Past projects 20
Gazelles, Armadillos, and Ostriches... Oh My!
Funded Oct 19, 2023I am writing to express our gratitude for your generous contribution to our Animal Defense Mechanisms project. Thanks to your support, our students are embarking on an exciting journey into the fascinating world of gazelles, armadillos, ostriches, and monarch butterflies. Your donation has allowed us to provide high-quality books in Spanish, ensuring that every student can fully engage with our bilingual curriculum.
As the students delve into their research groups and explore the unique defense mechanisms of these remarkable animals, your generosity enables them to access the resources needed to become experts. The impact of your donation extends beyond the classroom, empowering our students to create "Choose your own adventure" books that not only enhance their language skills but also cultivate a deep appreciation for wildlife. Your commitment to education has truly made a difference in the lives of these young learners, fostering curiosity and creativity that will resonate with them for years to come.
With heartfelt thanks,”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
This classroom project was brought to life by A Donor Who Loves Teachers and 5 other donors.We are Poets!
Funded Sep 9, 2023In our 4th-grade classroom, the introduction of bilingual poetry books has transformed the reading landscape. The vibrant pages now echo with the rhythm of two languages, creating a harmonious symphony of words. Reading has become a multicultural journey, with students exploring the beauty and nuances of language beyond their native tongue. The books serve as windows to different cultures, fostering a sense of curiosity and understanding among the young minds.
Among the diverse group of students, there's a palpable enthusiasm for the new bilingual poetry books. Some students, especially those with bilingual backgrounds, find a deeper connection to the verses that resonate with their heritage. It's heartening to witness their faces light up as they discover familiar words interwoven with the poetic tapestry. These books not only celebrate linguistic diversity but also empower students to embrace their cultural identities, creating a more inclusive and enriching reading experience for everyone in the classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Peterson Family and 5 other donors.To Infinity and Beyond! Adding and Subtracting Within 1,000
Funded Aug 30, 2021It was such a joy to begin this year with all of our students in person again! In math class, young learners benefit from having manipulatives to work through problems in a concrete way. I first introduced the base ten blocks in a fun game where students had to work in partnerships to build two digit numbers. I then added a challenge so they had to add or subtract tens or ones. Now at this point in the year students are using the base tens blocks to add and subtract three digit numbers within 1,000. I'm so proud of the way they are building their mathematical reasoning while also building their social skills. Thank you for helping us start this year off strong in math!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 2 other donors.Learning Safely Back at School!
Funded Sep 9, 2020The fulfillment of this project has made an incredible difference for my students and I as we came back to the building during the pandemic. My primary concern was that students were safe and still felt a sense of community despite the need for social distancing in the classroom. Each student now has their own caddie to keep their materials separate and a clear partition on their table so that they can still converse and collaborate with their peers. They each have their own lap desk and floor cushion so that they can work as a crew even though we aren't allowed to come together as a class on a carpet anymore. My students are thriving being back at school and we couldn't be more grateful to you all for your contributions. Thank you so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
High Tech Kids
Funded Aug 25, 2019We have gotten so much use out of our new speaker, microphone and headphones! In our study of the weather, students observed the climate outside each day, made observational drawings and then presented their meteorologist report on the microphone at the end of the lesson. At our culminating event, students each had a turn to present their learning on the microphone. Not only did this ensure that parents could hear, it also helped the students take ownership for their learning. Our headphones have been used in our literacy centers, helping the students to listen to books in both English and Spanish. Thank you for your help empowering my students with technology.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 3 other donors.Superheroes Read Too!
Funded Jul 12, 2019Wow, what a fantastic summer we had in our enrichment program at WHEELS! Students were fully engaged wi to their expeditionary study of all things superheroes. These books made a great impact on these students as they learned the characteristics of a superhero and used that to invent their own. Students also learned about every day superheroes that are all around us right here in our community. Kindness, perseverance, and bravery are quite the superpowers for these six year olds! With these rich texts as our guides, we were able to design our own capes and masks for our culminating presentation to families. Thank you for making this dream a reality for me and my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
Kindergarten Bookworms Ready for Story Time
Funded Oct 19, 2018What an incredible year it has been! We started the school year off with an incredible mix of books to spike student interest and instill a love of reading in our kindergarteners' hearts and minds. We were prepared with some lovely seasonal books for the first snowfall. One of the class favorites was "The Sneezy Snowman". Kids had the opportunity to rhyme, make predictions and laugh together. Story time can bring our students together to share a warming experience and create bonds that will last a lifetime. Thank you for supporting reading in my kindergarten classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
The Building Blocks of Learning
Funded May 24, 2018Wow, what a great year it has been! These beautiful, high quality blocks arrived right in time for the end of the school year. My students were thrilled with the challenge and creativity that these blocks have to offer. Students worked collaboratively to build chairs, stages, caves, and much much more! They helped find a place in the classroom to store them and took great care to clean them up neatly. They used their social emotional skills to communicate, plan, build, and revise together. They used their STEM skills to create structures that could last and put their problem solving skills to the test. I can't wait to introduce these blocks to my new kindergarten students next year!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
¡Somos Bilingües! We Are Readers!
Funded Jan 25, 2018Our kids just received our brand new books! They were ecstatic opening up the packages and seeing all of the beautiful illustrations. Kids immediately got to work helping us put blue or red stickers on the books. Blue stickers are for English books and red stickers are for Spanish books. This sorting system helps our kids choose the correct books for the target language. It also helps them choose books that they know their parents can read with them. So many of our parents are Spanish speakers and I am thrilled to provide them with more beautiful, interesting, and engaging books in their home language!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 3 other donors.Kindergarteners Celebrate Their Identities!
Funded Dec 12, 2017We are half way through our unit that explores our identities and the kids are loving learning answer the question - who am I? We have grappled with the ideas of race, ethnicity, immigration, family structures and gender. When having these complex discussions with our young learners, it is imperative that they see each aspect of their identity as an asset. Each aspect is part of the whole that makes us unique! These books have encouraged us to celebrate our identities and our differences. The bilingual book "Rene Has Two Last Names" was so exciting for our kids. They learned how to say their whole name and understand where each part comes from. In Latin America, most people have two last names- one from their mother's side and one from their father's side. It is a common experience to come to the US and lose one of these names. This book helped us to reclaim our whole names and celebrate each part of our family that makes us who we are! Thank you for supporting my students along this journey of affirmation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dircz