Past projects 8
Oh, The Stories They Tell
Funded Jun 15, 2011Our students and I wish to thank you for your collective generosity. Between the stories we have already read, and those we will explore in January, the rich, new texts have invigorated our your readers.
Earlier this month, your gifts allowed our entire class to enjoy Ann Cameron's fabulous stories, just in time to also meet the author. Students were able to make a direct connection between that which they had recently read with the author herself. For many of our students, this connection has led them to dive into others she has written. You have helped to create this link!
We closed out our calendar year, reading Tree of Cranes by Allen Say. The children delighted in learning this autobiographical tale was written by an author who now resides locally. This pattern of reading published text, meeting the author, and learning about the process of publishing our stories has greatly inspired our students.
Your assistance helps them progress in their reading and writing. Thank you for the gift of great literature and for your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
Learning From the Experts - Accessing Mentor Texts
Funded Dec 16, 2010 Thank you very much for your collective generosity. We are currently in the midst of an Author Study using the texts you helped me to purchase. I credit the success we are experiencing with this study to the fact that more students are able to access these high-quality texts simultaneously. By purchasing multiple copies of texts from well-known, engaging authors, we are able to enjoy these texts for a variety of purposes. The students have begun to talk about favorite authors! We are comparing and contrasting themes, examining character traits, enriching our vocabulary and benefiting from lessons regarding author's craft. They base their personal responses with evidence from the texts we've shared.  ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
Reading as Writers - Exploring Expository Text
Funded Nov 15, 2010I want to thank you sincerely for your collective generosity. The children have been so excited to dive into the texts you helped bring in to our classroom. The books you gave are rich in information. The illustrations are beautiful. There is much to draw them in. Access to these texts has helped children develop a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna they see around them. Additionally, related discussions have sparked further inquiry and more reading. Witnessing this enthusiasm and interest warms my heart.
While the books will remain in my room to serve future students, the children will take with them their learning. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Ms. B”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
Basic Facts Made Fun!
Funded Apr 21, 2010I want to thank you for the collective generosity you have extended to my class of third graders. We were able to put the materials immediately to use and all will continue to serve future classes as well.
The materials you purchased for us have allowed the children access to quality materials to support their understanding of statistics and probability, measurement and geometry. The children have been so engaged with these materials; they allow for them to extend their conceptual understanding to a deeper level.
We created graphs to represent our reading and the work students are doing to meet their reading goals. Not only was it exciting for the children to see their work progress, but it also served as an excellent visual tool for learning.
My students and are very grateful to you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
Where in the World?
Funded Feb 11, 2010My third grade students and I thank you deeply for your generous gifts. Almost all of my students are either first- or second-generation immigrants to the United States and all have close family members living in other countries. Your gift of the globes and the set of atlases has allowed us to easily access information about both countries of origin as well as of interest. The children regularly consult these materials in the following ways: studying the earth's physical features; identifying places they have found through their reading; following current events we read in student magazines and hear on the news; and investigating other lands. It has supported their ability to investigate and to read and understand nonfiction. In fact, students in my class this year scored higher on their ability to interpret graphs, maps and charts.
You have been very generous and we thank you for thinking of us. Future third graders in my classes will continue to benefit from the resources you have given us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
This classroom project was brought to life by The Pershing Square Foundation and one other donor.Inspired By The Authors
Funded Dec 10, 2009I wish to thank each one of you for the generosity you have shown me and my students. The third graders in my current class have benefited greatly from the quality pieces of literature you have added to our class library.
This year so far, we have studied the works of: Patricia Polacco, Carmen Lomas Garza, Alma Flor Ada, Francisco Alarcón and WIlliam Steig. We have enjoyed these mentor texts as we have discussed author's craft, character development and a variety of literary genres (from fantasy to poetry to personal narrative). Your donation allowed me to purchase multiple copies of each text and put them in the hands of individual students.
You have positively impacted not only this year's students, but will support our literacy studies each year, thus extending to future classes.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
If You Can See It, You Can Draw It
Funded Nov 23, 2009This letter is really a small token to give thanks for the generosity you have extended to me and the students in my class.
We have already begun to use the watercolor pencils and paper; the students are delighted with the results. They have enjoyed learning techniques such as dry on wet, wet on wet, etc. Students have already learned a great deal about shading, layering of colors and color mixing. We are working with an architect this year and will use the pencils and paper to complete a colored drawing of the exterior of our school.
The books too provide great inspiration and a window into the lives of professional artists. With such quality materials at their disposal, and the opportunity to learn how to use them, the children see themselves as artists. Thank you for providing them this opportunity.
The children will remember this year and the gifts you have bestowed upon them. Additionally, I will continue to use these materials in upcoming years. Those children too will benefit from your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft
Let's Dig a Little Deeper!
Funded Oct 13, 2009In this letter I wish to convey deep gratitude for the generosity you have have shown the third grade students in my class. Your donations enabled us to purchase multiple nonfiction texts to support our literacy studies. Our classroom has few high-interest and lower level nonfiction texts; we heartily welcome these new additions.
The students in my class had expressed an interest in learning more about dinosaurs and fossils. They were incredibly pleased and surprised to learn outside sources had decided to flood our classroom with such engaging books that directly matched the interests they had expressed. Your decision to fund this project sent my students the direct message that their motivation to learn was heard and respected by others.
On behalf of the students in my class this year and in years to come, I thank you very much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bancroft