Past projects 9
Super Supply Sacks 2
Funded Jul 8, 2023My students were able to have an organized space to work in this school year. They only had the necessary tools out when working on an activity. This allowed them to keep their other items close at hand in the event they needed something else.
Students use a pencil case to contain all of their crayons, pencils, scissors, and glue sticks. Having the ability to put their tool box into the supply sack has prevented many tool boxes from crashing to the floor.
We truly appreciate your kindness and generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 9 other donors.Interactive Word Mapping
Funded Jan 18, 2023I appreciate your generosity in supporting my students education.
Using the word mapping paddles has been a great way for my students to learn a variety of words. We began with simple cvc words. As the year and students have progressed, they have begun learning more about heart words and why it is necessary to know sight words by heart. Using the mapping paddles also helps children to use manipulatives to create and develop the schema children need to navigate the reading world.
I like that students can use the back side of the paddle to listen to sounds in words and write them on their board. This is a great tool to see how well children are able to hear sounds in words and represent them in print.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
Supersizing Science of Reading
Funded Nov 29, 2022I appreciate your kindness in supporting my students education.
The materials you sent have been well received by my students. Many of the items were for my students to build letters, sight words, cvc words, and numbers while using a light up surface. They have enjoyed creating words together!
I also asked for a variety of items to use for tracking while my students read to me during small groups. Teaching young children to track the words while reading can be a challenge. With the use of pointers they are able to create the motor memory needed to point to words consistently.
Using the Magnatiles, I am able to work with students with difficulty segmenting and blending words. This helps children to manipulate the sounds using visuals. Doing this activity helps students have a more concrete understanding of how to blend and segment words.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 15 other donors.Calming Classroom Light Covers
Funded Jul 26, 2022My students have been able to focus more readily with the muted fluorescent lighting that you have helped me receive for my classroom.
The fluorescent light diffusers have created a healthy, calming learning environment.
Muting the fluorescent lighting has helped my students to ease anxiety, stress, and migraines. My student that suffers from migraines has had only 2 episodes at school this far. I feel he has benefitted most from the gift of the light covers.
Thank you for helping me create a warm, inviting place for my students to learn so they may work to the best of their potential.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
Super Supply Sacks
Funded May 5, 2021Our classroom supply sacks have been a game changer in our day to day lives in kindergarten. I waited a few weeks before introducing this tool to my students because they had so many new routines to learn. As soon as I felt they were ready for a new responsibility I placed the supply sacks on the back for their chairs.
My paraprofessional and I were passing out all the tools they needed on a daily basis, which was time consuming. With the supply sacks on the back of students chairs they have gained independence and organization needed to get their own tools for each activity.
Within their supply sacks they have math manipulatives in the small zipper pouches you provided them. The zipper pouches have helped us remain on schedule so we do not have to pass out materials to all the students every time we need them.
My students and I are so very thankful for your generous donation to help us learn independence and keep organized in a time that we cannot share materials.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 12 other donors.Building Independence!
Funded Jul 10, 2020Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I was so excited when my materials arrived at my school. I am excited to begin to use these supplies. When my project was first funded there was hope that I would be teaching in the classroom this coming year. Until just recently that was the case. I am new to my current district, with that said, I have been designated as a Remote Learning Educator for this school year. As a result my materials will be used during my Remote Meets in a creative manner.
I will be sending the journals home to my students so they have a place too keep their writing in an organized fashion. I know that this will be very important during this time. I look forward to sharing the leveled books to my students as they learn how to read. I continue to have hope that we will return to school in the future so that we may utilize the science and literacy learning centers. These centers will provide me some information on how effective my online teaching was for my students. I do plan on using them during my Google Meets as well. I feel the content in each set is important to be taught to all children.
Thank you again for all of your support to me and my fellow educators.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 17 other donors.STEM Learning With Little Hands
Funded Nov 14, 2019My students and I are thankful for your support to our classroom. My students have been actively creating with the new tools you have help provide them with each day. Children are using their imaginations to build and create different objects. In kindergarten the type of resources, (disc builders, Rekenrek, 3 dimensional shapes, and simple machines)I have requested are used almost daily for children to learn through hands on experiences and access their imaginations to strengthen their STEM knowledge.
My students could not wait to see what was inside the box when it arrived. They were so excited and could not wait to use the tools.
My students will soon be learning about composing and decomposing numbers. The Rekenrek tool will be so useful for children to gain a clear understanding of this process through hands on manipulation. We are so very thankful for your support in our classroom and look forward to building our knowledge.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
Play Is Not Just A Four Letter Word
Funded Jul 30, 2019The addition of dramatic play materials have enhanced my students ability to use their imaginations through play. They are given opportunities to socialize and problem solve while interacting in dramatic play. These skills are so very important to develop strong social skills for young children.
My students could not wait for their turn to access the materials in the dramatic play area. I had to create a list so that every child would get a turn before someone was able to repeat the center. It continues to be a very popular area for all students. They are excited that I will change the area to become a harvest stand next.
I have submitted yet another project to build my Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) selections for students to learn through hands on experiences. They are very inquisitive and creative and I would like to continue to encoruage them in using their imgainations.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
Enhancing Inquiry Skills Through Hands on Exploration
Funded Aug 18, 2018I would like to express my gratitude to you for funding this project for my classroom.
My students were so excited when they saw all the tools they received to help them learn about how science and math concepts are important in our everyday experiences. My students are creating and building using their problem solving skills and working with peers strengthening their social skills.
Each manipulative we received promotes and fosters my students creativity. They have become little engineers while using the manipulative's. The magnetic shapes have prove to be a highly preferred activity. Using the magnetic shapes my students have built a beautiful skyscraper and were so proud of their creation. Another manipulative that is very popular are the suction cup connectors. Students are creating many different structures, one student recently built a bridge for her "scarecrow" to cross. She was accessing her imagination and how her structure could be used.
My students will continue to have access these STEM tools during their free choice time. This is when preschoolers explore and create using their own imagination promoting creativity and strengthening their brains. My hope is that these manipulative's keep my students interested in learning and help their creativity grow.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Desroches
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 2 other donors.