Mrs. Ruiz's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 10

• Books Dive In

  Funded Jan 27, 2022

  Thank you for contributing books to my classroom that will meet my students right where they are. In my classroom most of the new and well kept books were too challenging for my students. This led to me burrowing from other classroom or printing black and white book from the computer. With these books my students were able to practice their sight words and reading fluency. All while using picture power and discussion with their peers to deepen their understanding of the book. In my classroom students first engage in a mini lesson then go off and read independently. Students were so excited to read when they knew there were new books on their reading level to choose from. Then after they would share out with a partner by reading to them their favorite part or what they learned about the character from the book. Students who were reading below grade level benefitted most from these books because now they could read actual books and not paper print outs. Now they could read the words and not just look at the pictures to develop meaning. Thank you for bringing excitement to reading again in my classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.

• Doc At Home

  Funded Jan 12, 2021

  Thank you for helping me continue to service my students during the pandemic and virtual teaching. The document camera was used to help model for my students like if I was in the classroom. This was so important because when teaching virtually was a challenge this camera helped provide on the spot visuals for the students. I was able to show the steps for a math problem and how to edit and revise their writing. The impact this camera had was amazing. Students were able to understand and show their work with more confidence.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Capture It

  Funded Sep 20, 2018

  Thank you so much for donating to our scientist as they continue to document their data of their investigations. My visual learners will be so excited to see and remember the stages of their experiments. Students will actually refer back to their images for discussion and rebuttal for next steps in their investigations.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Science Lab Computers

  Funded Jan 26, 2018

  Thank you for allowing our students to become better researchers. As a result of your contribution students have been able to research recent science discoveries and articles. While learning about green infrastructure, students have been able to look at their specific communities and analyze what changes they want to make for a more eco-friendly environment. What excites the students the most is that they each get their own laptop to use in the classroom. In addition they also get to type their papers on the laptops and simply share with me to review, give comments as they write and grade. Since the laptops are brand new all students feel a sense of responsibility to make sure they are well taken care of and that all their peers are following directions. Students who do not have the best hand-writing love the laptops more because they thoughts are able to be read much easier. Thank you for giving my students to see scientist ideas and investigations come to life in the classroom by researching their most recent experiments.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

  This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 28 other donors.

• Safety Science

  Funded Nov 8, 2017

  My students used the goggles when they were making their catapults made from craft sticks and rubber bands. They needed to create a prototype with limited materials and then launch a marshmallow. Having the goggles allowed us to test the distance of the launch. Without them the students would have been limited in their hands-on activities in my classroom. With the goggles students understood the importance of safety in the classroom even more than before. The carpet has also been such a great resource for the students because I am able to meet with a group of struggling students all at once. Students have a slight environment change that helps them see their peers and teacher at the same level. The students were so excited about the materials especially the goggles because they knew that meant more activities we could complete in class. When students saw the carpet they wanted to run to the carpet first so that they could sit a different way then in all their classes. The next steps for my students is that they will be soil testing with different variables. Students also completed a lab where they modeled water erosion with clay and sugar cubes. Thank you all for making science exciting and challenging everyday for my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Hands-on Science

  Funded Oct 7, 2016

  The students and I are so grateful for your donation. During our unit of rocks and minerals students were able to use magnifying glasses and observe the rocks and minerals. They were also able to test the minerals for luster and streak. Students then analyzed the rocks and categorized them into their types with their peers. Students were so excited to actually touch, feel and smell the rocks and minerals instead of looking at images on the computers. The next step for my students will be to use the cell bin and analyze different cells when we get to our new unit.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 12 other donors.

• Library Carpet and Comfort

  Funded Nov 21, 2015

  The students have never had bean bags in their classroom before and they were so eager to go sit on them. The students use the carpet to peer asses their homework, peer assess classwork throughout the day and read independently. Sometimes when they are assessing their work with their peer they share the bean bag. Once a week students use the carpet and bean bags for reading to the kinderg�rtners. It is a very relaxing environment and students get comfortable to complete their task.

  When the students first saw the carpet they were excited that it was much larger then our previous carpet. Now more students could get comfortable and read on the carpet with their peers. However when they saw the bean bags they couldn't stop jumping and thinking about when the first opportunity was for them to sit on them.

  Our students are currently working on abolitionist speeches with their groups. Some groups have decided to work on the carpet as they brainstormed and practice how they are going to present their speech using persuasive techniques of ethos, pathos and logos.

  Students know they can go to the carpet and have a relaxing and educational experience. The carpet and bean bags are especially helpful for my learners who need to move around instead of sitting in their seats all day. Thank you providing this great opportunity for us!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Write on the Whiteboard

  Funded Oct 28, 2015

  Thank you so much for your generous donations! When the school aid delivered the box the students already knew what was inside. They were overjoyed and couldn't wait for me to take it out to assemble it. The next day during math the students were able to come up to the whiteboard and share their work. I've never seen them so excited to share their mathematical process with another. Students were upset when they were not picked to share but the students who were selected were glowing like bright stars as they walked to the board. In the classroom the whiteboard will mostly be used for mathematics where students share their different strategies for solving a problem. It will also be used for directed notes for their task. The majority of our students are visual learners and when given audible directions are able to forget but when they have it in front of them they can easily refer back to it. Thank you donors for being part of my students educational growth!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Broken Bins in the Library

  Funded Oct 5, 2015

  Thank you all for your generous donations to our classroom. The students were ecstatic when they came to class and saw the colored library bins! They were so eager to help me organize and label the library. As a result of your donations students will now be able to use literature for their Mexico and Canada country projects instead of only the Internet. Each table will have assigned literature to use for their portion of the project. In addition students are having a easier time finding what categories they want to read in the library and are able to return the books to correct bins. I have seen all level of learners expand their reading genres and choose books they have never read before. Thank for being part of my students growth.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

• Print to the Rescue

  Funded Jul 22, 2015

  Thank you for donating to our project! These new group of students weren't in my class when our printer died towards the end of the school year. My students from last year were amazed at the printer quality this printer gives us. Students have said, "This is so cool" and "Wow" as they print their pictures any size they want.

  My students are ecstatic they can print in the classroom. They were amazed that they can print wirelessly and print pictures from their own USB. Students are not only grateful for the printer but they are also learning how to use a different type of technology. Students have become independent and have become experts at printing images at the correct size for their projects and showing their peers how to do so as well.

  This project boosted my students learning by allowing them to hand things on time with no excuse of not having a printer at home. As mentioned before several of my students would hand in late projects because they did not have ink or a printer at home. I always give them the option of handwriting their work but they like the quality of printing their final drafts and presenting them on the bulletin board. Students are also excited to be on task and on time with their assignments so that they are able to print what they need and get a head start on their assignments.

  It amazes me how this printer has changed how students engage with one another. They are taking turns and teaching one another how to use it. It is a great sight to watch as a teacher; seeing students become teachers in the classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Ruiz

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 4 other donors.