Past projects 37
3rd Grade Field Trip: The Tillicum School Program
Funded Mar 18, 2019Today our 3rd graders went on an amazing adventure to Tillicum Village! The weather was just perfect! Sunshine, but not too hot.
We departed school on 5 charter buses, arrived at the pier in Seattle to board our ferry to Blake Island. While on board the boat students watched a play by live performers.
On the island students experienced Native American story telling, totem poles and lunch together in a long house. Several students tried the salmon that had been cooked on site that day.
The teachers are so grateful to all of our donors for making this trip not just a possibility but a reality. We were able to teach our students about the Pacific Northwest Coastal Native Americans and then actually experience the learning with our students first hand. Touching a totem pole, seeing button blankets, watching performers, eating salmon...these are unique opportunities that you all helped to provide.
Thank you so much for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
We Just Want to Read Read Read...No Matter What!
Funded May 13, 2019There is no such thing as too many books! I love being able to provide my students with a wide variety of genres at a range of levels. My students have time to independently read, partner read, small group read and whole group read every day. Creating and developing life long readers is essential for me as a teacher.
I spend time in small groups reading books with my students. Each group contains 4-5 students. The group votes on which book they would like to read to allow for choice.
The book sets in this Donors Choose project hit realistic fiction, nonfiction and biography genres. I cannot wait for my students to have the opportunity to experience these sets of books!
Thank you so much for your generous donations. You are impacting the students in my classroom this year and for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 3 other donors.Flexible Seating for Fantastic Students
Funded Apr 17, 2019The sounds of students gasping as they entered in the morning to discover 3 new fancy chairs for our classroom was AMAZING.
The 3 new chairs are on wheels and can raise to bar stool height. This allowed me to raise the height of one of our tables so it now accommodates the new stools. I can now also provide this table as a standing desk option, which I haven't had until now.
Thank you for your generosity and kindness. My students this year and in years to come will benefit from having so many options of places to sit that fit their needs. You have made an incredible difference in this classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Funded Mar 29, 2019My favorite part of the school day is read aloud time. I love exposing my students to new books and classic books. Books above their grade level, but at their listening levels. Books that can enrich instruction, inspire new interests and evoke higher level thinking.
When I find a new book that I adore, I immediately want to share it with my students. The book "The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise" by Dan Gemeinhart instantly needed to be a read aloud. I read it twice to make sure. But I knew pretty much instantly.
I am not entirely sure how or if I will be able to share this with my students without crying because I sobbed while reading the book. To the point where I had to put it down and walk away for a little bit.
But I do believe that it is important to share books like this. Books where the story is so emotional, so realistic and so profound...and this book is just that. And more.
I know my students will head to the library and my bookshelves to find more books by Dan Gemeinhart. And that will be the true measure of success. A student who wants to keep exploring and interacting with a series or an author by choice and for independent reading.
Thank you so much to all the donors who made this read aloud a possibility for my students. I am very grateful and overwhelmingly appreciative.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
Watch Us Wiggle...With Flexible Seating!
Funded Oct 9, 2018Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity and donation to my Donors Choose project! The arrival of our 6 new Kore Wobble stools was met with extreme happiness and excitement! There was a lot of cheering, jumping and shouting! It was incredible to see all of my students' faces when the boxes were opened and the stools put together.
Currently we now have enough alternate seats for each student, every day, if he/she opted to sit in one. Our classroom has ergo ergo stools, cushioned benches, exercise balls, Hokki stools and now 6 new Kore Wobble stools. We still also have traditional chairs for those students who prefer to have that style of seating.
Each week, all of the alternate seats rotate to new students, so everyone will have an opportunity to utilize the new Kore Wobble stools if they so desire. The kids really like that the heights of these stools are adjustable.
Thank you again---you have made such a wonderful, positive impact in my classroom learning environment for many, many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by Windows of Hope Foundation and one other donor.Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Funded Jul 9, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donation which fully funded my Donors Choose project of "Extra! Extra! Read All About It!".
It is often very difficult to be able to place high interest social studies reading materials into each student's hands. Especially materials that include age appropriate reporting of current world events at my students' reading levels. Scholastic News magazines provides this. Each student will have his or her own weekly magazine to read as a whole group, small group, with a partner or individually.
Students are able to bring their magazines home when we are finished working with them in class. They can then share the magazines with their family by reading the articles to them or just telling about what they have learned.
Thank you again for making a profound, direct impact in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
Global Read Aloud! "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed
Funded Jul 26, 2018My favorite time of the school day is read aloud time. Being able to gather my students all together to read and discuss a book...I just can't think of anything better.
I am always on the hunt for new read aloud books to share with my students. My standards are extremely high and it takes a pretty special book to replace a read aloud I have already chosen for my class.
The book "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed is one of those special books. It was selected as a Global Read Aloud book, so that was what initially drew me to it. I read this book in one night. I just could not put it down. This is a true testament to the power of the story that Aisha Saeed created. I cannot wait to share this with my class, have discussions and really open up a new perspective of the world around them.
Opening a box full of books for my students to use for years to come is just about the most amazing feeling ever. Donors...you made this possible. Thank you for impacting the lives of my current and future students. I cannot say thank you quite enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
Believe in the Possible: The Fourteenth Goldfish!
Funded Aug 3, 2018My favorite time of the school day is read aloud time. Being able to gather my students all together to read and discuss a book...I just can't think of anything better.
I am always on the hunt for new read aloud books to share with my students. My standards are extremely high and it takes a pretty special book to replace a read aloud I have already chosen for my 3rd graders.
The book "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer Holm is one of those special books. I love the premise of the story, the fact it promotes science and love of family. I especially appreciate there is a second book just recently published that continues this story, so my students will likely want to continue the journey and read that book as well.
Opening a box full of books for my students to use for years to come is just about the most amazing feeling every. Donors...you made this possible. Thank you for impacting the lives of my current and future students. I cannot say thank you quite enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
Reading is Dreaming with Eyes Wide Open
Funded Aug 24, 2018Reading is fundamental. It is a life skill. Reading encompasses our entire day across all subject areas. One of my goals as a teacher is to create life long readers. And students who actually enjoy reading for pleasure.
Having new book sets to use during guided reading time is going to be amazing! The books we received through this Donors Choose project are in a wide range of levels to accommodate all of my readers and a variety of genres.
To see my students' faces as we opened our giant Amazon box that was filled to the top with new books...your heart could skip a beat! Thank you for putting books directly into all of my students hands this year. And for many years to come! You made this possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.So Many Books...So Little Time!
Funded Apr 30, 2018As a teacher, I love instructing my students in all subject areas. But my favorite subject to teach is reading. Read aloud time is my all time favorite part of the school day. Followed closely behind by small group reading.
Small group reading is special. It is in groups of 4-6 students. It is at their current reading level...so the groups are constantly flexing and shifting.
I prefer to use actual literature books and create a novel study. Book club style. This allows opportunities to expose students to a variety of genres. Books they normally wouldn't choose. And under different subject areas.
The books purchased with your donations are going to enrich, enliven and spark new learning for so many students. And for years to come.
Thank you for your generous donations. I am ever so grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Heather Stewart