Past projects 118
"Swept Away" with Preparing for a Germ- and Mess-Free Year!
Funded Sep 21, 2017Honestly, THANK YOU for donating to this project!
I didn't realize how messy kids could be when their hand-eye coordination is not fully developed...
The most used item of all of the donations are the Lysol wipes; they've cleaned up many spilled chocolate milk accidents *shakes head*.
My kids are really enjoying using the cleaning items, too...
One of my classroom jobs is "Maid/Butler"; every day at 3:00, the maid or butler grabs the broom and dustpan and sweeps the whole room--kids LOVE doing it and I am always amazed at how great of a job they do!
I believe the hypnotic repetition of the back and forth motion calms their minds down and they're able to focus on the task.
I am not mad because that means I don't have to do it, HAHA.
My goal with this project is for my kids to learn how to appreciate their room enough to take care of it without provocation. I believe I have succeeded.
My next goal, which is/will be reflected in my next few project proposals, is to provide a more exciting, interactive, and lively classroom environment involving life-sized or jumbo-sized floor games and materials.
Check me out, lol.
Have an awesome weekend!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
Sticking to the Basics: Glue Sticks and Construction Paper
Funded May 9, 2017How are you?
So I am into my second month as a First Grade teacher and I really like it!
I thought I loved Kindergarten but I may have to rethink that...
Your crowdfunding my proposal has certainly come in handy already this school year; we have been using the glue sticks in our cut and paste learning station rotation. I asked for the purple disappearing glue sticks so my kids who like the color enjoy gluing their numbers and shapes, obviously lol, and watching the color disappear under their pieces..
And, I feel secure in letting my kids use them independently without constant supervision because I have plennnnnty of them in storage when they run or dry out.
I appreciate you for providing me with reams of construction paper and card stock, also.
I am a teacher who gets bored easily and loves color and vividness because they make things pop and stand out to me!
Kids are attracted to color, so I try to use colored paper in my station activities rather than plain old white paper.
I think having the ability to choose a color makes them happier to complete the assignments.
In closing, thank you guys for donating the basics, which makes a significant difference in the quality of work my kids complete.
Have a great weekend!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
Headphones! Headphones! Headphones!
Funded May 11, 2017How are you?
So, I want to thank you sincerely for making this project's funding a success!
I am truly pleased that I have working, stylish, heavy duty headphones to use in my computer lab and listening center.
When something as simple as a pair of headphones breaks or just stops working out of the blue, it throws my whole lesson or plan off because kids become restless and busy when they have nothing to do (because I am trying to fix whatever the problem is!)..
I cannot STAND when it happens and I pray with the sets you bought for me (with a few extra as backups), I will not have to worry for a few years.
Again, thank you very much for your help, and I hope to "see" you next time!
Have a great weekend...”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
This classroom project was brought to life by H&M and one other donor."Laying Down" the Groundwork: A Fresh Literacy Rug
Funded Feb 23, 2017OMG--I am LOVING my new carpet!
It is so colorful and vivid; it is large enough for all of my kids to fit on it plus excess space...
I am so glad I chose THIS particular rug because it looks better in person than it does in the picture.
EVERYBODY comments on how beautiful it is...
---GUSHING OVER, lol---
Thank you SO MUCH for donating to this project; having a fresh new rug has brightened up my classroom.
The kids love lying on it while watching Magic School Bus or Alphablocks; I love reading to them on it during morning circle.
It is soft enough to take my shoes off after school and walk on it while preparing the next day's work--I am happy to have it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
Hola? Is This Thing On...? Sigh...WE NEED SPEAKERS!
Funded Mar 15, 2017GM!! How are you guys?
I am one month into my first year as a first grade teacher and it's been pretty great.
Coming down from teaching Third and Second, I had forgotten how much kids this age pick up on; it makes it "easier" for me to teach.
So--the speakers are working WONDERFULLY!
It is so comforting to play a learning video and the sounds blasts out so I don't have to cringe from the impending complaints: "I can't hear, Ms. Richardson" or, "Can I move so I can hear?" (even though I don't get how moving can improve one's hearing, lol).
They were easy to hook up and definitely easy to use!
Thank you again for making my job a little easier--it is AWESOME.
Have a great day!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
Targeting Active Classroom Practices With Alternative Seating and Recess Equipment!
Funded Oct 6, 2016How are you all?
I just wanted to check in and thank you again for your help in making this project a reality!
My overall goal was to create a colorful, bright, and vivid space that attracts and invites my kids to want to participate in learning activities. I believe I have succeeded.
My kids were so giddy when they first saw the new classroom setup. They love choosing their favorite color seats (apparently blue and orange are the most popular colors) during stations; thankfully, there have been no arguments!
My kids LOVE sitting on the wobble stools as they work in my computer lab; they love sitting on the big, fluffy cushions as they read in my library; and, it makes me chuckle to hear them argue over "who's next" when using the jump ropes and balls, lol.
Overall, we have truly appreciated and utilized this project's materials. Some of you have contributed to projects proceeding this one and I thank you for doing so. You all have made me a happy teacher!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
It is Time to Clear the Air!
Funded Jan 1, 2017How are you all?
I want to truly thank you for donating the monies to purchase an air purifier for my classroom.
You really DO NOT understand the help you have given me, lol!
With all the trees, allergens, and dust around and in this old building, all I hear in my classroom are sneezes, coughs, and sniffles.
When I stated in my grant proposal that I cannot tell you how many boxes of tissues we have gone through this year, I LITERALLY cannot!
So having an air purifier gives me relief and a sense of calm that I am at least TRYING to keep my kids and I from suffering too much from allergies, bronchitis, and asthma.
Again-thank you so much and I hope you guys have an awesome summer!
Hope to work with you in the future...”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
We Are Lost...Without a Current Map!
Funded Oct 15, 2016I want to thank you very much for providing my kids with an updated and vivid US/World map.
You will never understand how truly helpful this tool has been this year; I have used it in stations, during my Egypt and China lessons, and randomly when a student has a spontaneous location question!
I honestly feel very blessed to have such a nice piece of equipment because most of my colleagues have resorted to using maps online, displayed on a projection screen, to teach geography because their maps aren't exactly current.
It can be frustrating...which is why I am so happy to have a new, TANGIBLE one to avoid this feeling.
I am glad you recognized how important maps and globes are to a classroom.
Thank you again--you are SO appreciated!
Have a great weekend.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
"Looney Toons" for Graphic Novels!!
Funded Dec 5, 2016I want to thank you and AKJ Books for providing monies for the set of Toon graphic novels. My kids love them and gravitate towards them on our bookshelf during free time or when they have finished their morning work early.
They like the drawings and stories in the books while I appreciate the hard covers (which makes them durable). I also appreciate the fact that I was able to introduce a 'new genre' of writing to my kids-I even have the idea of having my kids create their own graphic short as a writing assignment!
Thanks again you guys...”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.Around the World in 191 days...a New World Globe!
Funded Nov 1, 2015Hello!
I want to thank all of my donors again for the collection of maps, globes, and other mapping materials.
They truly have been helpful while I'm giving Geography instruction and creating Geography learning stations.
We are actually in the middle of our Maps and Globes unit currently-identifying the cardinal/intermediate directions, continents and oceans, and map features. Using the globes, my students are distinguishing between the continents and oceans and drawing them in their notebooks; with the maps, they are understanding the locations of said continents and oceans in relation to each other; and of course, they are having the MOST fun with the talking globe and world map hunt game!
Thank you for your help in the growth of my kids.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Richardson, Ed.S.
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and one other donor.