Past projects 39
Making Magic With a Mac!!!
Funded Oct 17, 2019Thank you so much for supporting our project. I was so thrilled to see the new package arrived!
I cannot fully describe how much of an impact this tool will make in my professional development and my development as a classroom teacher. I do know that having this MacBook has made me look at my students learning in a whole new way. I am always, always looking for new exciting ways to implement our curriculum. I now have the magical tool that I can find books, lesson plans, social stories, STEM activities, literature, documentaries downloads and APPS
Being able to download books for free has been wonderful. I know longer have to run to the library and hunt down books from friends to attain new books, songs and stories to enhance my curriculum. There are so many apps that I have been able to redesign my lesson plans and set reminders that help me stay on schedule. I never knew that there was so many educational app designed to help address many specific needs.
The Mac Book has provided me with multiple opportunities to develop and expand my curriculum, support my learning and it has provided me with the opportunities to work collaboratively with my peers to create and share files. Using the Mac Book, I have recently participated in a spirited educational webinars on the topic of Autism. I learned to look at my autistic students learning with a more critical eye. I plan to continue using the MacBook to keep my learning fresh and applying new learning techniques into my lessons and teaching. Thank you again; this MacBook that you donated has helped me and my students every single day. My hat is off to you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by District Partnership Program and 5 other donors.Pint Size Picasso’s Need Art Supplies!
Funded Aug 6, 2019Thank you again so much for funding our project Pint Size Picasso's Need Art Supplies! My Pint Size Picasso's are now able to be more creative in the art center using the wonderful new art supplies. I thought play dough was a favorite sensory activity but not any longer. The Mad Matter Sensory Dough engages my students for hours and they ask for it daily. They love it because it is soft and smooth. They are able to use tools with it and it is also fun to let it slide through their fingers. They love to bright pretty colors. My students had an awesome time creating the Moody Monsters. They were able to choose the mood they wanted and communicate how their monster was feeling. I had many very happy little monsters and a few sad ones.
My Pint Size Picasso's are so excited to be able to use a variety of amazing art material. They have new options when we are practicing their names. The tactile letters are easy to peel and are very colorful. They help reinforce letters, colors and shapes as well as letter with straight line and or curved lines. The additional collage and art material have been highly sought after. The Peel and Stick Jewels are always a classroom favorite.
We now have a new class favorite art material. I never used the peel and stick pom-poms are so great for my little artist. They are able to use them to enhance their art work but we have found that they are wonderful for sorting colors, counting, tracing and a host of other things. I am so happy that my students have all this amazing material that helps them build fine motor skills, develop communication and increase literacy awareness and number sense. My Pint Size Picasso's are in art heaven and we are truly thankful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by Conboy Foundation and 2 other donors.Celebrating Diversity in Preschool
Funded Jul 11, 2019My students were so excited to start our new school year with the new resources from our Donors Choose "Celebrating Diversity in Preschool" project. Our new items were placed throughout the classroom in our class library, our fine motor center, the dramatic play area, as well as the block center. We have been able to utilize our new items in many different ways.
My students loved setting up the doll house with the multicultural families and now the families have extended families from all over the world. It's so heartwarming watching the students play and learn with the figures of children from around the world and the soft toys of children with different abilities. I have heard a lot of language and my students are very curious of the clothing that children around the world wear. I am excited to begin our clothing study so we can take a closer at the clothing from around the world.
In the future it is my plan to expand the lessons in diversity to include homes, buildings, and foods. These new items are great resource for our classroom and we appreciate your support as we celebrate diversity in preschool.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 3 other donors.We Love Bugs in Preschool!
Funded Jul 3, 2019Thank you so much for making learning fun for my students. We have been getting buggy almost every day. My students get so excited when they have choice time. They love using the magnifying glassed to see the bugs up close. They are so cute. I was teasing them and told them the bugs were going to jump out of the plastic. I wish you could have seen them all jump back from touching the bugs and then we all laughed together when I told them I was just joking.
We were learning about the parts of an insect and with the bug kit we received they were able to inspect over 12 bugs and find the three separate body parts. We have used the Bug Vacuum to catch ants and roly poly bugs. The vacuum is the perfect size for small hands so they are able to take turns and use the vacuum independently.
The students love the magnetic size sorting game. They are able to sort bugs from small to large and count them. The Scoop a Bug Sorting Kit is a new classroom favorite. It is so adorable watching my students use trial and error, as they figure out how to use the scoops correctly. My students are naming the colors of the bugs, counting the bugs, sorting bugs and having a field day playing with the bugs. The bugs are super soft but life like and the students are totally engaged. We have been able to explore the bugs with antennae's, which ones that did or didn't have any wings. You have made my students so happy and we appreciate your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 2 other donors.We Stand and Build Together!!!
Funded Aug 3, 2019I want to thank you again so much for your support and donations. My students have had the Stand-Up Brick Building Center for a little over a month and it has been a big hit. When my students first discovered the center and discovered that the bricks stick to the board they were so excited. One of my students said, "I did it" and clapped his hands then pumped his little arm in the air. The unit is sturdy yet light enough that it can be easily moved so this has become an outdoor center as well. Happily I am able to report that they are returning the building blocks to the stand because my students know that building blocks get lonely and they like to stay together with their friends.
I have been able to enjoy and listen to their stories as they tell me what they are building. They are working together and getting creative. I have observed my students sorting by colors and counting. My student with mobility concerns loves... loves this wonderful addition to our classroom. He is able to stand and work alongside his peers and at other times he sits on the floor with his peers and the work together. It is heartwarming to see him completely included in this fun activity.
I am so happy to have this tool in our class and I can't wait to see all the amazing things they will build and the conversations they will have. Thank you again for helping my students Stand and Build Together.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by Conboy Foundation and one other donor.Look Up! Listen Up! Learn!
Funded Aug 28, 2018Thank you for helping my students Look up, Listen Up and Learn. We received the new radio, Bluetooth speaker and camera and we began using them right away. It is so nice to listen to our cd collection with out the songs constantly skipping or not playing at all. We have been bouncing, jumping, dancing, twirling and so much more to music. The radio works great and it has many more functions than our last radio including Bluetooth capability. This is a real plus. This feature allows me to play all of our favorites songs with out me having to stop and search for a new cd. Our class favorite at this time is Boogie Shoes.
The Bluetooth speaker is so small and so easy to transport. We easily carry it outdoors and our play area comes alive with fun songs. We bounce balls to the beat. We jump to the beat. We even run to music. This Bluetooth speaker has made more than one of my students stop sliding and begin dancing around. I have one student who rarely interact with his peers. We played a class favorite and he walked over to the small dancing group and began dancing away. OMG I was so happy because this was the first time he has initiated peer play. I mean I am still a little in awe that having the Bluetooth speaker would make such an impact. It makes me smile just picturing his small bright happy face.
The camera has helped my students learn and practice pre-academic skills such as listening and following directions, letter recognition and counting. It has enhanced our classroom by making learning interactive and upfront. When I read stories, every one can see clearly. The best part is that even my non ambulatory students do not have to be constantly moved for a clear view. Every one has a clear view. These tools have proven priceless. Thank you again so much for helping us Look Up, Listen Up and Learn.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
This classroom project was brought to life by The Home Shows Coalition and 10 other donors.Starting Artsy: Help Preschoolers with Autism Learn Creatively
Funded Jul 31, 2018Thank you again for funding our project Starting Artsy! Our classroom has come alive with visual art and we sincerely appreciate your support! Given our limited resources, my classroom relies on the generosity of our community and friends. Your contribution has helped me supply our classroom with much needed materials to make creative art successful. We wasted no time diving into our wonderful new art supplies. They have been used to extended curriculum lessons and to encourage language. We recently read a story about a piñata and the students had a ball making their own piñata using our new colorful paper and labeling them with their names using the self-adhesive alphabet stickers.
My class loves the bright shimmering shapes. They are naming the shapes and they are putting multiple shapes together to create flowers, robots, and colorful lines. Having these shapes is helping them develop mathematic skills and I see that when they identify shapes and colors, make patterns, and count. We use the art trays daily and they love being able to use their own tray to select collage materials. They don't know it but they are learning decision making skills, (shh!!!).
My students are creating and communicating which helps them develop receptive and expressive language. The times that I love most is when they are quite because they are concentrating on their work (focusing). It is a joy to watch. We are most grateful and we love, love, love our new vibrant super bright construction paper. We use it for art, crafts, writing and drawing. We love having colors that pop and I am very happy to be able to give my students these new colorful options. My students are fascinated with art and I am ecstatic that they have these awesome new tools to create memorable crafts. We have a clothes study coming up close to winter and my students will use the fabric mosaics and fabric squares then. It is truly wonderful to have these items on hand.
Thank you again so much for supporting early education and giving my students options in colored paper, collage and art material and a variety of other things. These options have been and will continue to be instrumental in helping them develop their fine motor skills, mathematics, build language and communication skills. Thank you so much for helping me gives my students these amazing opportunities and memories.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
Wee Listen and Wee Learn
Funded Mar 4, 2018I apologize for the delay in writing this very important "Thank you" letter. My classroom is more thank grateful for your generosity. Thank you again for funding Wee Listen and Wee Learn. The books have been amazing. My students absolutely love each and every book and now we have a new class favorite, The Pout Pout Fish. They love when the Pout Pout Fish learns that he is a Kissing Fish. When a peer is sad they remind each other " Don't be a Pout Pout". Seeing them helping each other keep a positive attitude is heartwarming. I can't say enough about the character building books. They are worth their weight in gold. They teach how to share, how to be a good friend, how to show compassion and many other needed character building skills. The students are now singing along to a few because many of them repeat and have repetitive phrases. They are learning to be good listeners and their expressive and receptive language has increased. Theses books are truly amazing.
Our Music Story Library has been a hot center for the last 2 months. The students really enjoy being read to. Another new favorite is Giraffes Can't Dance. The music and action is so calming. My students love when Gerald finds his own music that makes him unique. Life lessons are being taught about now teasing and acceptance and skills they are learning at a young age will carry them through life. I am so happy that my students have these amazing books to read and listen to. Yes I did say read. I have one little one who has learned to read from tracking words with me during story time. I'm am so proud of him. Thank you again for your support, generosity and for being a part of this project.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
Making It Stick In Preschool With Magnetics
Funded Jan 10, 2018With your generous help of donations, my students have new, exciting magnetic material to explore. The materials have helped them learn to explore colors and shapes in different ways. They have also begun to learn some shapes and numbers. They have explored them through embedded learning in the curriculum, of which we did not have before. Your generous donation is beyond greatly appreciated by me and my staff. We are using these new resources with our creative curriculum by appropriately by embedding them into as many lessons as possible which are designed to help each child at their level of development. My students are at different stages or the expressive language and we have really noticed an increase communication between our students thanks to these fun and engaging magnetics.
When we began to work with our magnetic number and shape games, some children did not understand how to match the shapes and numbers but as time has passed, I have witness them being able to find and match the shapes and count the need number independently. When the boxes first arrived, they were so excited and curious. We played a guessing game to see what was inside. Well they were all wrong but they were overjoyed to see the new shiny Magna-tiles, cars and learning boxes. With support, they are able to label the shape they saw and then build that shape, using other material such as string and play dough. It's so rewarding to see them make these connections. Thank you again so much for helping me provide the best preschool experiences for my students and I look forward to seeing my students learn, build and grow using these material for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins
Aspiring Artist Need Art Supplies 2
Funded Nov 1, 2017Thank you for your generous donation to our classroom and for funding our project Amazing Preschoolers Need Art Supplies. My students have been using the new materials from the moment they arrived. All I hear is when choice time comes is... Can we play with the play dough Ms. Jenkins? That is the current class favorite. They help lay out the mats, then they choose their favorite play dough color and then the room gets quiet as they create and recreate their favorite superheroes, animals and cartoon characters. They are sharing, trading ideas and they are developing the small muscles in their fingers as they manipulate the dough. The trays help keep the students keep up with their chosen material and they also help minimize mess. We are all in love with the beautiful colorful construction paper. It is so bright and cheerful. It makes their projects pop and we now have colors that our school does not supply like magenta, royal blue and lilac. The peel and stick shimmer shapes are easy to pick up and use and the peel and stick collage boards are easy to manipulate. My students loved placing flowers and leaves on them during our tree study. These craft materials have allowed them to demonstrate their individuality, express their thoughts, and receive positive recognition for their creative efforts. It has also given them the opportunity to show their parents the importance of art which helps preschoolers develop critical thinker skills.
Another class favorite is the shimmer shapes. They are matching the colors, they are counting the shapes, and they are matching the shapes and sorting them in every way possible. The foam sensory paint is another big hit. They love how it foam comes out of the canister. The foam is so light, bright and fluffy. It's not messy and clean up easy using our messy mats and our new painting smocks. Thank you again so much for funding our project Amazing Preschoolers Need Art Supplies. My students have been in heaven painting making collages, using the dough and paper. The other favorite is the shimmer shapes. They are matching colors, are counting them, matching the shapes and sorting them in every way possible. Thank you again so much for helping me give my amazing preschoolers art supplies.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jenkins