Past projects 50
Journals for Kinder Kids
Funded Nov 14, 2015Writing is such an important part of school, and I'm so thankful that you have given my class an opportunity to practice their writing skills on a daily basis. My students have been evolving as writers and their journals are great proof. They enjoy writing their stories or responding to text read in class.
My students were overjoyed to know that they each got a journal of their own. They enjoy writing and drawing every day. I have been able to see great progress in their illustrations and in their writing. They have learned to form sentences, spell phonetically, and draw great accompanying pictures.
I can't thank you enough for your contribution to this project!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
Write On!
Funded Dec 4, 2015Your contribution to this project has made such a difference in my classroom. Thanks to you, I have been able to make dozens and dozens of copies of worksheets or templates for class projects and my kids have learned and done so much because of you!
My students always love when we receive packages for the class. They love seeing bulk items of anything! They all know that we use so much paper for everything that we do in the classroom and so I'm sure they appreciated seeing our new class supply. Because of all the copy paper, I was able to make writing paper for our Writer's Workshop where my students were able to create various types of books. One of my students favorite part of this project was the dry erase markers. They enjoy using them to write and draw on their whiteboards very much.
Luckily we still have a good supply of paper, and our whiteboard markers have been well taken care of, so I look forward to more learning before the school year is over.
Thanks again ever so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
Got Glue?
Funded Oct 28, 2015We cannot thank you enough for your donation. Thanks to you, we now have a years supply of glue sticks in the classroom. The glue sticks are so essential in kindergarten. My students have been using their glue stick at least once a day. The range of use varies. We use them for literacy activities in which they have to cut and paste pictures to match to words they read or build a word with letters. We also use the glue sticks for various activities throughout the curriculum. Just recently, we celebrated Read Across America where we made 4 different Dr. Seuss inspired crafts. Our glue sticks came in very handy that day!!!
My students were very excited to see all the glue sticks we received. It's such a weight off my shoulders to know that I don't have to hear "I don't have any more glue". They know where the supply of glue stick is stored and they just help themselves when they are out. I love that they keep my little kindergarteners' hands clean and it's also very helpful tool for them to use to develop their fine motor skills.
I look forward to working on many more cut and paste projects with them before the end of the school year, including completing their end of the year scrapbook that contains an art project for every month of the school year.
I can't thank you enough for your generosity and once again, my students and I really appreciate it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
Time to Learn with Time for Kids
Funded Sep 10, 2015I want to thank you for your donation that allowed my class to receive these Time for Kids magazines. We have really been enjoying reading them and learning from them.
Since I have a kindergarten class, we read the magazine in a whole group. First I introduce the magazine and we discuss the background for the text. I always gets a big WOW or OOH after showing hem the cover. The kids love to open up the magazine and browse the pictures. They always have so many questions and enjoy seeing real life photos. While I usually read the magazine to them, they enjoy looking for sight words they know. I even have some super readers that are starting to read on their own.
As a teacher with so much to teach and so little time, these magazines serve as a great too to incorporate so many skills. We get to cover language arts, social studies or science, writing, and math. My students learn critical thinking skills as we discuss the topics at hand. In addition, they love that they get to take their magazine home and share with their families.
Overall, I cannot thank you enough for your donations. These Time for Kids have provided, and will continue to provide, a lot of learning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
Every Child is an Artist!
Funded Sep 15, 2014My students LOVE art and so they were very excited to receive and use the new art supplies.
Some of the art supplies, like the roller paints, white board crayons, and chalk are used during independent work time. Students are able to create anything their little hearts desire. Other supplies are used for whole group art lessons. We have created some great pieces of art with the pastels. And have used the scissors and construction paper to make various projects. We are in the process of creating an ABC book using lots of construction paper. It will be a great keepsake for the students. The paper has truly come in handy.
Students enjoy using the art supplies and I love that they can be creative and that they can develop their artistic style.
Thanks so much for these wonderful supplies.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
The ABC's of Learning
Funded Sep 15, 2014My students were very happy to receive the new learning resources. Anything new is always so exciting for them. But I was extra happy knowing that these new materials were going to provide lots of practice for them in reading.
We use these materials in various ways. The letter match up games and language puzzles are easy enough for struggling readers, but also fun for all learners. They use these activity puzzles during independent work time, while i work with students in small groups. The stamp sets have been useful for practicing sight words or even stamping out sentences. And the magnetic letters are a fun way to spell out words. They are great for use during my small group to practice sounds and stretching out words to write.
My students are engaged in their learning and they are practicing important skills that will help them in reading and writing. I have seen much progress in both areas.
Thanks again for the great materials!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
Play-Doh Molds our Imagination
Funded Aug 31, 2014My students were very excited to use the new Play-Doh materials. What kid wouldn't?
Currently my students use the Play-Doh as a creative center that they can work on when they are finished with their work during independent work time. The Play-Doh entertains them for long periods of time, and I am able to pull small groups for differentiated instruction. Play-Doh has also come in very handy during our heat waves and will also be useful during the rainy season, since they can't go out to play. I love seeing all the wonderful creations my students have molded.
I've also used the Play-doh to form letters of the alphabet or to show a number by making little play-doh balls. It is a great material to work with.
I'm happy that my students are excited about coming to school. They learn and get some much needed play time with the Play-Doh.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
This classroom project was brought to life by Play-Doh and 3 other donors.We Need The Write Stuff!
Funded Sep 15, 2014My students were so excited to receive the writing journals. And I too, was glad to have such a valuable resource in my classroom.
Usually, my students use the journals to write anything they want. I tell them that this is their chance to get creative and make up their own stories. They are also free to tell true stories or simply practice writing simple sentences. In addition, they get to illustrate a beautiful picture for their writing. It's so great that my students will have these journals as a keepsake of their kindergarten work. I have already seen progress with students pictures and writing.
My students are always eager to write and illustrate and I am thankful these journals gave them a chance to do so.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
We Are Writers!
Funded Aug 22, 2014My students were so excited to receive all these wonderful resources. Although I expected the "oohs" and "wow" from the markers, I was surprised that even just paper excited them.
The materials are currently being used to implement our Writer's Workshop. I run copies on the white paper with various lines to make "books" for students. They in turn, use those books to create wonderful narratives about their own lives. I'm so happy they get to use this clean white sheet of paper instead of the flimsy brown newsprint. It makes their writing stand out even more.
The colored paper is used to create a cover page for their story. Each child has so many options now in regards to their paper color choice. And the markers are another option they have for coloring the illustrations that make up their story.
The kids are truly benefiting from these materials. Can't thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 4 other donors.Understanding Comes with TIME!
Funded Aug 13, 2014My students have been so excited to read the Time for Kids each week. They love learning about the various topics, looking at the wonderful pictures, and they love being able to take it home to share with their families.
We read one time magazine a week. During our social studies block, we spend several days working with 1 Time For Kids. I read the Big Book as a whole class and we discuss the information being conveyed through the writing and pictures. On another day, I distribute the individual Time For Kids magazines to the students to review what we learned on the previous day. They LOVE having their own personal copy. On a third day, we will work on the back cover of the Time for Kids. Here we get to work on various reading and/or math strategies. On yet another day I will incorporate an activity based on our Time for Kids topic.
The magazine has truly enriched my students knowledge and helped develop their reading and writing skills. The Time for Kids has especially been helpful in the last month while we work on our All About books for Writers Workshop. Students are able to use the Time for Kids magazines as great examples for informational writing.
I look forward to renewing this subscription every year!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Esparza