Past projects 38
Book Club Active Reading
Funded Mar 11, 2016You wouldn't think that high school students would get so excited about new school supplies, but they do. They were thrilled to have a set of smelly markers for every table group, which made their projects much more fun.
The sticky notes were also a big hit. The students used them to mark passages for their spring book clubs. They also had pads of sticky notes to annotating and recording their thoughts as they read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Giant Post-It pads are the material of choice for recording group and book club notes. They also made the work easy to display around the classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 6 other donors.Rewarding Soft-Skills in Students
Funded Mar 9, 2016In the last few months, our school has started a new program called the Elite Eagles, which rewards students who have good grades and attendance. We think this is really cool because it now only rewards the kids who are already doing good things, but it influences other kids to do better for the same rewards. There has already been several drawings for the Elite Eagles prizes and many students are already excited about it.
This program will change our school in many ways. Overall our schools' GPA should increase from students trying to earn these rewards. We also think that it will help students be motivated to show up for class. The kids will be happier at school because of the rewards they will be getting.
We think students in our school can learn from this because it shows that hard work pays off, and you have to work hard to get rewarded. It also could make our school a more positive environment because students are looking forward to these things.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation & Think It Up Supporters and 3 other donors.Career and Life Skills with Video Broadcasting and Journal
Funded Feb 1, 2016We are preparing to record our first weekly newscast. Our students are working hard at creating an informative and engaging newscast of school, state, and national news for publication and distribution across social media platforms.
The students are learning team-work and project management through this project. They are excited for our green screen and lighting to arrive, so they can set the scene for the first Flock Spot broadcast, which we hope to have published online in a week.
These materials have given our classes a more professional feeling and helped to build real-world skills that students can take with them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
Second Year Girls Soccer Team
Funded Jan 29, 2016Many teenagers in Carson City are affected by poverty in this area. As they turn age 16 they are expected to get part time jobs after school to help provide for their families, or expected to provide child care for their younger siblings. I believe that getting this soccer bags will impact my team because it will provide them with something nice and new to prevent the stigma and stress of not being able to afford equipment when playing sports. It will also help to keep the equipment that they already have in good condition. My goal with the soccer bags is to be able to hand a team member a bag that already has equipment in it from previous donations to avoid the conversation of not being able to afford it. If there is a student who I know will struggle with buying new things, I can hand her the bag, and when she looks into it she will feel relief of knowing that she doesn't need to go and purchase new equipment.
The next way I feel the soccer back-packs will be impactful is because being a teenager in today's world puts you at high risk no matter where you live due to temptations, social media, and poverty. My goal first and foremost is to keep as many kids out of trouble as I can. I believe that Soccer is a sport that not only keeps you active and healthy, but also teaches you how to work as a team, have respect, unity, and have determination. I believe all of these things if they are taught in the proper way could help to keep students from getting into trouble and help them to be successful throughout life. Having these soccer backpacks will impact my team by possibly attracting more students to want to play soccer to keep them on the field every day. It will also help them to feel united as one when they walk out on the field matching and keep a sense of pride for their team.
Lastly the way these bags will impact my team is by efficiency. If every girl has a soccer back-pack they can keep all of their equipment in it to be prepared for every practice every day. They won't have to worry about misplacing shin guards, cleats, or socks if they are able to keep it all in one place. Having this organization will help to make sure that we are efficient in every practice to keep improving our skills and keep building our program.
I am very thankful for the donations of these soccer back-packs and I cannot wait to start putting them into good use.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
This classroom project was brought to life by DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation - Sports Matter and 8 other donors.Financing Our Post-Secondary Education
Funded Dec 29, 2015Most our materials arrived yesterday, and we were the envy of the other classrooms with all our boxes. These texts and materials will provide the basis of two units of study.
For seniors, who are beginning to work on the financial aid forms and packages, these materials will provide references for them to optimize the funding of their college educations. We will spend several days in class working through these materials. Students will each select a book, and will create a graphic for their classmates on the information in that text. This way all students will benefit from every text without having to read them all.
For the juniors these materials will provide a valuable resource as they begin to research schools and complete their applications.
Thank you so very much for helping me, my students, and our college adviser with these projects.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
We Want College Credit: Advanced Placement Literature Study Guides
Funded Nov 8, 2015Our AP Literature Barron's Study Guides arrived last week, and I handed them out to the students. They were so excited 1) To have a workbook of there own and 2) To have a study guide in one place and not over several web sites.
This year all students in this class are taking the AP Literature and Composition Exam in May, and I have set a goal to get twice as many students to pass as I have had in the pass. To that end, these texts were necessary to give us a place to practice and learn about the exam together. Thank you so very much for helping provide this for my students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
World and Women's Studies View He Named Me Malala
Funded Oct 5, 2015Our school was able to take over 100 students to view this movie at the local theater. It was a cross-curricular trip spanning three grade levels and five courses.
Our new women's studies class was able to go, and then use the movie to build a study of the education of women and girls. In addition it added to their current work around violence against women.
The new speech class came back from viewing the movie and analyzed Malala as a public speaker. They are looking at her speeches, her messages, and trying to emulate what makes her a fabulous speaker.
The civics students used this movie experience to study current civil rights issues, current events in the news, and to gain a deeper understand of the rights we have in American and want to spread to other nations.
Finally, our senior English and AP Literature students studied her story and writings.
Overall this has been an experience to remember that has impacted multiple students across content areas and grade levels. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
Comfy and Cozy: A Reading Nook of Our Own
Funded Sep 16, 2015As our school renovations near completion I am thrilled to be able to outfit my classroom with more new items for my students. I am putting the final touches on our reading nook, and these items will make it look so finished with a new chair, magazine rack, and poster hanger.
One of my goals this year is to make my students more independent readers, but with our media center under construction for most of the year, that can be a daunting task. You have helped provide materials for me to create this learning space within my classroom.
Thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
Human Trafficking is Real: Women's Studies with Texts
Funded Jul 9, 2015Our classroom set of Sold arrived yesterday. Students were excited as soon as the boxes were brought to our classroom.
Our new elective in Women's Studies is filled to the brim with students who will be impacted by this project. I shared with this class on the first day that this novel was coming and would be part of our curriculum on Human Trafficking. As there was recently a social media panic about a supposed (ultimately un-true) set of human traffickers in our area, the prospect of this text has an immediate interest.
We will be reading this text in the coming moths as we study this aspect of our world. Thank you for supporting this endeavor.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
Self-Reflection of Teaching
Funded Jun 26, 2015I am so grateful to receive these items. I am beginning to learn how to use my new camera, so I can begin capturing my lessons to look at, analyze, and review. Once I have a good grasp of this technology, I can move forward with working towards National Board Certification, a goal of mine in the coming years.
In addition to using this camera and these materials for my professional growth, I have been able to start a new journalism class at our school, and I am hopeful that my new found knowledge of the camera will translate into a photography unit for this class.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Koves
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.