Past projects 11
Technology to Display Student Thinking in Real Time!
Funded May 21, 2024This technology is very helpful on many levels. It gives me mobility around the classroom. I can use the ipad to check student work, update grades, show students examples, etc. Students have been using it to connect to our Promethian board as well. This gives them a chance to do a group edit in real time.
This technology also allows me to play music in class. I have used it create a class playlist and listen to work as they are writing narratives and essays.
This technology will soon be connected to an apple pencil so students can use it as they are marking text in real time to show their classmates. This supports our think alouds, annotations, etc.
We are very grateful for this wonderful technology.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Games for Lunch Time Brain Breaks!
Funded Jan 22, 2024These games have been instrumental in bringing introverts together with extroverts at lunch time. The chess, checkers and uno are unifying in ways that seem simple, but create new friendships. Daily, students come in use the games and challenge themselves to put down their phones and socialize with one another. It has been a great way to celebrate and take brain breaks after testing in class as well. My students love playing against each other at lunch and they bring in friends from other classes. I have had wonderful conversations with students I would have otherwise not had an opportunity to have met. I appreciate your kindness and generosity more than words can express.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Connecting to Text Through Color Coding!
Funded Dec 12, 2023Students have already improved their annotating skills. It seems like a simple thing, a pack of pens. It is not. Students learn better in color. Students also see the color coding has them looking for different information in what they read. They are now able to assess the variety and quality of their connections they make to the text through the use of these pens and highlighters.
Additionally, the white boards and markers have made comprehension checks more enjoyable. Students like writing on the boards as a way to review what we have learned and play games to check their understanding as we go. They were so happy to have new markers and whiteboards. They said, "these are so smooth and we do not have to scrub them to use them." They appreciated new not worn out materials.
Last week, after we annotated our article on Social Media in color, students made personal connections to the text in color. This made discussion easier as we had a chance to see what they wanted to share from their reading. They did not have to search for a question or comment as it was color coded to see what they were looking for to share out.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Relevant and Related Novel to Engage Teens!
Funded Aug 12, 2022This culturally relevant and responsive novel has been impactful for my students' engagement. I am very pleased with how happy they were to enjoy the novel. It has increased their interest in reading to the point that if we are short of time they are upset we have not read it that day. It has become a topic amongst other students who would like to read it as well. This has happened via word of mouth. To get a middle school student engaged in reading is a challenge, but to get them to love a book is a huge accomplishment. The generosity of the donor's on this site made this possible. It has ignited a love of culturally relevant and responsive novels to hold their attention and connect directly to who they are as young adults. This is significant to their development as readers and people in so many ways that are immeasurable.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 2 other donors.Two engaging novels to interest and teach about others' experiences!
Funded Dec 13, 2021My students have loved reading these novels. We read both A Long Walk to Water and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Both novels were engaging. We simply read the novels in groups. It was a chance to learn about another part of the world they have never been to or even understood. We learned about the water crisis and the value of environmental engineering. This is helpful as we are part of an environmental magnet.
The stories were engaging and students enjoyed reading them aloud in groups. It is nice to enjoy a novel just for the value of learning and building love of reading. We appreciate these novels more than words can express. I look forward to using them with future seventh graders for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Biographies Will Help Middle School Students Dream!
Funded Dec 23, 2021This set of non-fiction novels has been very impactful. It has opened up a new genre for my students to read. It will increase their ability to read and analyze non-fiction text. Additionally, it will increase their awareness of a variety of every day people that became extraordinary role-models. The variety of people from diverse background will continue to show them the unlimited opportunities that await them. . Teenagers do not always love to read, so to find engaging non-fiction texts that hold their interest is a real gift. I have seen girls read about 100 heroic women and others read about Navajo Code Talkers. These true stories and fact based writing will not only increase their reading level and hold their interest, it will build a basis for background knowledge to transfer to other areas of study.
We appreciate this more than words can express!❤️”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Better Projector, Better View for Learning!
Funded Nov 21, 2019I appreciate this new projector more than I can tell you. I have moved my desk closer to the font and it has made a lot more space in my classroom for kids to walk around. It also allows me to spread the desks out more as students can see from more angels. It gives more flexibilty in terms of seating. The picture, I do not have words. It fills the entire screen and students no longer have to change seats or move closer. The picture is clear and the colors are brighter. This makes a difference when we are watching a video or taking notes. This projector has had a significant impact on my students' learning and my ability to do my job.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Store and Display High-Interest Library for Middle School Students
Funded Oct 21, 2019This project has made a significant impact on my students' access to books. I am excited that I can display the books in a way that is visually appealing to my students. By doing this, my students will be more careful in the books they choose. Studies show that when a student carefully selects a book of their choice they are more likely to complete and be engaged in the reading process. I know that this will make a difference as students now have a way to see the books displayed in the front of the room instead of the back of the classroom. This values the books by giving them attention in the front of the room. It takes up less time for students to pick a book as it is more accessible in the from the front of the room.
Students were so surprised to see the boxes arrive so quickly. I had told them only the week before about the project and it was already funded. They were excited to see them put together. We the spent time sorting books and deciding how to best display them in the most appealing way possible. They noticed that the shelves tucked under the front boards to make room in the back of the class for more space to move around as well. This project will also help with seating in my class. The bookshelves I had took took up too much space. This has now opened 4 feet in the rear of the room. This helps spread out desks and gives us a wider variety of seating configurations.
We appreciate your kindness and generosity more than words can express.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Navigating is Easier with a Mouse!
Funded Dec 19, 2018I want to take the time to thank you for the funding you gave for my students. A mouse is something simple, but it is a necessary tool to navigate the internet, study software, Google Classroom, etc. The track pad on our computers is not great. It takes way too long to navigate what is needed for students to create pieces of writing, take tests, etc. The mouse also allows them to utilize options such as right clicking to take advantage of all the applications on the computer. It seems very simple. It is very vital. It is very appreciated. Thank you again for your kindness.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella
Remotes for Students to be in Control
Funded Dec 14, 2017We appreciate the money you donated for the remote controls. It took us a while to get back to you as we were in the middle of presenting our research projects. We were each assigned a topic on the Holocaust and we became experts. We made Goggle slides. We used the remotes to present the information and teach the class. We were teachers! It helped us face the class (well, sometimes). We are doing our next presentation on books we recommend to one another. We will use the remotes again for this also. A remote seems like a simple tool for technology, but it was good to have not just to turn our slides, but it gave us something to hold to look more professional and less nervous. It kept us from fidgeting with our hands. The 5 remotes will be used often and will help us pace our future presentations. Thanks for the donations. We appreciate them more than words can express.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Picarella