Past projects 18
We Can Do This!
Funded Feb 1, 2017My students are some of the most precious I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. Each has a personality that brightens my day and often melts my heart. However, all the charm, personality, goodness and effort cannot help some of them when it comes to academics. Quite a few of my students- more than 25% of my class, to be exact- really struggle with some of the most basic schools tasks. This is why the materials you have provided are so valuable in our classroom.
Each item you've given us is useful, starting with the bright red TO DO folders and the pockets for the backs of their chairs. For some of my students, a poor memory and lack of organization skills make each school day a complicated maze of forgetting and losing things. I already see the folders and pockets making a difference.
I have had more students than I expected ask to use the reader guides, which help them keep their place as they read and cut down glare by adding a blue tint to the page. It is nice to offer a tool that makes reading printed materials easier, especially because they are so accustomed to reading a computer screen.
The art tools are the best, according to my students. Being middle schoolers, they love to fidget- so origami and the colorful twisty art-wire is a perfect way to satisfy this need. It makes them feel good and makes me happy to see their needs met.
You've made a positive impact on their school experience. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
Walking In Someone Else's Worn-out Shoes
Funded Aug 29, 2016This book set is fantastic! You have provided our students with an opportunity to learn in depth about a topic that is not adequately covered in our text books: The Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Perhaps, we had relatives who could tell us about The Great Depression when we wanted to throw away our vegetables or did not appreciate what was provided for us. Today's students, however, seem to have no idea what people of past generations went through and a traditional textbook usually fails to get their attention in a way that makes a meaningful impression.
This unit includes not only high-interest stories about people their same age, it includes videos and music, too. One of the students' favorite books in this project is the graphic novel about Woody Guthrie. "Out of the Dust" is an amazing novel that is written more like a complex poem, than a traditional story. "Bud Not Buddy" is a warm, funny, sad, and informative book that everyone likes.
To make sure that this Reading and Social Studies unit is accessible for learners at all levels, the PBS documentary about this era provides the visuals and oral narrative that helps students who struggle in reading or with who are learning to speak and read in English.
This is simply one of the best units I've had access to because it is so complete. We could have never gotten access to such quality materials without your support. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
Learning about Labor and Love
Funded Jul 19, 2016The sixth graders were able to learn quite a bit with the variety of meaningful stories related to child labor. We read one of the books as a whole class and talked about how we felt about the fact that even today- students are forced into slave labor. We felt angry; we cried a bit; we became educated. With this education, we are empowered to share what we've learned with others and to speak out in the fight for justice. This month, in time for Valentine's Day, students will conduct a letter writing campaign to speak out against the companies who still use child labor for chocolate production, as a way to connect our book learning with real life events.
Students also enjoyed the opportunity to choose a book to read during literature circles. These books taught us about the history of child labor in the United States. Therefore, they learned about the economics, the social issues, and the historical details of the past. Students culminated their learning with informative posters and a presentation for the class so we could all learn a little about each of the books in the book set.
Because this project was interesting and a success, the students are looking forward to their next literature circle. For that, I thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
Two Languages: Twice as Rich
Funded Dec 23, 2016I am very fortunate to have students who are excited about books. We make time to read daily in the classroom, so it is important to have a variety of quality literature that speaks to different tastes and reading abilities- especially in a middle school classroom.
Our classroom is a monolingual classroom in a bilingual school- in a bilingual community. Having Spanish stories and books shows respect and honor for the families from which my students come. That is step one to building a learning community. Books written in Spanish are a great way to challenge both my advanced (bilingual) student who reads voraciously in English, as well as a good challenge for my student who does not speak fluent Spanish, but wants to push herself to learn more.
One of my greatest joys is to see a student feel like she can better fit in and act like her peers and know the stories that they do because she can read novels in Spanish that would be too challenging in English, due to a learning disability that makes it difficult to remember all vocabulary in English. She beams with pride and enjoyment as she willingly reads her novels in Spanish.
We feel that literacy is a gift that should be possessed by all and that bilingualism is a talent that will help our students appreciate diversity and be able to compete in a global economy. Thank you for giving us the tools to make these beliefs a reality.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
Focus: The Core of Learning #2
Funded Aug 13, 2016Our students really like using the wiggly stabilizing cushions and the yoga ball chair. We need to take turns because they are popular. Students are good at sharing and taking turns. Luckily, it works out that the students who need to wiggle and move the most get to use the cushions and the yoga ball most often.
I have to admit that sometimes I wonder how they can need to move around so much! But, when I take a turn to sit on the yoga ball chair, I realize that it really is comfortable.
I thank you for making it easier for students to more easily sit through instruction and concentrate when they do their work. Students seem happier and I can see the difference it makes in increasing on task behavior. This can be difficult to achieve with middle-schoolers, so your help and support is important.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and 5 other donors.Focus is the Core of Learning
Funded Aug 2, 2016My students are fortunate to each have received a water bottle to keep at her or his desk. Now, each child can stay hydrated, which enhances learning. Everyone is responsible for keeping their bottles filled, which cuts down on trips down the hall to get water. So, we spend more time in the classroom, learning and working.
Along with the water bottles, we received a yoga ball for flexible seating. While many children ask to use it, most often it is used by those students who really struggle to sit still. The students view the opportunity to use the chair as a treat and all are very good about taking turns and being fair about sharing the yoga ball.
Our class realizes that these items were gifts, provided by people in the community who care about us and what we do in our classroom. They say they are thankful and I can see they feel special to have received something so nice from someone who believes in them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
This classroom project was brought to life by The Clorox Company and one other donor.Let's Get Physical With Technology!
Funded Aug 10, 2016I was so excited to unveil the Wii station for my class, but not as excited as they have been to use the games. It is great that the middle schoolers are not denied the opportunity to have physical activity just because they are "too old for recess". This week, in fact, they have more physical activity than the younger students when it was too rainy for outdoor recess.
The games serve as an effective motivator for finishing our lessons on time and for turning in ho
work because we must "work before play". I enjoy seeing the students cooperate as they take turns, partner up, and choose games.
Thank you to all who helped make our classroom child-centered and healthy.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
This classroom project was brought to life by Target and 5 other donors.Activating Learning with Interactive Notebooks
Funded Aug 19, 2016Dear Friends,
We are hard at work putting the new supplies you have provided to good use. The students have been able to shown great care and respect for their supply bins which are now filled with glue, scissors, colored pencils, and Flair markers.
The colored paper you've provided allows us to create engaging interactive notebooks for Reading and English Language Arts. The notebooks need to be colorful for two reasons: to increase attention and desire to use them, as well as to serve as a lesson in neatness and creative design.
Our school uses its funds to provide as much staff as possible to meet our children's many needs, leaving less money for supplies- so your gift of paper helps a great deal. Without your assistance, we'd have to rely even more on the parents who, although they struggle to make ends meet, already donate paper and supplies at the beginning of each year. The supply of colored paper enables us to create work that would otherwise just be a wish or unmet need.
Next time you pick up a colored ink pen or marker, please remember that our children really do take note and are thankful for what you've given them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Frankowiak
This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and 6 other donors.