Past projects 18
Practice Makes Perfect! AP Study Guides for AP English Language
Funded Mar 27, 2018Not only have the donations made an impact on our academic strive, but it also emphasizes the importance of a further education mark. Receiving support from complete strangers to prepare for Advanced Placement exams set it in our brains that our community wanted us to succeed, that passing wasn't just an accomplishment for us, but the entire community. Our school may have a high graduation rate, but the number of students that actually go forth and earn a bachelors, a masters, or a PhD isn't as high. We need that type of support that sets the mentality early on, hopefully pushing the majority of us to strive for a higher education since we were given the opportunity.
Since the donations helped us gain confidence come test day and made us realize the amount of support we had, we feel that projects like these should be the most emphasized, the ones that should receive the most support because it gives forward. To one person it may seem like a dollar, spare change, but for us it all came together and presented books that helped us pass one exam, one exam that would demonstrate our capabilities, illustrate how dedicated we were to college application readers, and that would excuse us from taking it as a college student, saving us money that we would already be stretching to the best of our abilities.
Thank you for providing us with the necessary resources to prepare for our advanced placement exam and setting us with the mindset that we are meant to succeed.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and one other donor.Sucess for Seniors! AP English Lit Study Guides
Funded Mar 27, 2018Upload a classroom photo
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Mrs. Touceda
Grades 9-12
California
Nearly all students from low‑income households
STUDENT-LED PROJECT
AP English Literature Study Guides
We need study guides to prepare for the Advanced Placement Literature year-end test.
About My Students
I teach at a big high school, but have worked for the past two years with a great, small group of students. I work hard to make sure they are ready for the AP test, but they work just as hard! We've been provided the opportunity to loop and work together again next year for AP Literature.
Last summer I wrote a project for AP Language and Composition study guides. It was my first year teaching the class, and I wanted all the help I could get! The kids love beginning each class with a mini practice test. They work in groups and help each other figure out the answers. Now, we have been given this amazing opportunity to stay together for a third year. The kids asked if we would use the same study guide next year. When I told them I didn't have the guides they asked me to write another proposal. When I suggested that they write it, they jumped at the chance. Andrea, Griselda, Melissa, Joel, Arlette, Adriana, Casandra, Crystal, Gio, Chris, Lloyd, Gladys, Jens, Andrea, and Wendy all pitched in to help write this proposal.
This year has been such a tough but wonderful year. Teaching AP Language for the first time has really challenged both my students and me as well. We were fortunate enough to receive study guides through DonorsChoose for this school year, and they have proved an invaluable tool. As the AP test looms before us we have started taking more and more practice tests. Using the study guides as our daily warm-ups has made a huge difference! Students are prepared for the rigor of the test, are familiar with the test language, and are clear on what the question is asking them. We want to ensure this same degree of
In Their Own Words
Every day for the first 20 minutes of class we begin by using the AP study guides as practice for the AP exam. As a result, we have noticed a marvelous change in our scores when we take our practice tests. Thanks to the study guides our teacher gave us this year, all of our classmates have been scoring higher. We've worked hard preparing for the test in May, We just started thinking about next year and want to have the study guides for AP Lit next year to make sure we pass next year's test too.
Having excelled this year in our educational pursuits and being greatly inspired by Mrs. T's actions in obtaining classroom materials, it has become evident that it is essential for us, as students, to take initiative in being leaders on this project. With the aid of these books, we will learn not only the content inside, but also the responsibility that comes in attempting to obtain them. Taking the lead on this project, will enhance our ability to advocate for ourselves for our education
As a low income community, we have limited resources, but know these guides are useful prepping to pass the AP test. Passing test scores are beneficial to our college applications and for testing out of English 101/102. These study guides have been useful in prepping for AP Practice Test. For example, in our latest practice test, our entire class passed. It is evident that the study guides have a positive impact on our passing rates so we'd like to have the guides for next year's class as well.
Where Your Donation Goes
MATERIALS COST QUANTITY TOTAL
5 Steps to a 5 Ap English Literature 2016 • AKJ BOOKS $13.83 70 $968.10
Materials cost
$968.10
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
State sales tax
$88.58
3rd party payment processing fee $14.52
Fulfillment labor & materials $30.00
Total project cost $1,101.20
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose.org reach more classrooms $194.33
Total project goal $1,295.53
Still needed View calculation $0.00
Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.
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1 donor has given to this project.
This project will reach 70 students.
South Gate, CA Grades 9-12 Nearly all students from low‑income households College & Career Prep Literature & Writing
SHARE MRS. TOUCEDA'S PROJECT
Project Activity
DEC 6, 2016
Mrs. Touceda posted an update and shared photos
We come from a school where the perceived minority is considered the majority. We are undercut and don't have access to as many resources as schools in prominent areas do, but we have been able to keep test scores and graduation rate high. One of the major contributors to this rising statistic is the help from donors. Donors allow us to order books we would otherwise not have. Last year, donors put forth the money so we could purchase study guides for our upcoming AP English test, and we felt that made a world of a difference. We did have access to practice exams, but that alone would have not prepared us as well as the guides did. The study guides turned into a daily exercise, familiarizing us with the format and adjusting us to the time frame we needed to stay in in order to finish the exam. It explained the reasoning behind answers and highlighted the work that needed more focus, as it was divided into specific chunks. It also gave us some reassurance that passing was within hands reach. Prior to the study guides, many students were still in the dark regarding the types of questions that would be present, but having the study guides in the classroom everyday helped us develop a positive mentality towards the exam. Studying and review became easier with all our notes complied into a thin guide.
Not only have the donations made an impact on our academic strive, but it also emphasizes the importance of a further education mark. Receiving support from complete strangers to prepare for Advanced Placement exams set it in our brains that our community wanted us to succeed, that passing wasn't just an accomplishment for us, but the entire community. Our school may have a high graduation rate, but the number of students that actually go forth and earn a bachelors, a masters, or a PhD isn't as high. We need that type of support that sets the mentality early on, hopefully pushing the majority of us to strive for a higher education since we were given the opportunity.
Since the donations helped us gain confidence come test day and made us realize the amount of support we had, we feel that projects like these should be the most emphasized, the ones that should receive the most support because it gives forward. To one person it may seem like a dollar, spare change, but for us it all came together and presented books that helped us pass one exam, one exam that would demonstrate our capabilities, illustrate how dedicated we were to college application readers, and that would excuse us from taking it as a college student, saving us money that we would already be stretching to the best of our abilities.
Thank you for providing us with the necessary resources to prepare for our advanced placement exam and setting us with the mindset that we are meant to succeed.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and 6 other donors.Buggin' Out for Books: Reading The Metamorphosis
Funded Mar 9, 2016Thank you for your generosity. My students live in a lower socio-economic community, so funding for supplemental resources are not always easy to come by for our class. Graphic novels bring excitement to classic works students may not get excited about otherwise. These beautiful, stark, black and white renditions of Kafka's classic tale engaged and excited my students.
These graphic novels have made a huge difference as they provided a new and different way to approach classic literature. The main character Gregor changed tremendously over the course book. Thankfully, so did my students for having read it.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
Practice Makes Perfect: AP Language & Comp Study Guides
Funded Mar 29, 2016Advanced Placement classes are the most rigorous available to high school students. Students work at college level course work throughout the school year, culminating with an exam that if passed earns them college level credit. I teach an 11th grade class entitled "Language and Composition" that is equivalent to English 101. If my students pass the AP test at the end of the school year, they are able to waive taking English 101 once they begin college. This is an amazing opportunity for students where finances often stand in their way of attending university.
My students begin each class period with these wonderful study guides. The multiple choice section of the AP test is notoriously difficult, but my students practice the skills necessary every class with a 10 question practice test from their own study guide. As you can see from the photos, each student takes pride in the guide they write in, mark up, and use as a true study guide as they prepare for the AP test in May.
We all thank DonorsChoose, #BestSchoolDay and a former student, Maricarmen, for their generous donations that facilitated this generous gift. My students have a wonderful opportunity thanks to this wonderful grant. We are forever grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 2 other donors.AP English Literature Study Guides
Funded Mar 29, 2016We come from a school where the perceived minority is considered the majority. We are undercut and don't have access to as many resources as schools in prominent areas do, but we have been able to keep test scores and graduation rate high. One of the major contributors to this rising statistic is the help from donors. Donors allow us to order books we would otherwise not have. Last year, donors put forth the money so we could purchase study guides for our upcoming AP English test, and we felt that made a world of a difference. We did have access to practice exams, but that alone would have not prepared us as well as the guides did. The study guides turned into a daily exercise, familiarizing us with the format and adjusting us to the time frame we needed to stay in in order to finish the exam. It explained the reasoning behind answers and highlighted the work that needed more focus, as it was divided into specific chunks. It also gave us some reassurance that passing was within hands reach. Prior to the study guides, many students were still in the dark regarding the types of questions that would be present, but having the study guides in the classroom everyday helped us develop a positive mentality towards the exam. Studying and review became easier with all our notes complied into a thin guide.
Not only have the donations made an impact on our academic strive, it also emphasis the importance of a further education mark. Receiving support from complete strangers to prepare for Advanced Placement exams set it in our brains that our community wanted us to succeed, that passing wasn't just an accomplishment for us, but the entire community. Our school may have a high graduation rate, but the number of students that actually go forth and earn a bachelors, a masters, or a PhD isn't as high. We need that type of support that sets the mentality early on, hopefully pushing the majority of us to strive for a higher education since we were given the opportunity.
Since the donations helped us gain confidence come test day and made us realize the amount of support we had, we feel that projects like these should be the most emphasized, the ones that should receive the most support because it gives forward. To one person it may seem like a dollar, spare change, but for us it all came together and presented books that helped us pass one exam, one exam that would demonstrate our capabilities, illustrate how dedicated we were to college application readers, and that would excuse us from taking it as a college student, saving us money that we would already be stretching to the best of our abilities.
Thank you for providing us with the necessary resources to prepare for our advanced placement exam and setting us with the mindset that we are meant to succeed.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
Practice Makes Perfect: AP Study Guides
Funded Aug 26, 2015Advanced Placement classes are the most rigorous available to high school students. Students work at college level course work throughout the school year, culminating with an exam that if passed earns them college level credit. I teach an 11th grade class entitled "Language and Composition" that is equivalent to English 101. If my students pass the AP test at the end of the school year, they are able to waive taking English 101 once they begin college. This is an amazing opportunity for students where finances often stand in their way of attending university.
My students begin each class period with these wonderful study guides. The multiple choice section of the AP test is notoriously difficult, but my students practice the skills necessary every class with a 10 question practice test from their own study guide. As you can see from the photos, each student takes pride in the guide they write in, mark up, and use as a true study guide as they prepare for the AP test in May.
We all thank Staples enormously for this amazing gift. My students have a wonderful opportunity thanks to this wonderful grant. We are forever grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
Bringing Color to Student Work: A Color Printer for Our Room
Funded Aug 26, 2015Thank you so much for helping us have a color printer in our classroom. My students love it! While all my students have laptops as part of a technology initiative, very few have color printers at home. Classroom handouts standout so much more when they are in vibrant color rather than simply black and white, but projects done in color are even more exciting.
A few examples are:
* Students worked on a project for their science class on the female reproductive system, and as I am their only teacher with a color printer they came to me for help. What a joy to see the smiles on their faces when they knew their projects would stand out from the rest because they took the time and found the resources to print their project in color.
* Two industrious students decided to start a chapter of a national club on campus. One created beautiful color flyers to get the word out about the club's creation and meeting times. The color flyers definitely stood out as unique and created quite a buzz for the new club.
Additionally, in my classroom I've used the color printer to bring poetry to life. Something as simple as a color picture that represents key elements from the poem draw the students in before ever reading the first line. Be it Dr. Seuss or Walt Whitman, poetry is alive and colorful in my room.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
Color My Classes Happy: We Need a Color Printer
Funded Jan 30, 2012Thanks to your generous donation my classroom has become far more colorful! The color printer provided by DonorsChoose has allowed for far more creativity in student work.
One assignment asks students to create a new book cover for the book they read outside of class. The colorful creations are displayed around the room, encouraging others to read the book as well. Another task has students creating Facebook pages for literary characters. The students love comparing the different pages for their favorite characters.
Thanks once more for making such a colorful difference in our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Touceda
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 19 other donors.