Past projects 10
Bring Books to Brilliant Minds
Funded Aug 29, 2024It is hard to put into words the impact your generosity has brought to our classroom. My class was so excited when I showed them the brand new stack of books you brought to our classroom. Their eyes lit up and they started calling out what books they wanted to read first!
These books highlighted my students interests and they were anxious to get their hands on them, We talk a lot about character traits and themes we see in texts. Students loved sharing the character traits from the characters in the texts and how they could relate to them. We discussed the lessons that the characters learned in these amazing stories and how they could apply that to their own lives.
We were able to use the science texts to compare different animal adaptations and synthesize information from multiple texts. This inspired the students research projects on how animals adapt to their environments. These books sparked my students curiosities about the natural world and led to a desire for more discovery.
The difference you have made in our classroom by giving students access to books is so incredible. I am so thankful to you and your support of our classroom and helping show these students that people value them and their education. You have truly made an impact.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Building Confidence Through Reading
Funded Dec 2, 2023Our class was so excited to learn that they would be getting brand new books to support their learning. My students love reading and your donation allowed them to have books that were interesting and engaging, and at a level they could access. The class cheered when the books and the leaf seats arrived and could not wait for their turn to use them.
When students are reading they are practicing many important skills they will use for the rest of their lives. They are using these books to help them identify important narrative elements and learn the progression of plot. They are also using them to analyze characters and to explain how they change throughout the story and identify themes.
As a teacher it is always so amazing to receive materials that I know will have such a huge impact on my students. My goal is to help my students build confidence and enjoy coming to school. The excitement that these materials brought to my students, showed me how much these students have a love of learning that will carry them into their futures.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 7 other donors.Flexible Seats for Busy Bodies
Funded Nov 17, 2022I want to thank you so much for contributing these resources to our classroom. My students and I really appreciate donors like you, who show that education is valued in our community.
My class was thrilled when they saw the new flexible seating options. They were so excited to get to use them. The "leaf" seats have made working on the floor so comfortable for them. They take every opportunity they can to use them. It makes working in small groups more motivating and has increased our collaboration in the classroom. They love rocking in them and it really helps them to safely move while they are learning. The carpet spots have helped students to have their own space while they are on the floor.
The standing desk has been a great way for students to stretch their legs and work in a position that fits their needs. They use it with our classroom Viewboard to solve math equations and share their learning with one another.
These resources have truly made a difference in our classroom. We use them every single day. These materials make the learning experience more comfortable and make it easier for them to work together. I am so grateful to donors like you for making such a difference in our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
Graphic Novels Bring Stories to Life
Funded Sep 20, 2022You have made such an amazing impact in our classroom. As soon as these books arrived, my class lit up with excitement. They have been begging to have access to these book titles and you brought them directly to their finger tips. The moment students each picked out a book they could not wait to start reading them. Some of the students were asking to take the books to read during recess, they were so eager. A few of the students said this was the first brand new book they had ever read. You have brought so much joy to these students.
By having these new book series, it allowed students to have access to more diverse characters and perspectives. When we are reading narratives, we focus on character traits and the development of characters throughout the story. This allows students to learn from the characters and reflect on how to be a good person in real life. These books not only help students improve their reading abilities, but they are learning social emotional lessons from these stories as well.
These students have experienced so much adversity in the last few school years and they are in need of resources to motivate and inspire their learning. These books have been like a lightning bolt, that has electrified our classroom. I am so grateful for what you have added to our classroom and appreciate your support of these students. You have truly made a difference.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 9 other donors.3D Printing Our Way to the Future
Funded Oct 28, 2021It is difficult to express how incredibly grateful I am for your generous contribution to our classroom. The moment I told the class they would get to use this awesome piece of technology, they were overjoyed. 3D pens are still a very new and unique tool and they were so excited to have the opportunity to create with them.
My class loves art and they were blown away with how they could combine their love of art with technology. Students were able to design and create their own animal models using these 3D pens. They were so excited to share their experience with their families and show off their creations.
The opportunity you created for these students with your donation is something they will never forget. My hope is that through this experience, students will be inspired to pursue careers in STEM. This was an experience these students may never have had and it helped them see the possibilities of a future in STEM.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by Windows of Hope Foundation and one other donor.Affirming Identities Through Literacy
Funded Sep 16, 2020Teaching during these unique times has really put things into perspective. In the classroom there is nothing more exciting to students than a read aloud book. The pure joy students have when it comes time for the teacher read aloud is something very special. The escape from reality that comes from a great book is something that we all crave, now more than ever.
Our class was so excited that they would be the first to read these books and learn from their stories. One thing I teach students is when reading narratives we can learn so much about life from the characters. These students are developing into citizens of the world and are learning how to show empathy and respect. These stories emphasize those character traits and how to deal with life's challenges.
During distance learning we are able to read these books together and share our thoughts and ideas about the plot and how the characters develop throughout the story. The books in this project were chosen specifically to help students to learn to embrace diversity, as well as affirm their own identities. These stories help students understand the complexities of life and how we can learn from one another and appreciate our differences.
We cannot thank you enough for supporting this project and these amazing students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 4 other donors.Help Students Become Published Authors
Funded Sep 14, 2016Dear Donors,
There are so many ways in which this project has changed my students lives. Because of your donations my students were able to use these resource right away and it has helped to encourage them to work hard in classroom from the very start of the school year.
The printer you helped to purchase was used for my students first major writing assignment of the year. Students wrote a narrative about an event in their life. Students were able to type up their edited drafts on the computer program Google Docs and then add an image from Google images. Then they used the printer to publish their final drafts.
These students were elated to be able to print out their work of writing and they all said how they felt like real authors because it was printed like a book. This opportunity gave these students an extra motivation to work on their writing and make it the best it could be. These students were able to practice the 21st century skills they need to succeed in the world. Because of your generosity you have allowed these students to work towards bettering their futures and that is an amazing gift.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
Not Just Scratching the Surface
Funded Nov 20, 2015Technology is such an essential aspect of our world and in order to prepare of students to be citizens of the 21st century we must teach them how to use computers in order for them to be successful. Students need exposure to all types of technology and because of this project my students now have access to a really cool piece of modern technology.
What has been really cool for students is this Surface has given them the opportunity to learn how to computer code. Coding is quickly becoming an important skill for students to have. By being able to Code students can learn how to speak the language of computers and understand how to create things using computers.
There are students who have really enjoyed learning how to use this Surface and how it can help them reach their goals. Some students have even asked how they can turn Coding this into a job in the future. By giving these students access to this technology you have opened their eyes to new opportunities that they never would have had before. You have truly made a difference in the lives of students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
Passionate Readers Seek Variety for their Library
Funded Dec 16, 2014I want to thank all of the donors for their support and generosity in giving to this project. It is so important for teachers and students to feel support from others. These students really appreciate books and have a true passion for reading. It is a very special thing to see students become lovers of reading. The saying we have in our class is "Readers today become leaders tomorrow" and with these books you are setting these students up to be successful for the rest of their lives. It is such an amazing thing to have supporters from all over the country donate to our classroom. It was very exciting to show the student the states where all our donors came from and that many people who have never even met them care enough to support them and their educations.
These resources came at a very important point in the school year. Many students need something to keep them motivated throughout the school year and these books were the exact thing the class needed to rejuvenate their love of reading and learning. Many of these students have never held a brand new book before, let alone have 48 new books at their fingertips. I made sure to get a wide range of reading leveled books so that all of my students would have new books that they could read independently. My students were so excited the day these books arrived. I made sure to level the books right away so they students could begin reading them. I laid out all the books prominently in the classroom so that students could read them whenever they wanted.
These students are using these resources daily basis. They read them during our Read to Self time as part of or reading curriculum. We practice retelling what we have read to practice reading comprehension. The students also use these books during our Work on Writing time, where they write reading responses to help them with their writing skills and comprehension. It is so essential that students learn to read in the lower elementary grades and these books are helping these students make they gains they need to achieve in later grades. It is important student cultivate an excitement of reading and having such high quality books, like the ones you donated to them, has allowed this to happen.
Without sufficient supplies it is very difficult to teach concepts to students in fun and engaging ways. Students are drawn to the read aloud format of learning and thrive when having group discussions about a text. The books that you helped to purchase are new and vibrant and are aligned with the required standards that are covered in third grade. Standards such as character traits, authors purpose and figurative language come alive through these books and help students to better understand essential literary concepts that they will need to be successful. Every child remembers the books that changed their lives and my goal this year for my students is to inspire them to become lifelong learners and readers. I want to let you how much I personally appreciate your generosity. The impact you have made on my students is everlasting and is something our class with never forget.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 21 other donors.Wolves Hungry for Books
Funded Jan 30, 2014Again, I want to thank you so much for your generosity donating to this project. The excitement you have brought to my students with these books is incredible. The day the books arrived my students could not control their excitement and they could not wait to get their hands on brand new books. Many of my students have never seen brand new books before, so it was a very special moment for them to be the first one to get to hold and read these books.
My students cannot believe that perfect strangers would donate money to them in order to benefit their education. An exceptional moment was when I pulled down my United States map and pointed out the locations of the people that donated to them. People form every corner of the United States gave them money to have new books. Many of my students wanted to meet you all and thank you in person for what you had done for them. I have used your generosity to inspire them to work hard and put your encouragement into action. My students have a rejuvenated spirit of learning that will carry them through the rest of the school year.
Without sufficient supplies it is very difficult to teach concepts to students in fun and engaging ways. Students are drawn to the read aloud format of learning and thrive when having group discussions about a text. The books that you helped to purchase are new and vibrant and are aligned with the required standards that are covered in third grade. Standards such as character traits, authors purpose and figurative language come alive through these books and help students to better understand essential literary concepts that they will need to be successful. Every child remembers the books that changed their lives and my goal this year for my students is to inspire them to become life long learners and readers. We have a saying in our class that readers of today become leaders of tomorrow and you have given them the tools they need to become leaders in our world. I want to let you how much I personally appreciate your generosity. The impact you have made on my students is everlasting and is something our class with never forget.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Lioy