Past projects 107
Digital Resources for Centers
Funded Aug 10, 2022The impact is just beginning. We're just starting to buy and use some of the digital resources from Teachers Pay Teachers. One of my favorite purchases (thanks to you) was our Thanksgiving Math Escape Room! Students in teams had to solve 5 different codes and equations to SAVE THE TURKEY. This year...my class isn't as competitive. So I thought! They were gobbling with energy and enthusiasm as they tried to save their turkey before the other groups! It was a sight to behold! A further resource will be the Chinese New Year activity that we'll be doing and hanging up. To bring in January my students will learn about how the New Year is celebrated in China. Then they'll create their own lanterns. Last year this was a big hit! However, I didn't have any assignments to teach them with. Now, thanks to you I will. Having been to China, it's near and dear to my heart and every year students gain an appreciation for it as well.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 5 other donors.Florida Sunshine State Books
Funded Aug 9, 2022My students are OBSESSED with the Sunshine State books! So much that I had to read our entire class one of the books. We read The Katie the Catsitter book and it was so good! Students would have their parents change their doctor's appointments so they didn't miss me reading every day. Other books they can't get enough of are: The Lion on Mars, Revenge of the Beast, and Amari and the Night Brothers. The book, Carry Me Home had us in tears! The best books often do. The incredible librarian helps keep our book love going by talking about these books with my class. We're slowing reading more and more :) Thank you for these great books :)”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 3 other donors.Teacher Homework
Funded Jul 14, 2022Y'all really gave me homework?! But to be fair it was the BEST HOMEWORK EVER!!! I love to read and learn. I want to be a better teacher for my students and you are helping me do just that by the "homework you gave me". One of the books gave me creative, engaging strategies that allowed me to use gamification in a lesson. Instead of students just doing a worksheet my gamers were transformed into a gaming room when students had to create and code in order to get their answers. It was challenging, yet rewarding! My students are grateful to have me as a teacher, but I'm not who I am without your help. Thank you for making me a better teacher. :)”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by J.W. Couch Foundation and 3 other donors.Real People, Real Books
Funded Jun 21, 2022Thank you for making this project happen. We are in the final stages of getting student permissions on photos. The people I chose for Real people, real books were went 1. recommended to me and 2. people that I knew are really good humans that have incredible impact on the world, their environment/teams, and most importantly, kids. Many of my students knew who these people were, but were surprised to learn about the hardships they endured before they reached their ultimate success and 'fame'.
Thanks to you these books continue to replace outdated books with refreshing new, relevant books that students want to keep reading over and over again. YOU ROCK!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 2 other donors.Begging for Books
Funded Jun 21, 2022First and foremost, I'm sorry I don't have photos of my kiddos reading, but it's been complicated right now. However...my kids are LOVING these new books. It has been a great start of reading to our school year. This group of books has a variety. My students have been learning about Legos, fact vs. opinions. robots (a reading standard minus the robot lol), new anchors, the power in the word of yet, and ants. As a matter of fact the book, "Hey, Little Ant" inspired our class ant farm that the kids are loving. Thank you for building our classroom library!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 2 other donors.Award Winning Books
Funded Apr 28, 2022I've said it before and I'll say it again: we are constantly reading! ALL. THE. TIME. So... would it blow your mind that included this collection was award-winning books? No...it's in the title. Okay...how about this? Would it blow your mind that included in this collection was ware-winning WORDLESS picture books? Maybe for some, you're not surprised, but others like myself and students you are. A few of these WORDLESS books won awards! How cool! If you don't know my class, we LOVE wordless books, butttttt not becuse they're quicker reads, but because we get to create our own interpretation of them. My students LIKE to read down a summary of each page, then share their version of the story with another reader. ...In a time when we have to teach a 4th grader how to write a 4 paragraph essay with text evidence and elaborations, letting them write freely lets them enjoy writing and want to write and read!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
Relevant Books
Funded Apr 28, 2022When the Perseverance Rover landed on Mars in 2021, my class watched it live! We had so many questions that our curiosity (another rover & pun unintended) to doing more research. We made more google searches and even watched YouTube videos, but...we didn't have a single book about Mars...until this project. When I read the Mars book to them, the kids were so happy.
A month before this project I read an adult book called The Elephant Whisperer. I love elephants and figured I was long overdue to read about a man & his elephants. When I finished, as is customary, I brought the book in and book talked it! ...Fast forward to me opening up this project and seeing a picture book with an elephant and a man. IT COULDN'T BE! There's NO WAY that a book I heard good things about, added it to a Donors Choose project is the shortened version of the chapter book I read. ...I kid you not...it WAS! The next day I grabbed my chapter book & put it back into my bookbag, then I knew I had to read this book to the class the next day. So long story short: they remembered the chapter book & they LOVED the picture book! THANK YOUUUU!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
Math and Science Books
Funded May 3, 2022It was this book box that I was picking up when my principal's curiosity took ahold of her. She wanted to see why I had a big grin on my face. So we went back to her office and opened this brand new set of books. When we opened the box, the "new book" aroma filled the air. Then our eyes grew when we saw the books. My principal grabbed a few and glanced through the papers in approval. I explained to her that this set will help my mathematicians who are more curious about angles, cumference, and geometry. There's never enough time in the day to answer all their questions, but there's always a time to read! My principal was very happy with this box.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.Childhood Author Books
Funded May 13, 2022The photos I took for the last few projects won't do these projects justice because WE WERE OBSESSED with reading Robert Munsch books. I read one to the class almost everyday until the end of the year (except the last day). Students were rolling on the floor laughing, I was rocking back and forth in my chair, and most importantly...they were inspired to write many hilarious journal stories to close out our year. These books were everything I hoped for! The kids hated hearing my phrase "...back in the day", but that's where these books took me. Now, for years I'll get to retell their stories to new kids as I keep remembering my own fond memories of them as a child. THANK YOU! :)”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 7 other donors.Book Wish List Part 1
Funded Jan 29, 2022I've heard it multiple times this school: your class is the most polite in the school. For one, that starts with each child's attitude. Secondly, it's their belief in me and commitment to doing what's right. Lastly, reading books about kindness and other people have helped immensely. It's been a remarkable year with this class and books have truly continued to shape my students lives and mine. We've continued to learn that being different, isn't weird, but completely normal. Instead of viewing different as weird, but rather unique. Books educate us daily.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Potrzeba