading "The Outsiders" as a class. We have barely cracked the covers and the kids are already loving the novel and the characters. As has happened in the past, just about all of my students are connecting and relating personally to the Greasers and how they are viewed and treated. They literally can't get enough of this book.
My students are very committed to taking the utmost care of our new books. They were thrilled to learn that these books were only going to be used for our class and that they - for the very first time - are allowed to take the books home with them. Usually because I haven't had enough copies for everyone, students were not permitted to take home their books at night because they were needed for my other sections. However, with your brand new books, my students can take the books home for further reading and enrichment purposes. But don't worry, every book is carried to and from school in a plastic Ziploc bag to ensure they stay in tip-top shape.
Thank you once again for your thoughtful generosity. These books have made an immediate and lasting impact on my students and class.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
Help Us Upgrade Our Classroom Supplies!
Funded Dec 22, 2017Just so you know, I already have lost count of the amount of times that we have used these amazing new supplies. I was able to create "supply boxes" for each table in my classroom, that way, kids never need to get out of their seats during class or wait for supplies from someone else. When we use these supplies, one of the clear boxes is placed on each table. Inside the box (that you guys donated) are markers, colored pencils, 2 scissors, a glue stick and a ruler (also all donated by you guys). Things could not be working out any better!
I'll be taking pictures soon so you can see your supplies "in action." The classes love having their very own supplies for their individual tables. It is waaaaaaay better than the old system, which was basically hoping they had their own supplies or waiting for someone else to be finished. They love not having to walk around to try to find the color or supply that they need. This makes the class more focused, more quiet, and even more efficient. Again, I cannot thank you all enough.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
Warby Parker Eyeglasses for EVERYONE!
Funded Apr 15, 2016Thank you all once again for coming together to make this proposal a reality. A doctor from National Eye Care, Inc. is coming to my classroom tomorrow to give eye exams to 30 excited students. Many of them are bringing up a parent to help them select one of the many super stylish frames from Warby Parker. This is turning out to be a special all-day event! I'm in the process now of transforming my classroom into a doctor's office/eyeglass showroom, complete with display tables, a waiting area and a rolling chair. Providing eyeglasses to 30 students who struggle with vision EVERY DAY is going to make an immediate, significant, life-altering impact on their lives both in and out of the classroom. I've had many projects funded on DonorsChoose throughout the years, but this one is easily the most meaningful and memorable of them all. I can't wait to share some pictures with you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Warby Parker and 6 other donors.Our Favorite Author...Laurie Halse Anderson
Funded Dec 22, 2015Thank you so much for fulfilling my proposal to bring a bunch of Laurie Halse Anderson books into my classroom library. This was such a huge proposal for me that I need TWO book baskets in my library to hold all of the titles I received from this project. However, you wouldn't know that from actually looking in my classroom library, because the baskets are regularly empty. As soon as one book is returned, it's immediately checked out again by a different student.
Some super popular choices are "Prom, " "Twisted," and "Speak." "Prom" is popular among the girls in class because it deals with a girl who was previously disinterested with the Prom, but that changes when she gets thrust in to being the head of the Prom committee. "Twisted" is a story following a high school student who gets in trouble for graffiti and the different ways people see and react towards him afterwards. "Speak" is loved by everyone. It's a very emotional story, yet again, about a girl in high school.
My students love all of these books for different reasons, but as you can see, most of the books feature characters around their age that they can relate to in one way or another. Thank you for bringing so many excellent books into my classroom and my students' hands.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Dorothy and 2 other donors.Hot New Books for the NEW School Year!
Funded Dec 23, 2015"The Fault in Our Stars," "Paper Towns," and the two "5th Wave" books are missing! OK, hang on. I didn't mean to startle you. I should have said that those books are CONSTANTLY checked out of my library. If there was a $100 bill on the floor in my classroom library, kids would step over and ignore it as they made their way to take out one of those books. It's THAT serious! If you're not familiar with those books, they've also recently been made into movies, which makes them EVEN MORE popular titles to read. "The Fault in Our Stars" is a great book, but super sad! Most of the girls in my three classes have read that one. "Paper Towns" came out fairly recently in the theaters and kids love it. "The 5th Wave" was a pretty big movie as well. It's about aliens that send "waves" to Earth, each one doing more and different types damage. Sounds scary to me, but the kids love it.
Anyway, thank you sooooo much for these books. I hoped you enjoyed my students' letters. These books have made a real difference in my three classes.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Rosenzweig
This classroom project was brought to life by Dorothy and 5 other donors.