Past projects 10
Take Action: The Kindness Zone
Funded Jun 7, 2018As you can see from the pictures the Kindness Zone Book Project was just the springboard of read-alouds that my students and I needed to initiate crucial conversations that in turn influence their success at school and home. The real-life social-emotional skills that each of the books present have provided students with insights to characters who have had or are currently experiencing similar situations to them and their friends.
For example, in the story Better Than You, students learned that they as individuals have the responsibility to be kind to others, but also have the right and duty to chose to be around others who are kind in return. In this story, the characters and their interactions with one another were relatable to two students in particular that are working on seeing and understanding different perspectives, and how their actions play a role in how others react and feel. The story permitted students to respectfully decide to not "play" with others who are always putting them down, trying to rub their awesomeness in their face, or worse, make them feel bad about themselves. This book uses the analogy that when individuals continually act like a "jerk" to those whose intentions are to include and try to see the best in people is compared to a pufferfish and puffing up leaves little room for friends. My students often relate to and use the pufferfish analogy as a way to communicate how they feel when trying to navigate who they want to be and who they don't want to be.
Second-grade students LOVE books, and the more literature I introduce to them and read-aloud to them the more they want to get their hands on the books that they're relating to and put them in their book boxes to read on their own or with a peer. And even more, they love to read-aloud authentic, meaningful stories to each other, as their teacher does.
Each student spreads kindness like confetti, and each book provides a new and personal experience to real-world strategies and emotional reactions that help my students help the world become a better place through acts of kindness that looks, feels, and sounds organic and genuine.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Visual and Creative Nature of Math
Funded Oct 5, 2017It's music to my ears to hear students say the following phrase, "I LOVE MATH!". Motion Math is an engaging real world application that allows students to think like entrepreneurs, without even knowing it. One of the most appealing, engaging "games" in Motion Math that my students live for focuses students to think about fiscal responsibilities, making a profit, target price points, keeping overhead down, and last but not least, making sure their customers are satisfied and wanting to come back for more of what they are selling. Yup, that's right, students are Cupcake and Pizza business owners in a virtual world which pushes them to want more, and eager to justify and problem solve real life circumstances, good and bad, in order to be successful. Together, students are sharing best business ownership strategies, as well as, sharing their failures to help improve their business and those of their peers. Teamwork, collaboration, proof that "risk taking" is what learning is all about. Students are fortunate to have supporters like you who encourage "out of the box" thinking within our four classroom walls and provide opportunities to connect to the world that awaits them. They are a step ahead of the rest, if you ask me, authentic learning at it's best.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Got Classroom Organization and Communication...?
Funded Sep 8, 2017Any educator who has experienced the moment when studious students are offered an opportunity to be more independent, and witness them moving eagerly to accept this responsibility, you can't help but smile on the inside; a moment of pride. The quicker students are able to jump into their learning, the more learning time they are allowed. Your donations to our classroom organization has helped students build a greater sense of "I can do this". Nothing is worse for a learner than being unprepared for a learning task. That in itself, sets students back, and lowers their self-esteem and engagement. I hope you can see from the pictures, that my students are ALL engaged in their math practice and that's because they ALL got started off on the right foot, so to speak. When students are disorganized, they loose learning time to get the things they need to participate in lessons. Not my kiddos, they are READY to LEARN and are PROUD SCHOLARS! Thank you for investing in the "things" students need to grow, learn, and build confidence because at the end of the day when they are getting their work papers from their mailboxes, they have work that is fridge-worthy, reflection time well spent.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Goodbye Passive Learners, Hello Engaged Learners!
Funded Aug 20, 2017I'm excited to share that what was hoped of 'Interactive Note-booking' to increase student engagement and learning is in fact a reality. As you can see from the pictures, it is so important for students to see new learning and skills presented in a variety of ways. Students are able to not only interact with specific skill related flip books, but also take this learning into groups and partnerships, as well as a vehicle to level up their knowledge with high ceiling activities and thinking. Students treasure their interactive notebooks, they are their handbooks, a go-to resource across multiple subjects and areas of expertise. Interactive notebooks also encourage 'best work', work students are proud of! This project was just the right step in helping my students achieve a mastery level of independence and learning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Presenting Knowledge And Ideas In Today's Listening & Speaking Classroom
Funded Mar 15, 2017What better way to describe the impact of what this project has done for my students than to ask them. So, I did just that, and this is what they had to say...
1. How does technology help you learn? For example,...
*Using technology helps me learn. For example, when I don't know something I can watch videos like on Khan Academy and do other research.
*Technology allows me to get help when I need it.
*I use technology so I can listen to relaxing music when I am stressed out.
2. What about the new headsets is most exciting to you? For example,...
*I like using the new headsets because they are comfortable and fit my head nicely.
*Our new headsets block out all of the noise around me so I can hear better.
*I can talk through the headset microphone so my speech can be typed onto the computer as text.
*The thing I like best about our new headsets is that I feel like I'm a professional learner.
3. Anything else you would like donors to know about technology and headsets...
*You are the best for donating, shipping this stuff to me and my class and we all thank you very much.
*Without this donation, we wouldn't be able to work and learn this way.
*Thank you for everything.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Conducive, Collaborative, Creative Classrooms!
Funded Oct 28, 2016Dear Donors Choose Supporters,
My class has flexible seating and it helps us so much because would you really want to sit in a boring old chair and a desk all day!!! Or would you want to be in a bean bag chair closing your eyes like you're in paradise. And let me tell you, it is comfy and a lot of kids in our class can not concentrate at a desktop or on a hard, metal chair. But, when we are on a couch or a yoga mat or cushion, you can concentrate. Better than you can believe!!!
Thanks for your help in creating our flexible seating classroom!
Written by a 4-Cimini student who was inspired to write after having read an article on flexible seating during our Reading Workshop block!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Ditching the Desks: Creating Brain-Friendly, Blended Learning Environments
Funded Jul 7, 2016THE VERY BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE AS AN EDUCATOR!
There is absolutely no turning back, never, ever, and why would I...?
I've loved every minute of everyday in my 'new' classroom - engaged, kind, respectful, helpful, active learners around every corner in everything they've done!
No honeymoon period here, just a genuine commitment to learning to last a lifetime!
Serenity is the word that comes to mind when I think about our learning environment!
Calm
Fun
Relaxing
Relevant
Rigorous
Amazing”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Readers Love to Read Books They Love!
Funded Mar 1, 2015When box after box of books started coming in, students were glowing with wonder and excitement for the anticipated new books. This project wasn't just about filling in a few holes in our library, but creating brand new, enhanced sections across every genre. Every child had an interest in a particular book and a list of "to read books" at bay.
The best way to visualize students' reactions is to picture us meeting on the carpet with a stack of books a mile high and hear the silence that filled our room as I shared and talked about each book: author, genre, characters, theme and more. Hands went up immediately for a chance to gobble up a book of choice, and every student did in fact get their first choice of a new read, learning experience and adventure. Only books can create this kind of magic.
Reading is #1 on our list of things to do each day. We read in the morning, afternoon, outside and with each other. We conference and retell, go on adventures and meet new characters. Because of your donations, and the gift of reading, students have made significant growth as readers, some have grown 5-6 levels and some have moved beyond high school. And, they feel proud when they hear themselves read aloud and confidently discuss their reading better than they had ever imagined.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
You made a difference in the lives of children!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
Read-on...Think-on...Jot-on...!!!
Funded Oct 1, 2014What do my students say about their endless supply of writing paper, post-it notes, and new markers for bright, attractive, educationally sound anchor charts.. "Lets do this!" is what they say! We are actively engaged in learning about what readers and writers do everyday, day in and day out, and not a day goes by that we don't dedicate two hours a day for reading and writing. Writer's write, and where else but in their writer's folders, and readers read using newly learned reading strategies to stop, think and jot about what they are learning, and connecting to what they want to know more about. Your donations provided anchor chart markers, post-it notes for jotting our thinking, and writing paper to hold our narrative story ideas and stories. Your thoughtfulness to our project have not been forgotten, you have made a substantial impact by providing the very tools students need to be successful, literate contributors to our world.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
We've Got the Right Stuff!
Funded Aug 24, 2014It is with heartfelt gratitude and thanks that I am writing to you this evening. My students' excitement this year for reading and learning has exploded and has been captured by all the places they have been able to visit through puzzles, books on weather and climate, books about our U.S.A states and capitals, trivia games about our world, independent readings on historical figures, famous authors, pop culture, and our national landmarks and parks. Non-fiction reading is meant to teach us something and your donations - box after box after box of books, book bins, and hands on weather stations have encapsulated my students' minds and has left them on the edge of their seats waiting to see what they will be able to get their hands on next! Our trip through learning could not have happened without you, we hope to make you proud, take our new learning, and bring it forward with us into each new learning endeavor.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cimini
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 38 other donors.