Mrs. Laake's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 7

• A Welcoming Place for All

  Funded Sep 6, 2023

  Our students have already noticed the dramatic change to our counseling center. It is full of color, positivity and beauty. The space has been transformed from a sterile office, to a place of warmth and welcoming. It is amazing how much a little color can add to the mood of a room.

  The posters give guidance to our students for managing their feelings, thinking positive, and ideas for self care. These are wonderful additions for students as they take a break in the counseling center.

  Our new chairs have also been very well received! They are soft, comfortable, and spin! The book case has also been utilized as a center for student wellness supplies; coloring, lego, books, and hygiene. It is wonderful to have those readily available for our students.

  Thank you so much for your donations!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 9 other donors.

• Tools for Talking

  Funded Jan 26, 2017

  My students love my new fidgets, and books! When my students now come to my office, there is such an array of things for them to fiddle with, touch, read, and try out. I am personally loving the activities I have done with students that come out of the CBT art therapy book, the lessons in there along with the art, really help to draw students out while fueling their creativity.

  My students usually go for either the pin art box or the zen garden when they are feeling most stressed. For some reason raking sand around rocks has a very calming effect and allows them to the opportunity to gather their thoughts and talk out what is bothering them. The pin art box has an added sensory affect that seems to spark their minds.

  With all of these new tools, I feel as though my office is more inviting to students as they can see that there is something for everyone to explore and discuss when they walk through my door.

  Thank you so much donors!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

• Batman Needs Robin

  Funded May 12, 2016

  It is a bright new school year and the 6th graders are so excited about school! Even better is having a few more chromebooks at their fingertips! The students have already embraced the technology in the classroom and are researching, writing, creating, and communicating.

  I know that the students will appreciate these new superheroes as they continue to use them throughout the year. There are so many things that they will use them for this year! Having this many superheroes means that the students do not have to share as often, and can work for longer periods getting deeper into their research.

  Thank you so much for your generous donations.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

• We Heart Books!

  Funded Mar 12, 2016

  "I can reach the books on the top shelf!!!"

  It is amazing how something as simple as a library stool can make such a difference! This project not only allows my students to physically reach all of the amazing books in our classroom library, it also gives them a place to sit and read if they like. (Truly, I had a few students who were beyond excited that they didn't have to ask someone to get a book off the top shelf anymore!).

  The books that we received with this package were also a delight to myself and my students. Most of them were parts of series that students had started and were anticipating the next selection. It is so great when a student is hooked on a book series, but a disappointment when we don't have the sequel. This books allow my students to finish up the stories of some favorite characters.

  Thank you so much for your donation to this project,

  We truly "heart" books!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

  This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 5 other donors.

• Computer Cabinet Needed!

  Funded Feb 24, 2016

  We love our superhero sleep shack!!! This cart, designed for storing and charging our classroom chromebooks (affectionately named after different superheroes) is perfect for our class! Not only is it a great way to secure them in our new portable, it is nice and compact and doesn't take up too much space!

  My students are excited that it is so much easier to access our classroom computers because of such a simple thing as a cart. It helps to keep all of our superheroes charged and ready to use.

  Thank you so much for your donations and continued support of our classroom.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

• A One to One Dream

  Funded Oct 13, 2015

  Thank you all so much for contributing towards this project. Having more "superheroes" in my classroom makes such an impact on my students. They love being able to log in and discover new things.

  This project has helped me to get closer to my ultimate "one-to-one" dream of having enough chromebooks for each of my students. As it is now though, I am able to have more than half of my classes working at a time, which allows me to work individually with students more often. So, not only do the chromebooks help them, they help me as a teacher too.

  I am looking forward to continuing to use these chromebooks as we head into the spring. New technology is always being developed, and schools need to be able to keep up with this wave if we are to prepare our students for their futures. Having technology in the classroom shouldn't be a luxury for some schools, it should be a requirement for all.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake

• Tech Deprived Classroom Needs to Join the 21st Century

  Funded Oct 7, 2014

  Thank you so much for helping to fund this project. Now that my chrome books are in the classroom, I can't imagine not having them! My students are regularly using them, signing up for who gets to use one next, and working together to research on them. They are loving having access to computers each day!

  In the future, I have some new, fun projects planned that incorporates the fact that we now have these chrome books at our disposal, every single day. (This is what I can't get over, before I would have limited access to student computers, now they are there, in my classroom, all the time!!! So awesome!) Don't be surprised when your kids start making commercials using video programs ; )

  I can't wait to see what they will come up with next as they find new ways of technology to support their learning. These chrome books have already changed my classroom in ways that I didn't expect, and I am sure there will be new things to see the more that students interact with them!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Laake