Past projects 15
Games and Activities for Engaging Indoor Play
Funded Nov 30, 2022Thank you so much for helping to fund this project. We have gotten good use so far of the variety of games during both indoor recess - though we have had a very mild winter so far! - and during our free times when our work is finished and we need a chance to relax.
For me, it is so nice to be teaching the students how to play classic games, something that not many of them have experience with I have found. This is a great alternative to all of the time spent on screens that they might otherwise choose.
Thank you for your support of the students at Brennemann Elementary school!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 4 other donors.Different Seats in Which to Discover Reading Joy!
Funded Sep 20, 2022Time sure flies! It is already January and we have been enjoying these awesome additions to our classroom environment for a few months now. I cannot thank you enough for your contributions toward improving the learning environment for our fourth grade students at Brennemann Elementary.
By creating a comfortable area for students to enjoy reading in, many of our fourth graders have really begun to look forward to our independent reading time each day. This was my ultimate goal - to increase the interest in reading - and I had hoped that by making it seem more "cool" to move to a different area and more comfortable seat, we could accomplish this. I am super happy to say that it is having the intended effect!
I personally want to thank you for supporting my students and I this year. The transition out of the pandemic, and all of the learning deficits that it created, have been a challenge.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.Warm Weather Gifts and Snacks
Funded Sep 20, 2022Thank you for giving to this fundraiser - your donation has helped me begin to prepare care packages for students who need them. Due to the nature of this project (aimed at students who have financial need but may feel shame about it), I have not included photos of the students with this.
I have begun distributing snacks to some students who I know need them after school. We have been lucky in that our weather has held, but cold is surely around the corner and students will have an opportunity to take a cold weather care package with some gear designed to help them get more out of the winter months.
I thank you so much for your help in this!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch
This classroom project was brought to life by The Peterson Family and 2 other donors.Headphones for Listening Ease and Enjoyment
Funded Oct 6, 2022Thank you so much for contributing towards this fundraiser! These awesome headphones arrived in the middle of a Friday afternoon lesson, and we opened them right away in class and got them in use during our centers time - when students are working through different independent activities while I work with small groups on specific skills. You can see pictures of this day attached!
In the few weeks since they have arrived, we have used them for students who cannot read but can now listen to stories during silent reading time and for Spanish speaking students being able to listen to instructions for assessments in Spanish.
An unexpected use has been the students asking to use them during their writing time to play music - something I appreciate when I am writing. So I have allowed it and to my surprise, they have really enjoyed it and I think it helps them focus on the task at hand! I am excited to have these in my classroom for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch
High Interest Books to Engage Reluctant Readers
Funded Sep 4, 2022Thank you so much for contributing towards this project to put new, relevant, diverse and exciting books in the hands of the fourth grade students at Brennemann Elementary School in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. This is a very diverse school community, and our classroom libraries need to reflect that. With your help I have been able to diversify the library my students use just a bit more - books that center LGBT, Black, Hispanic, Asian and African voices and stories - which reflects who my students are.
Finding books that center diverse stories is becoming less challenging (thankfully), but updating the libraries of our classrooms takes time and money. With your help, I am on the way to doing this for my students - and as I plan on staying here for awhile, they will benefit fourth graders for years to come.
The students have been enjoying the books, and I have included them in our new electronic library database! It is an exciting time to be a reader in fourth grade, indeed.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch
Classroom Cleaning Supplies - Keeping Kids Healthy and in School!
Funded Sep 5, 2022Thank you so much for contributing to our recent fundraiser for cleaning supplies. Even as COVID precautions wind down in the US, we are still seeing it weekly in school. These supplies will help keep more students in class as we can keep ourselves healthy and get rid of as many germs as possible!
Keeping the kids in school and learning is a key to beginning to make up for the learning lost over the past few years. Hopefully, by staying safe and healthy, we can minimize absences due to illness.
Thank you so much for your contribution!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Koch