Past projects 8
Calming Corner for All!
Funded Nov 29, 2023Without you this project could not have been funded! This project will transform my classroom into a space where my students can feel more at home while learning. I can't wait to show you! I know my students will make great use of the space and that together we will fill the space with warmth and care for one another.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by Olga Graham Inspiring Teachers Fund and 12 other donors.Let’s Make It Accessible!
Funded Nov 10, 2021Unfortunately, the items we received are not the items we requested because there seem to be some issues with the supply chain with each of the items. That said, we were able to receive a mobile mic and a cricut printer after trying many alternate items and having them out of stock. We however, made it work and found items that worked.
It took a while to get some of the items on this list but I can definitely say that they have been impactful to my class. I have been able to create a more welcoming environment that centers students and for that I am incredibly grateful. When students feel supported they thrive.
My students have been very excited to use cricut that we were able to purchase for our classroom. With it they are able to print designs and lettering for their group projects. We truly appreciate being able to add a more creative element to our projects.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.Indigenous History is American History
Funded Dec 10, 2019Getting access to these books was instrumental in bringing Indigenous stories to my students. I was able to use these books as part of a Social Justice Book Report with my high school students. My students were given a choice of 8 social justice young adult books. Quite a few students chose to read the book purchased with your donation. I was very happy to see them not just choose it but thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Many commented on how rare it was to read a book that touched on the lives of indigenous people in reservations.
I began writing this as covid hit, so update: we went home in a rather quick fashion with about 3 months left of school. Students took the books and usually, maybe that would've made me a little sad because it's sad to lose part of your library. But, this year, it made me smile that about 250 students went home with books worthy of reading and rereading. I'm sure these books gave them much to ponder. Thank you for helping me provide that to my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 4 other donors.A Bigger and Better Dia de Muertos Celebration
Funded Dec 4, 2019So Covid happened and boy did it change life. All of our in school events were cancelled, including Día de Muertos. All of the supplies you helped us get are safely stashed in our classrooms awaiting our returns and a return to communal celebrations. We are excited in thinking that perhaps this is the year, we celebrate Día de Muertos in person. Our students, like us, are excited to be able to put together a celebration of community and ancestors. We look forward to using the supplies to build altares, decorate our performance space, and to create our Tianguis of Día de Muertos activities and goods. We are eternally grateful for your donations even if we couldn't make it happen this past year. Know that we are anxiously awaiting the moment we can begin to prepare for our next Día de Muertos celebration.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and one other donor.A little Maus to shed light on the Holocaust
Funded Dec 3, 2019With Covid many plans changed and shifted. I wasn't able to use these books in the way intended as they were locked up in my classroom for the last year and a half. That said, know that these are still in my plans for when things go back to normal. There's nothing more transformational than getting a book into the hands of students. I've taken a few PDs on Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust as unfortunately it seems like our world is becoming less tolerant as opposed to more accepting. Books like this are instrumental in getting our students to understand historical context while growing their empathy—something we could all stand to have more of. All this to say, despite changing conditions and unforeseen obstacles, your gift was greatly appreciated! I can't wait to be able to use these with my students! Thank you for your endless support of my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 7 other donors.Social Justice Mondays: Increasing Empathy Through Learning Different Perspectives.
Funded Nov 22, 2018It's been an adventure in stories. Having these books allowed me to begin a program in which I incorporated novels into my teaching of history. With this focus on story telling, my students were able to create an art exhibit entitled "Our Stories: Stories of Displacement". This exhibit focused on one very common theme in the books we looked at: having to leave home for unforeseen reasons and dealing with the repercussions of that movement. My students created interview questions around the theme and interviewed people they knew who were affected by displacement, whether through immigration, gentrification, or forced migration. Inspired by their interviews, they then created an art exhibit that was not just open to our school community but also to the community at large. At this exhibit we had mixed media works, digital works that incorporated the different visual and performing arts, and two speakers who spoke about immigration and the emotional displacement of people who are straddling different ethnic and racial identities.
In the photos I decided to show case the work of my students as opposed to my students because truth be told, this was an emotionally difficult assignment for many of them. Both for them and their parents, tears were shed. For many, this was the first time they hold the stories from their families of their own families' displacement. I'm incredibly honored and grateful to have been given the opportunity to see and share these stories with my students and our community. This couldn't have been possible without your wonderful donation of books.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous donor and 5 other donors.He Named Me Malala
Funded Sep 8, 2015This trip was very insightful for my students. Our school is composed of primarily female students. For many of them, the idea that females would be denied education is unbelievable and unfathomable. Being able to take them to a documentary that depicts a first hand account of this is priceless. Despite some mishaps on the way to the theater, on our way back home, I was able to witness marvelous conversation among my students as they discussed Malala and the education of girls.
While we were not able to take all of our students with us to the field trip, we saw the huge impact this movie had almost immediately. Weeks later, students were still talking about the movie and even students who were not able to go were discussing it and asking when they would have the opportunity to see it. We have indeed been blessed because you folks have offered to do a screening at our school. I'm sure it will be a great opportunity for the kids. Many of our kids have now taken the initiative to discover who Malala is and are inspired by the strong voice of such an marvelous teen. Anytime a field trip can inspire students to discover and use their voice, "mission accomplished". Thank you for helping me fulfill one of the most important goals I set for my students--that they discover their voice and use it to be agents of change. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
Let's Fundraise! These Murals Must Be Made!!!
Funded Nov 23, 2011I wanted to say Thank-You!
The money that you donated made it possible for us to obtain 3 IPOD shuffles and 1 IPOD nano. These in turn gave us the possibility to have a series of raffles that helped us fundraise to begin creating 6 murals on the handball courts of our school and 2 small community garden.
We have wanted to create these for two years and getting the funds to do this has been very difficult. However the ability to have good prizes for the raffles was instrumental in making them successful. With the money that was made from the raffles, the in kind donations we received from businesses and parents we have started working on the murals. Our walls are primed and drawings are going up today. Painting should commence by the end of the week. It has been a long and arduous process but we are now reaping the rewards.
Our students and community are getting the opportunity to paint together and beautify the school. The pride on our students' faces is really what it's all about. We have been able to give our students the experience of a life time and to think, it all became possible with your donations. Thank you immensely for helping to make a dream a reality.”
With gratitude,
Ms. RODARTE
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 6 other donors.