Past projects 20
The Big Picture!
Funded Mar 12, 2020Thank you so much for generously contributing to my classroom's project. The books and reading supplies you provided for my students allowed them to explore the world around them; they learned about differently-abled people, cultures outside their own, and ways to deal with their social/emotional health.
In my classroom, students use books in many ways - a way to relax, a way to understand their world, and a tool through which they can communicate with their peers.
The books and tools you helped provide allowed my students to become citizens of the world...”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and one other donor.Fabulous Fifth Graders!
Funded Jun 2, 2019Thank you so much for providing our classroom with such fabulous materials! My students were so excited to make their own shirts (who doesn't love tie dye?!), decorate our classroom, and create beautiful art pieces!
We did a class bonding activity by creating tie dye shirts together, which was so much fun. I have used the cardstock in many ways - to create charts, create a place to display student work, and to use in art projects. I have truly seen their creativity blossom through the use of these materials.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Help My Fourth Graders Become Academic and Social/Emotional Rockstars!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Again, thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom! Our classroom has a variety of learners in it - some have sensory challenges, some social, some behavioral...but they all want to learn and succeed! The materials you helped purchase for our classroom are setting them up on the right path for learning!
In our classroom, we have several seating options, because my co-teacher and I feel that true learning and true engagement isn't formulaic, and kids need to be comfortable in order to do their best learning! The materials you donated have been used for partner work, quiet "cool down" times, and partnerships.
My students have loved having these new materials surrounding them. They appear more enthusiastic about their learning because they know when they walk into our classroom, they will be comfortable and happy.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Uniquely Different, Differently Unique!
Funded Mar 27, 2018Thank you for your generous gifts to our classroom. Students used the books and classroom materials to learn about historical figures, tackle important issues like racism and sexism, and discover how their lives and current issues connect to those of the past.
In our classroom, we used the materials you gifted us in book clubs, book shares, and during social studies projects. We created side-by-side portraits of ourselves and important historical figures and social activists we learned about in class.
Your generous gifts helped us to understand our pasts and discover our futures.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Cool, Calm, and CONNECTED
Funded Mar 27, 2018Thank you so much for your wonderful donations to our classroom. My students are so excited when they walk in each day, because they see our colorful book bins, comfy bean bag seats, and listen to our classical music during library time or a daily math assessment.
My students use the bean bag chairs when they need a moment to calm down or just want a quiet nook in which to read. The cushioned couch seats are used when I work with a small group - it keeps them focused and comfortable. We play our classical music CDs in class on a daily basis, and I have a marked improvement in their mood and focus!
I thank you, my students thank you, and we're looking forward to this continued enthusiasm for learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Pint Sized Picassos!
Funded Oct 7, 2017Thank you so much for these incredible resources for our classroom! My students love using art as a way to express what they're learning in class, and when we got these amazing packages, they were so excited to open them and explore what was inside!
I have some students in my class for whom expressing themselves verbally or through writing is a challenge. Being able to use these materials to create pieces of art to express themselves will be invaluable.
We are beginning our Black History unit in a couple of weeks and will be creating a classroom museum which our parents will visit. We will use your resources to create sculptures, dioramas, and paintings to show what we know!
Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Bear-y Good Students!
Funded Oct 5, 2017Thank you so much for these amazing resources for our classroom! My 2nd graders love reading about the mischief Brother and Sister get into, the family adventures they have, and the lessons they learn! Through reading these wonderful books, my students learn life lessons like kindness, empathy, generosity, and acceptance.
In our classroom, we read every single day. We do read alouds as a class, after which we discuss our opinions of what we read and our "take aways", students read independently and record their thinking on post-its, and they also read with reading buddies, which is a great way to discuss your thoughts on the spot!
Thank you, again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Hungry for History!
Funded Nov 23, 2016Thank you for the amazing resources you provided for my classroom! My students have put them to good use, busily learning about the history of New York City, Black History, and the lives of historical figures and events.
In our classroom, we have created a museum about Ellis Island and immigration, are working on research projects about people and events related to our Black History unit, and are brushing up on our non-fiction reading skills by using the resources you provided to practice note-taking, paragraph writing, and researching.
Thank you, again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Bright Lights Will Inspire You!
Funded Dec 8, 2016Thank you so much for the generous gifts to our classroom! Our students LOVE all of the new resources about New York City, its landmarks, and its history. They are using these new materials to dive even deeper into our Social Studies learning, in particular immigration, Ellis Island, and the Lower East Side. The books are helping them to make deep connections to history.
In our classroom, we read every day - sometimes twice! I do read-alouds to supplement their learning, and the students also have independent reading time, during which they use the skills being taught in reading lessons and apply it to books they're exploring on their own. Many of them often choose to read some of our New York City books during their independent time!
We recently turned our classroom into an Immigration Museum, for which the students created timelines, posters, sculptures, poems, etc. to demonstrate their learning about immigration in New York City. Thanks to the resources you provided to us, it was a roaring success!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold
Serious About Series!
Funded Sep 14, 2016Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our classroom and library! This year in second grade, students are diving into series' much more deeply, and the books you gave to us will help them grow as readers and citizens! In addition to the series you donated, the non-fiction books are so beneficial to our class as well. The majority of our Social Studies unit this year is on how communities grow and change, as well as a large unit on Black History. Being able to read grade-level books on topics such as colonial times, Michelle Obama, and Ellis Island are such a wonderful way for students to connect with the past.
In our classroom, we try to provide as much independent - or partner - reading as possible. We encourage the students to "stop and jot" while they're reading as a way to monitor their understanding and record ideas to share with the class or their families. Our reading lessons are teaching them how to hold themselves accountable for what they're reading and how to "dig deeper" and make more connections with their texts. In addition to practicing good reading habits, they are also studying characters, lessons/morals, and realistic fiction. This is achieved through full-class read-alouds, independent reading, and partner reading.
I always smile when my students choose independent reading time over the always favorite Choice Time. When I see them engrossed in a new series, I owe a lot of my thankfulness to you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Arnold