Past projects 2
Socially Distanced Comfort
Funded Sep 4, 2020I am so appreciative of your support of my project, Socially Distanced Comfort! Because of your generosity, I am able to create a safe and comfortable learning space for my 3rd graders. Although we have yet to return to in-person learning, I have shared pictures of what our room looks like with the yoga mats all set up and waiting for them. They are very excited and appreciative to have their own mat to use as an alternative space to work and to practice mindfulness activities throughout the day once we return (hopefully later this month).
It is so very important that my students have alternative seating/work space options in my classroom. In previous years, I had many different work spaces and alternative seating around my room for my kids. This year, due to COVID restrictions, we can't have as many work spaces due to needing to sanitize everything that is used. Therefore, the individual yoga mats will be perfect! They roll up and can be stored in their personal crates next to their desks when not in use. The mats can be easily sanitized with wipes or spray cleaner to keep the kids safe. They can also be a great reminder of what 6-feet looks like so we can keep at a safer distance.
I am looking forward to my students being able to actually use the mats when they return. Since we will be spending almost the entire day in our classroom, except for recess each day and gym twice a week, it is imperative that the kids have options for work spaces. I can't imagine forcing a child to stay seated at a desk all day. Many students work best by being able to stretch out and change position. My students have been out of a traditional school setting for almost 10 months. They will need to build their "school stamina" back up. We will be taking many brain breaks throughout the day and will practice mindfulness activities. The mats will be perfect for this!
All in all, thanks to you, my students will have an inviting, safe, and comfortable place to work throughout the day once they return.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Paul
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.Diverse Books That Represent My Learners
Funded Jul 31, 2020You generous donations have allowed me to fill my classroom with books that represent the students in my classroom. It is only right that children grow up with books that are filled with characters to which they can relate and see themselves. Although my 20th year of teaching looks very different than my last 19 years due to being 100% virtual, I have been able to share these wonderful books with my class in many different ways.
I have been using these books as my daily read aloud. For example, we are currently reading one of the books I received called, Big Monty and the Cyborg Substitute. I read the book aloud to the class, but I also create videos of myself reading the book aloud so that the students who miss my live meeting can access it at any time after. I have created virtual learning activities and assignments based on the book. We played "Two Truths and a Lie" as a way to review the main events throughout the book. It's a fun book that the kids are really enjoying.
I'm also very excited about the Astrid and Apollo series. These books have a brother and sister pair of main characters who are Hmong. Very rarely do you find books with Hmong characters, so when I received these books, I was thrilled! Now my students who are Hmong can finally see themselves as characters in a book. We are using these books in my reading unit on series books. We are following the characters throughout the series, discussing how they change, and how we can make predictions based on what we already know about the characters across the books.
Since we are unable to learn in person right now, I am trying my best to share these books with my class. So, I have been creating virtual libraries for my kids to access the books. I have created a Google Slide that has pictures of the covers of many of the books that I received. I have linked read aloud videos to the pictures of the books. When the kids click on the book, they are taken directly to the video read aloud. It's the next best thing to being able to have access to the books in our classroom.
When we are able to return to in-person learning, I am looking forward to my kids being able to enjoy these books whenever they want. Until then, I am doing my best to show them that they are important and are represented in our classroom. Thanks to your generosity, my students can see themselves in wonderful examples of literature in our 3rd grade classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Paul