Past projects 211
Math Is Marvelous!
Funded Sep 15, 2017These math centers are so wonderful to watch. The level of engagement through them is simply astonishing. You can barely imagine what a simple game of Multiplication Candy Land can do for a student struggling to learn multiplication. You have allowed us to be able to let our students practice fluency in many different engaging ways. The TPT gift card has allowed us to find math centers to meet weekly needs. Our word problems are exciting when using the instructional dice. Marcy Cook's number tiles and Sumoku numbers are puzzling and challenging! Mastermind is a perfect addition to our MakerSpace time too! My students are actually sad when we cannot have math centers. It is so exciting as a teacher. Thank you for bringing this new level of learning into our four walls! We are blessed to have you in our lives.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 8 other donors.Building Our Future
Funded Jun 20, 2017These materials have been amazing to have in our classroom. Every Friday during MakerSpace my students beg to get the Magformers and Bloxels out. I am so thankful that I was able to get three sets of Bloxels because they are always used. It is so neat to watch my students take simple blocks and make a video game out of it. They are problem solving, coding, designing, and working as a team all with one center.
The Magformer kits have allowed my students to create new designs such as cars that move and bigger buildings. The things they come up with change every time the Magformers are out.
The locks haven't been used yet because we haven't gotten locked out of our current locks yet, but our 7th grade classes just used our boxes, and their teamwork to complete The Dot Breakout. They are now begging to do another Breakout as soon as possible. Thank you for ensuring we can continue to do these with our students and the worry of breaking locks is gone.
I so appreciate you and the gifts you have given my classroom and my students. You have made such a significant impact on us. I wish I could give you a daily view into my classroom. Know that you are a big part of the reason why I am confident that I can continue to provide what my students need to be successful. Thank you for empowering me to empower them. You are building their future!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 16 other donors.Sweet and Salty Snacks for Smith Students!
Funded Jul 30, 2017Thank you so much for meeting this need in our classroom. It brings a smile to my face every day that I can provide ALL my students with snacks during the day. I'm also loving that these snacks look like they will last for at least half of the year. We are so grateful.
At the end of the day they can also grab a snack for when they get home and that is also a blessing. What's the best part?
My students picked out these snack so they LOVE eating them. They have a choice in what they get each day and by getting a snack they are focused on their learning and ready to learn. As adults we snack, why shouldn't our students also?
Thank you for caring so much about my students. You are a blessing to them and to our classroom. Keep up the awesome work, we appreciate you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by Life Essentials Supporters and 49 other donors.End The Year In Style
Funded Jun 17, 2017I know these materials did not arrive at the end of the year, but instead arrived at the beginning of the year. What I know though is that I now have the supplies I need to kick off the year.
The memory books are up on the wall and they are already displaying amazing student work. I always give my students the option whether to add a project to their memory book or take it home and most of the time they want to display it. These will be beautiful memories from third grade.
We have already laminated many projects and you are making our projects last with the lamination!
The fun pens were perfect for cards that we sent to Hurricane Irma and we also love using them to write our daily tweet and also check our quick checks. Thank you for making our learning just a little more brightly colored and fun!
The permanent markers look wonderful on our "We Are Learning" wall and the Expos write beautifully on our morning message board.
Thank you so much for investing your time and money on my students. They are so deserving and are so grateful. You have forever impacted my students and our classroom. Blessings on your day!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 39 other donors.Engage, Empower, Enjoy, Educate!
Funded Jun 20, 2017These materials have changed our classroom. We started the year with introducing growth mindset and will continue to use these in every lesson. It is so important for students to know that it is ok to try, make mistakes, and grow.
Teach like a Pirate, Learn like a Pirate, and Kids Deserve It have changed who I am as a teacher and in turn changed how I work with my students and how they learn. I know that by focusing on what I do because #KidsDeserveIt has made me a better teacher. These resources have allowed me to empower my students and learn to be tolerant and accepting of each other. I am so excited to continue to implement the things I've learned into every day.
Thank you for joining with my classroom in this way! By investing in these resources you have made an impact in my students for years to come. You are a blessing!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 21 other donors.Bump, Set, Spike!
Funded Jul 7, 2017Although my pictures only give you a glimpse of two of our amazing volleyball players, know that you helped over 30 players THIS season have the equipment they needed. Next spring the volleyballs will again help over 30 players. Volleyballs are the most basic supply and I am so thankful that you have invested in our girls.
Having youth sports is exactly what our school needs. Building fundamentals and getting young players active is essential and you have helped us build this program. Thank you for caring so much for our school and our players.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation - Sports Matter and 4 other donors.Dash Wants Some Pizza on the Go!
Funded May 8, 2017Every Friday there were two words that stood out. Dash and Osmos. Every Friday we had MakerSpace and these were two popular STEAM stations.
Dash is our amazing robot. When I showed my students the new launcher and Wonder mat that arrived, they were eager to test it out and see what they could do. I was in awe of how quickly they taught each other how to use the launcher and mat.
We used our Osmos kits all year. Wonderful donors on DonorsChoose.org funded those kits and brought them to our classroom. Pizza Company has been a great addition. It teaches students how to work together to run a company. It also teaches them how to follow directions, hand eye coordination, and allows them to give change. My favorite part of it is that I can differentiate it for each group. It worked so nicely with our Economics unit but I can't wait to start the year with it and allow them to work, play, and improve all year!
Thank you for blessing our classroom and my students. You are making such a difference in their lives. Every time a project is funded my students yell, scream, and et so excited. You bring such joy for learning to our classroom. Thank you so much for this.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 3 other donors.Escape Third Grade With Breakout EDU
Funded May 8, 2017I know it is summer break but I am sitting down to reflect on this past year and all that my students accomplished. This wonderful project was funded in time for my 3rd grade students to complete a summer breakout and also for my summer school students to complete a summer adventures breakout.
Together my students worked together, solved clues, and broke out. I loved the collaboration that happened. Students were critically thinking, being creative and communicating effectively!
In my Summer Adventures class students worked for 40 minutes to solve clues for five different locks. They tested the combinations, failed, and tried again. All groups solved all clues and broke out. They were so excited and shared their excitement with their parents as they were picked up.
Thank you for keeping this type of learning alive in our classroom. I can't wait to introduce more breakouts to my students. Social skills are some of the most important lessons our students will learn and you are making it possible to teach them these in such a fun and engaging way.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
This classroom project was brought to life by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and 7 other donors.Our STEAM Is Moving!
Funded Mar 9, 2017Adding these items to our Maker Space has been simply amazing. Every time we begin Maker Space they immediately asked, "Can we have Zoob builders, Magformers and Ozobot stations?" My answer is always yes. When I see the creativity and teamwork that comes with my students working with these materials, I know the purpose of Maker Space is in high gear. My students are being independent engineers. They are being architects. They are designing the next big invention in our classroom. Thank you for bringing our Maker Space to life even more than it was.
The fidgets you provided have also been so great. They are quiet, yet effective. Students can fidget with their fingers while still engaged in what we are doing. Movement is a priority in my classroom so these fidgets just add to that. Thank you for fulfilling this need!
Thank you for partnering with my classroom in so many ways. My students and our classroom is forever better because of you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith
Visit Our Shop Around the Corner!
Funded Apr 28, 2017On Thursday we had our Economics Fair and finalized our two weeks of learning about needs, wants, services, goods, money, and more. This fair is a highlight of our students' year every year and I am so thankful we could do it again. Students in our four classrooms set up their shops, decided on costs of the goods and services, created ads, decided on jobs, and got everyone excited!
For the two weeks prior to that students had been tracking their own money (Spooner Bucks) on checking registers. Students earned money for jobs in the classroom and extra jobs at home. They paid taxes, fines, and rented their desk. Their reactions to paying for their shoes, lunch, and breakfast was exactly as it should be. They instantly learned that needs are more important than wants. Students loved being paid for their jobs and the bonuses earned were an added excitement!
On the day of the Econ Fair students were able to purchase a frosted cookie from Farmer's Cookie Crunch, a necklace from Smith Necklaces, play a game of Wii bowling and eat popcorn, and got their face painted in 1, 2, 3, Paint Me! We also had staff members stop in and visit the shops. Students loved serving and selling their items to both adults and their peers. My favorite part of this project is that it is on the spot learning. Every moment of the fair students were learning.
Thank you for giving to our students. We are blessed to have wonderful donors like you! Together we are able to give our students the best learning environment.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Melissa Smith