Past projects 12
Calm and Cozy, Regulate and Return to Learning!
Funded Dec 13, 2023I write this letter with sincere gratitude. Thank you for donating to my "Calm and Cozy, Regulate and Return to Learning" project. Just today, I had two students who were over stimulated in their classroom and having a hard time making safe choices. They needed a break. They came to join me with another group that I was teaching, and they were able to regulate themselves with the support of the breathing ball and comfortable bean bag chairs. These two students soon had calm bodies and smiles on their faces. They were able to draw pictures of what their "best selves" look like in their classroom and ready to return to their class.
Additionally, when students transition from whole group to small group, having a few minutes to take a break with these new tools and a comfortable place to sit, they are better ready to access the new learning material.
Kids walk into the room feeling lighter and excited to learn. They feel welcomed and safe to explore their emotions so they can maximize their learning with the new wonderful items.
THANK YOU!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
Family Advocacy Family Care
Funded Nov 14, 2023This project has put smiles on faces, comfort in bellies, and warmth in hearts. Your generous donations have been appreciated and very useful. Thank you!
The snack items have helped welcome and encourage reluctant students to school, and diminish triggers that can interfere with the learning environment. This donation has helped a variety of our students and families remain focused on our academic progress and community building.
Additionally, when families come into the school for meetings, we are able to offer a fresh water bottle and healthy snacks, which shows a welcoming gesture and practical attention to some of their basic needs. This let's them know we care and helps provide a bit of comfort. When families bring their children, they are also taken care of with a cozy bean bag chair, play mat, snacks and small toys.
Thank you again for your generosity in supporting our families.”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and one other donor.New Year, New System
Funded Aug 15, 2017Thank you for your continued support for my students, teaching and the Seattle Public Schools. Your donations and generosity, are yet again, thoroughly appreciated. I can't wait to receive these new book boxes for my students to start off the year fresh and well organized. They will surly feel the love and encouragement to be their best.
Many many thanks!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and one other donor.Creating Compassionate and Confident Citizens!
Funded Sep 7, 2016Thank you Thank you for such a wonderful donation! Months later, we are still, ever so grateful. Room six students have absolutely loved our new books! They have helped open many rich group conversations as well as independent learning opportunities. During choice work time, many students often ask, "can I read one of our special new books?!"
This selection of books have been, and will continue to be, a helpful guide in the development of social and emotional growth in our classroom. We have weekly classroom meetings to build awareness and empathy. Our meetings range in discussions of our feelings, various strategies to be our best selves, how to solve problems, and the importance of celebrating differences. These seven and eight year-olds have already grown so much in accepting responsibility and reflecting on choices they've made and choices they would like to make.
Building literacy skills through tangible and meaningful sources while providing the opportunity for self reflection is a powerful tool, especially at such a young age.
Thank you again for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
Rah Rah We Need A New Rug
Funded Aug 26, 2015"It's like Christmas!" a group peering their heads in during their lunch time as they typically like to check in on the classroom and see what I might be working on for the afternoon. "It's sooooooo cool!" other students exclaim. Some even dove straight down and rolled around saying how soft it was. Many wide-eyed adults stop as they walk through the door with, "Wow, what a beautiful new carpet, the kids must love it!" "What a warm and welcoming space they have!"
Since we have had our new rug, that comfortably fits our entire class (plus others who may be joining for the day), we are able to have whole group mini lessons and full circle classroom meetings and philosophy sessions without having to squish and re-arrange every time. Additionally, it's conducive to small groups and partnerships at the same time. Many students can be working at the carpet and have their own, independent work space. The carpet is in the center of our room and has been an incredible support in creating a comfortable and warm learning environment. Students love having the opportunity to move throughout the room and this creates many options, reading and math partnerships, chess, even choice-work-time yoga among other activities.
We are so appreciative of your generosity and interest in supporting education (especially in room 6)! Thank you for donating and supporting the Rah Rah We Need a New Rug Project and believing in the vision for reaching children's educational needs in various ways.
Thank you again for your donations and support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
Ease Into Small Groups With A Dry Erase Easel
Funded Apr 3, 2015"That's the biggest whiteboard I've ever seen!" "Is that for our classroom?! "That is so cool, do we get to use it too?!" These are among the many ecstatic remarks and jaw dropped faces Room 6 students shared when the giant white board wheeled down the hall.
We are so appreciative of your generosity and interest in supporting education (especially in room 6)! Thank you for donating and supporting the Ease Into Small Groups With A Dry Erase Easel and believing in the vision for reaching children's educational needs in various ways. Documenting student thinking is proven to provide student reflection, deeper thinking about learning and it helps these learners build their confidence. The white board also provided a physical element of grouping students and minimizing distractions during this time. We were able to quickly move the white board (as it conveniently has wheels) and section off parts of the room or divide it to help with co-teaching strategies or specific group work.
The students were extremely receptive to our new educational tool and enjoyed having the opportunity to have more documenting and small group work space. It has been a great educational support! Specifically this white board was paramount during our math groups, allowing students to work in different skill groups and expand their understanding. It was very useful when my resident teacher and I were teaching two different groups at the same time - it created a physical and sound barrier. The white board also provided great space during reading and writing lessons to celebrate student work and highlight major teaching points. We were able to display important anchor charts and do a lot of brainstorming with the space provided!
Thank you again for your donations and support of differentiated and exciting education!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
Equity And Access - Teaming With Technology Part 2!
Funded Nov 7, 2014"OMG!" "These are for us!?" I cannot wait to have a turn!" "We are going to have to be extra carefully with this new classroom material!" These are among the many ecstatic remarks Room 6 students shared when the chromebooks arrived.
We are so appreciative of your generosity and interest in supporting education (especially in room 6)! Thank you for donating and supporting the Teaming with Technology Project Part 2 and believing in the vision for reaching children's educational needs in various ways. Technology continues to expand and influence our world and it is essential for children to begin to understand that and how to work with it.
The students have been extremely receptive to our new educational tool and have enjoyed having the opportunity to work more with this exciting technology and educational support. When given a choice, the chrombooks are top on the list. They have especially enjoyed practicing their math and reading skills through the programs we have available now in our classroom. We have even done some blogging as a way to participate in the Global Read Aloud. The chromebooks are also a great motivation as a reward when students do exceptional work and/or finish early and need an extra challenge. The chromebooks are a support for all students including students who need supports in various academic areas. They are a daily part of our Readers Workshop and our Math Workshop as a rotation for each group of students. This allows for great differentiation support as well as less paper copies! Some students do not have access to computers at home and I am happy to be able to provide access where they would otherwise not have it.
Thank you again for your donations and support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 8 other donors.Equity and Access - Teaming with Technology!
Funded Sep 15, 2014"OMG!" "These are for us!?" I cannot wait to have a turn!" "We are going to have to be extra carefully with this new classroom material!" These are among the many ecstatic remarks Room 6 students shared when the chromebooks arrived.
We are so appreciative of your generosity and interest in supporting education (especially in room 6)! Thank you for donating and supporting the Teaming with Technology project and believing in the vision for reaching children's educational needs in various ways. Technology continues to expand and influence our world and it is essential for children to begin to understand that and how to work with it.
The students have been extremely receptive to our new educational tool and have enjoyed having the opportunity to work more with this exciting technology and educational support. When given a choice, the chrombooks are top on the list. They have especially enjoyed practicing their math and reading skills through the programs we have available now in our classroom. We have even done some blogging as a way to participate in the Global Read Aloud. The chromebooks are also a great motivation as a reward when students do exceptional work and/or finish early and need an extra challenge. The chromebooks are a support for all students including students who need supports in various academic areas. Some students do not have access to computers at home and I am happy to be able to provide access where they would otherwise not have it.
Thank you again for your donations and support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
iPad For 2012
Funded Oct 20, 2012I am so appreciative of your generosity and interest in supporting education (especially in room 6)! Thank you for donating and supporting the iPad project and believing in the vision for reaching children's educational needs in various ways. Technology continues to expand and influence our world and it is essential for children to begin to understand that and how to work with it.
The students have been extremely receptive to our new educational tool and have enjoyed having the opportunity to work more with exciting technology. They have especially enjoyed practicing their math standards and having it as a reward when they do exceptional work and/or finish early and need an extra challenge.
Thank you again for your donations and support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio
Better Than Chairs
Funded Mar 18, 2012I cannot fully express my excitement and gratitude for your support in funding the "Better Than Chairs" project for room 6. It is wonderful to receive such great support and encouragement from so many.
These therapy balls have been of great support to my active second grade students in sustaining their focus while responding to their sensory and physical needs. The mind and body does work in concert and I feel very fortunate to be able to support that even further with these therapy balls.
The students absolutely love having an authentic seat and the freedom to wiggle around safely. They especially love the bounce breaks we take during transitions.
Thank you again for your generous donations!”
With gratitude,
Ms. DiJulio