Mrs. Kosko's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 11

• Making Reading Fun!

  Funded Jan 24, 2025

  The students were excited to see the new educational games on my shelf. In addition to the daily research-based instruction, I strive to include activities that will reward students for the effort they put forth every day.

  When I tell my students that we will have a "game day", their excitement increases, and they are excited to participate. This excitement promotes better attention and promotes concentration. These games help students with problem-solving, communication, and the need to listen and follow directions. Just as importantly it improves their motivation.

  As an extra reward, students are given stickers to brighten their day.

  Thank-you for your generosity and kindness. These materials will be put to good use for many years to come!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

• Having Fun Learning to Read!

  Funded Aug 9, 2022

  Children who have the ability to segment and blend sounds will be capable of applying this knowledge to their decodable books. At the onset of the school year students practice identifying letter sounds and blending these sounds to decode three letter words. This practice can be very challenging for struggling readers. The games I ordered will make the process more engaging for my students. Students will be so incredibly excited to see the games and will perceive our instructional time as "game time".

  The fidget bracelets and squishy animal toys will be made available for students who need to relieve stress and anxiety. Bookmarks and stickers will be used as rewards as students work toward individual goals.

  My objective is to make certain my students have the ability to identify, blend and segment sounds. When my students are able to do so they will be prepared for instruction with their classroom teacher. Many thanks for providing tools and resources to make this an easier process for them.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 2 other donors.

• Strengthening Our Kindness Through Reading!

  Funded Nov 22, 2021

  As a reading specialist I am always looking for creative ways to incorporate reading skills into my daily lessons. Everyday my students are using and strengthening their ability to use letter-sound correspondence and structural analysis to decode words. Although this can be accomplished with word building, the approach is not the most engaging. An important goal is to show students that reading with fluency and comprehension is engaging and can be fun. The best way to do so is by finding a chapter book that also teaches a lesson. The novel, Blue Daisy, offered my students a chance to apply their decoding skills, practice fluency and strengthen their comprehension skills. The unique style of writing that Helen Frost used alternating between prose and verse for the characters was especially helpful to support fluency.

  In addition to practicing our reading skills, the added benefit of mini lessons within were especially helpful. Students had the opportunity to look at situations and consider the feelings of the individuals involved. This book was also beneficial in thoughtful discussions about how to treat animals with kindness. As a certified humane educator, I strive to incorporate lessons about treating all living things with empathy. I was very pleased with the discussions we had while reading this book and happy to learn my students viewpoints. I have a wonderful group of students who understand the need to be kind to everyone.

  Many thanks to all who donated. These books will be used on a yearly basis and will offer me a chance to develop my students fluency and comprehension skills in a meaningful way.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

  This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 7 other donors.

• Guided Readers to the Rescue- Part 2!

  Funded May 7, 2021

  The role of a reading specialist is to incorporate research based strategies that will help students to gain skills needed to be reading at grade level. Under normal circumstances, when teaching students in the classroom, materials such as word building mats, notebooks and decodable books would be utilized on a daily basis. The COVID-19 pandemic brought much uncertainty to the field of education and has altered the world of teaching.

  The greatest difficulty came in assessing paradigm shifts and embracing the fundamental changes for both students and teachers. The materials presented must encompass the necessary research based skills, as well as have ease of implementation for both students and their parents.

  Guided Readers allows me to effectively meet my students where they are currently reading and guide them in attaining their individual goals. Your generous donations are greatly appreciated. This program has and will continue to support the needs of my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

• Guided Readers to the Rescue!

  Funded Nov 20, 2020

  As a reading specialist the students I work with are in need of building upon their current level of reading skills in order to become independent readers. Under normal circumstances this can be a challenge for my students. To acquire the necessary skills to become a fluent reader, it can take hours of practice and many repetitions. Having to teach reading remotely creates an additional obstacle for my students. Without the proper materials, my students are at a greater risk of falling even further behind.

  The Guided Readers program is unique in that it allows teachers to assign decodable books on the individual levels of my students. Each book has a set of activities that allows my students to practice research based strategies. The combination of the engaging decodable books and the aligned activities provides the practice needed to gain necessary skills to close reading gaps. An added feature is the option for students to record themselves reading. Reading aloud helps my students to improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills and supports audio learners.

  An added benefit is the ability to also print the decodable books. When students are able to return to class in person, I will have the ability to print their books and send them home for additional practice. This consistent, uninterrupted practice will allow me to maintain research based practices that are proven to support gains in reading.

  If students are able to read independently with accuracy, fluency, and demonstrate comprehension, then this will help them for years to come. Many thanks to all who donated to my project. It is greatly appreciated and is being put to good use.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

• Building Blocks of Reading!

  Funded Dec 19, 2019

  It is always exciting to receive new resources for our classroom. The students look forward to opening the boxes and are eager to work with the new materials! As we received the boxes, we set aside our work for the day and jumped right into the games.

  An important aspect of using educational games is that students are engaged in research based learning. When they are relaxed and enjoying their time in class, they respond positively and retain the skills being reviewed.

  I greatly appreciate your generosity and will use these games for many years. Many thanks for your help in brightening my students' school day and year!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

• Shaking Up Our Learning: Exploring EarthquakeEngineering!

  Funded Nov 26, 2018

  Thank you for supporting my project. The ability to extend student learning with STEM is a wonderful opportunity for students. Through the incorporation of STEM, students are gaining an insight to problem solving and team work.

  This Engineering is Elementary kit will allow students an opportunity to "travel" around the world and practice their problem solving skills. They will be offered a snapshot of what engineers do to make our lives better. I especially like how the publishers incorporated real-life engineering problems for the students to solve. The incorporation of reading, writing (through journal entries), math and building will be certain to maintain a fast paced learning environment, which will help students to remain actively engaged in their learning.

  It is reassuring to know Donors Choose is available for teachers. It allows me to continue to extend my students' learning in a purposeful and meaningful way. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

  This classroom project was brought to life by Atlantic Coast Conference and 3 other donors.

• "The World Becomes What We Teach" ~ Zoe Weils

  Funded Dec 14, 2016

  I work with small groups of students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. My students are receiving extra instruction to help them work toward grade level goals. In addition to the research based skills that are necessary to incorporate on a daily basis, I like to set aside time to engage in meaningful and purposeful reading. The books that have been purchased will allow my students to not only practice their reading, but also learn valuable lessons about life- including friendships and integrity.

  As I began to introduce the books to my students they were initially excited because we were receiving a new box of books. I love when students are eager to dive into a new book, but my favorite moments are when I see my students connect with the story. The wonderful conversations that follow are priceless- lessons that will stay with them and, hopefully, influence them when they need to make those difficult choices in life. Choices about when to stand up for a friend and when to choose the path of truthfulness and honesty.

  Your donations offered us new opportunities to engage in these discussions and get to know one another a little bit better. Thank you for your generosity and for choosing our project. These books will not only help the students I am working with this year, but the students I will be working with in the years to come. Many thanks for your kindness- it is greatly appreciated!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko

• Connecting Globally for 21st Century Learners

  Funded Sep 18, 2014

  Thank you for your generous donation to my project! It was so exciting to share the project was fully funded by Google Pittsburgh. I gathered my students as I opened the packages. Instantaneously students picked up the books and began sharing their excitement for the start of the Global Read Aloud Project.

  The laptop computer was used to carry out Skype sessions with classes around the country who were also participating in the Global Read Aloud Project. The Skype sessions are not only fun for the students, but also support story comprehension, listening and communication skills. There is also a great way to make movies using the laptop, which I hope to complete with my students in the near future. We read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo, and it is now one of our favorite books! This novel taught the students about love, loss and the importance of being kind. I have already planned to use copies of "Just a Dream" to introduce a project for our Environmental Education Week to be held in April.

  These materials have enabled me to bring meaningful lessons to my students. Motivating students to read is a necessary component of reading instruction. As a reading support teacher I must incorporate research based skills, but on the flip side, students must have a will to read. Even the most skilled readers will not embrace independent reading unless they have a desire to do so. I truly appreciate having access to quality materials. These materials help develop a motivational learning atmosphere which fosters an awareness that reading can be fun and purposeful.

  Through the generosity of Google Pittsburgh my students were offered an opportunity to experience the enjoyment of reading and a means to share their excitement with other students in the country. Thank-you for caring about students and empowering teachers to foster a love of learning!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Kosko