Past projects 14
On a Roll.
Funded Mar 18, 2024Thank you so much for you kindness. With these high interest books, that students requested, we will use their personal reading to develop skills around literature analysis and thematic explorations.
Every day, students devote 20 minutes to their independent reading as this is one of the research proven ways to increase their reading skills, in addition to their performance in all content due to increased reading comprehension and skills.
Because all my students have unique interested, it is important to create a responsive classroom library so that all can experience the joy of reading.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
Through a Different Mirror
Funded Oct 20, 2023Thank you so much for your kind donation. Having a class set of Ronald Takaki's A Different Mirror For Young People will allow my scholars to access a more holistic history of the United States.
They will use these books as a textbook during our third unit, Rise & Resist, to learn how ALL the people of the United States worked to find a place and equal rights within our country. It has been proven that is students can see themselves in their history, they become more engaged which it turn increases performance accross the board.
Because my students come from many local and global regions - they are sure to appreciate respectful and honest reflections of people that share their cultures.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
This classroom project was brought to life by The Peterson Family and 7 other donors.Books For Lifelong Learners
Funded Aug 14, 2023With these books you helped purchase for the classroom, my scholars will learn key reading skills including attending the text and making connects to themselves and the world. Research shows one of the best ways to increase students' scores is through independent reading of books they choose.
Every day, my scholars will read their self-selected books in a comfortable place in the classroom. Then they use their chosen text to complete academic learning tasks.
By adding fiction books that represent a variety of perspective, genres, and authors my scholars are now engaging more often with fiction books because there are a plethora of interests being tailored to.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
A Different Mirror
Funded Feb 19, 2023My scholars have been enthralled with the new additions to our classroom library. They are being challenged by reading about those from other identities while simultaneously being confirmed in their own, a necessity as teenagers who are beginning to develop and discover their identities.
During their daily independent reading, they select a book of their choice to practice the focused literacy skills such as identifying themes and character development.
I have noticed some previously reluctant readers branching out and trying these new texts, discovering a new interest in reading. I've also discussed with some of my scholars their intrigue in exploring new perspectives.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
Bright Young Readers
Funded Sep 5, 2022Thank you so much for your contribution to my bright young readers.
They have already excitedly chosen and become invested in to these diverse books. I am using these books to help my scholars reach their goals of finishing a book and increasing their reading stamina. Coming from the class whose majority of high school experience has been impacted by COVID, they are starting at an academic advantage. These books are serving to reengage them.
Daily, students spend 20 class minutes in their personal, fiction reading. They work on building reading skills, vocabulary and writing using their own chosen book. Because they can choose one of these diverse novels, they are more engaged in their work.
Students that have previously been uninterested in completing a novel have a newfound interest in reading. Thank you for your commitment to engaging and encouraging these bright young people.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
Can You Hear Me?
Funded Jan 23, 2018Our voters approved a move in our district to have one-to-one technology. This means every student has access to a computer every day, which is amazing! We received enough computers for our students, but unfortunately none of the accessories.
The access to this technology means it is much easier to provide on the spot individualization for students with special learning needs. The headphones will allow students to individually view videos designed the enhance the curriculum. A whole class viewing a video can be effective, which we often still do. But then, they can go access the same video and re-watch, pause, skip and so on. This means students that are learning English or students that don't process auditory input well can take charge of their learning and change the pace of the information.
Because of your kind donations, I can now better meet the needs of each student in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
Excuse me? Can I have a Pencil?
Funded Apr 12, 2016When the teacher assistant brought in the box, my student's interests were peaked. They always want to know what is in the box! I assured them, this means that no matter what, they can always ask and I will always have a pencil for them!
Middle schoolers are not known for emotional astuteness, but I can tell you that knowing they will not have to battle me over having to write. They will be able to get a pencil, and have it if they need it. I think this will take away one more piece of stress for my scholars which are already dealing with exponentially more stresses than the average student.
Thank you again for you kind donation, please know that it will not be forgotten.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
Documented History
Funded Mar 19, 2016Thank you so much for your contribution to my classroom! My students are already watching excerpts from Ken Burns' Civil War Documentary, helping them envision all of the information they have learned. They say pictures of Civil War veterans with amputated limbs, they saw images of the battlefield at Antietam after the war. These things will not be forgotten.
My students saw the packages come in, and were immediately curious. Once they saw the array of documentaries and videos focus on U.S. History, they became excited. "Are we going to watch these?!"
My students used the information gleaned from the documentaries to create their own research question, and are currently working to answer their own questions. They are truly becoming historians thanks to your kind donations!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 2 other donors.Dic·tion·nary
Funded Dec 11, 2015Thank you so much for your very kind donations!
Because a lot of my students come in learning the English language or with reading disabilities, I make sure to teach academic vocabulary in my class. With these intermediate dictionaries, now my scholars will be able to look up words and understand the definitions! With regular dictionaries, my students would look up a word and not understand the definition, which you can imagine becomes a huge obstacle for my students when studying history.
Just the other day we used the intermediate level dictionaries to look up the word 'suffrage' so they could understand that it means the right to vote, and not suffering. Giving scholars the tools to discover information on their own versus spoon feeding them the information empowers them. They were then able to take charge of their learning, and evaluate the history of suffrage in our country.
So as you see, your donations are appreciated and have helped enhanced the learning of my scholars, this year and many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker
US History from "A Different Mirror"
Funded May 11, 2015Thank you so much for your kind donations!
We will be using these books to read about different perspectives in U.S. History, other than the predominate Caucasian male perspective we so often see in textbooks. We have already read about a man name Vallejo to understand how the Mexican American war impacted the lives of Mexicans that were living in the territory taken by the U.S. after the war.
We often read together as a class or in partners because some students are just learning English or have reading disabilities. And this book is written at a level that is accessible to all of my students, and it can bring us together as community. When scholars can see themselves in their history, they can see themselves in their future.
Again thank you for helping to make our history more reflective of my scholars, allowing them to see it through a "different mirror."”
With gratitude,
Ms. Baker