Past projects 4
Organizing our Classroom Library
Funded Oct 29, 2021I want to thank you again for your generous contributions to our classroom. With the supplies you provided we have been able to transform our classroom into a calm and inviting space for reading and discussion. All of our books are organized by level and genre. This makes them far easier to navigate and for us to showcase high interest texts. Additionally, we are able to see patterns in the novels students pull, and can then make book clubs based off of those observations. Students use the fidgets every day as a classroom incentive, as well as to regulate their emotions when they be feeling stressed.
We specifically guide the students in independent reading 2-3x per week. During this time they sit where they want, using the flex seating we were able to purchase from this project. Many students like to sit in the hallway on comfortable seats, or on the ottoman by the window. We have noticed they are more interested in independent reading periods then in years prior, and believe it is because of this increased level of flexibility.
Additionally, our struggling readers, English Language Learners, and IEP students have really benefited from the graphic novels we were able to purchase. They are by far the most asked for texts in the class library. It is very encouraging for these students to quickly read these novels, and have stickers added to the book chart. They're confidence in their reading ability has greatly improved. Our autistic and ADHD students also use the fidgets on a daily basis to better learn to regulate their emotions and outbursts. Overall this was one of the most transformative donorschoose projects I have completed and really want to thank you for all you have done to help our students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rogers
Mindful, Flexible and Fun Learning for All
Funded Oct 6, 2021I want to thank you again for your generous contributions to our classroom. With the supplies you provided we have been able to transform our classroom into a calm and inviting space for reading and discussion. All of our books are organized by level and genre. This makes them far easier to navigate and for us to showcase high interest texts. Additionally, we are able to see patterns in the novels students pull, and can then make book clubs based off of those observations. Students use the fidgets every day as a classroom incentive, as well as to regulate their emotions when they be feeling stressed.
We specifically guide the students in independent reading 2-3x per week. During this time they sit where they want, using the flex seating we were able to purchase from this project. Many students like to sit in the hallway on comfortable seats, or on the ottoman by the window. We have noticed they are more interested in independent reading periods then in years prior, and believe it is because of this increased level of flexibility.
Additionally, our struggling readers, English Language Learners, and IEP students have really benefited from the graphic novels we were able to purchase. They are by far the most asked for texts in the class library. It is very encouraging for these students to quickly read these novels, and have stickers added to the book chart. They're confidence in their reading ability has greatly improved. Our autistic and ADHD students also use the fidgets on a daily basis to better learn to regulate their emotions and outbursts. Overall this was one of the most transformative donorschoose projects I have completed and really want to thank you for all you have done to help our students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rogers
Breaking News: Scholastic Magazines have Everyone ready to Learn!
Funded Aug 23, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donations! We have already received several packets of the Scholastic magazines and have begun using them to prepare students for the State exam. The articles are excellent for differentiation, meaning we can break students into small group and work on specific literacy skills they are struggling with. The students in are class have various needs (learning disabilities, autism spectrum and English language learners). Scholastic helps each individual student focus on what they struggle with and provides them with additional material they can use at home to study.
We use the Scholastic articles weekly in our class. Generally, we break the students into two groups. Struggling readers are able to read Scholastic Action which is high interest and includes graphics to help deepen their understanding of complex topics. In these two groups students are able to have in depth discussions and learn about issues that effect the world today.
They love Scholastic! They have learned about the Flint Michigan water crisis, California wildfires and the separation of parents and children at the border. For many of our students this is the first they are learning about these highly engaging and important topics. We have been able to make posters and PSAs to inform other students in the school as well! Moving forward we hope to provide the students with a choice of a topic to further research so that they can become passionate and engaged citizens while working on the research and literacy skills they will need to succeed in life.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rogers
Building a Middle School Classroom Library
Funded Nov 21, 2015My students have greatly benefited from your generous gift this year. Many of them have borrowed books and, like so many other pre-teens, have become obsessed with certain novels they would not have had the opportunity to be exposed to without your help. John Greene novels, Divergent, the Hunger Games and others continue to be favorites among the girls while the boys have borrowed books about Muhammad Ali and other people. The nonfiction novels were even helpful for them when completing a project for Black History Month. Many of the boys used and referenced books on athletes in their Project and were excited that they already had a background knowledge.
The books that you donated will continue to have an effect on them as their interest in literature continues to grow. I hope that many of them will be inspired to pick up novels similar to those they read in my class so that they can continue to increase their reading levels and grow in School. Its been great to see how excited they are to have them. One example of their excitement over your gift was when the boxes were delivered and I said they were books for the class about ten students ran to the desk to sort through them and immediately start borrowing. They were excited to see books they were familiar with as well as ones that were new to them. Myself and the students really appreciate your generous gift and I know they will continue to benefit from it in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Rogers