Past projects 28
The Challenge of Writing
Funded Sep 9, 2024The students started their first essay this week on EssayPop, with a 700 word minimum. As I go through the essays on the site (due this Friday), what I see are the kids exceeding that minimum - some are already at 900, some even at 1000! What a difference from the beginning of the school year, where their essay diagnostics were merely at 425 words. EssayPop is not only guiding them in the parts of an essay, but it is also pushing them to analyze the text harder, to find the words that explain the evidence they have provided. As a teacher, it truly does not get better than this.
Not all of the students have taken off with EssayPop; some will take time to understand the program better, to understand their writing better. But I do believe deeply that all the students will get there, for they have the tools to do so, because of all of you. Once again, I give my most sincerest thanks for helping my kids succeed.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Unlocking the Secret to Writing a Good Essay
Funded Oct 11, 2023The students started their first essay today on EssayPop, and I wish I could have transported you into the classroom - all you could hear was the clicking of keys. There were no blank stares at the screen, no hesitation in what to write. Yes, there were a few snafus as it was the first time the kids used the program. At the beginning, it just looks like a bunch of boxes on a page, but what the program shows the kids is how an essay flows, how each element connects to the next one. I am confident that as we continue to use the program, the kids will become more confident in their writing.
Even though the licenses were purchased a month ago, there was a problem with accessing the licenses with the new security protocols put into place by Google. That is why this impact letter is late. But now that we can utilize it in class, I just want to let you know that your generosity is very much appreciated by both me and my students. Thank you again for allowing me to give them this valuable resource!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 28 other donors.The Mission: Writing Well
Funded Sep 20, 2022We received the license in October, and we took off with our first essay. Because the program does not present the essay in the traditional form, it took some time for the students to get used to the format. But get used to it, they did. When they were done and had to submit it as a document (this was the first time they were able to see the essay all together instead of in parts), the comment I received the most were, "Ms. Serrano, I can't believe I wrote that much." "Ms. Serrano, I have never written four pages before for an essay." To say that the program has made an impact on their writing is an understatement. In fact, when I give the student a choice now of using EssayPop or Google Docs, the answer is always EssayPop.
You, the donors, were what made this growth possible. My deepest thanks for helping my students, and for helping me.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 19 other donors.Writing 101: The Essay
Funded Sep 24, 2021The first essay has been completed on EssayPop, and the results has been tremendous - good, solid writing is being displayed at the back of my classroom. I am no longer being told, "Ms. Serrano, I don't know how to start" or "How do I structure this, miss?" Instead, all I heard was the clacking of keys as they wrote a literary analysis on our first unit in English.
The gift of writing is an important one. My students are or future reporters, scientists, and maybe even an author. This platform is just one more way you are helping to support their learning. For that, you all have my heartfelt gratitude.
We are continuing our writing, and we will be using EssayPop for each and every one of them. I cannot wait for June when the students can compare their first essay with their last one. I wish you were all here in the classroom with me so you can see their astonishment and their pride for their work.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.A Peek Into the 1920s
Funded Feb 19, 2021The novels arrived in March, and I was able to meet my students at school (with masks of course) so they can pick up their copy of The Great Gatsby. Now that the novels are in their hands, we have begun our journey into the 1920s and the complicated world of Gatsby. Thank you so much for giving my kids this gift - not only of literacy, but of adventure. We have only started, but we are already annotating sections of the plot: a character analysis of the obnoxious Tom Buchanan, the bleak setting of the Valley of the Ashes, and even the emerging of the theme of excess to the point of debauchery. By allowing them the chance to "speak" with the novel through our underlining, circling, and writing notes in the margins, my students are getting a deeper understanding of the novel as a whole. You have made a difference in my teaching. Thank you for supporting education!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
The Power of Words
Funded Jan 15, 2020It has been a month since we received the workbooks, and my ninth graders are currently on lesson five. I can't even begin to describe the impact this workbook has had on my students, and on the climate in my classroom. At first I thought I would receive reactions like, "Another thing we have to learn?" or "We have more work to do?" Instead the kids have embraced the program.
The proof as they say is in the pudding. After lesson one, the vocabulary started to flow out of speech during class discussions. It was heartening to hear them refer to the Greeks beleaguering the Trojans (we are currently studying the Odyssey), or Odysseus purging the suitors from Ithaca. The vocabulary is also showing up in their writings! The learning is definitely happening.
It is my hope that with these new sets of SAT words that when they do take the SAT or ACT, that they can better understand the passages, and therefore, choose the correct answer. Such a simple gift, but the rewards are plenty. Again, thank you for allowing me to give this gift to not only this set of kids, but the future students that I have yet to meet.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
A Growing Class
Funded Aug 19, 2018After I unpacked the novels and handed them out to my students, I noticed one student in particular who raised it up to her nose and took a good whiff. She then uttered, "Smells good." I completely understand her reaction. As an English teacher, I am a lover of books, and new books just have that smell to it - the smell of adventure, the smell of excitement. The kids are excited about reading A Brave New World.
After I told them about being short a class set for this year, and then speaking of your generosity in funding this particular project, they were humbled. It is a great feeling to know that there are persons out there who would help out strangers because they value education in this country. So thank you for not only giving them this gift of dystopia, but really, for teaching them that a generous heart can affect others in society.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
I Need a Guardian for my Galaxy
Funded Dec 2, 2017Thank you so much for providing me with an amazing tool for the classroom. With GoGuardian, I can monitor what the students are doing on their chromebooks during the period, which means seeing when a particular student is off-task, seeing when a group is off-task, and seeing when a student needs more one-on-one help from me. All from one place - my desktop computer! With 35 students in the room, I had been running around from desk to desk - which was clearly not a productive use of my time as a teacher. Thank you for making me a better teacher!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
A Fighting Chance for All
Funded Sep 15, 2017Having received funding for two other classes, this project made me nervous. Would I be able to get funding one more time? Would I be able to find kindhearted donors who would see the value of having another 40 kids acquire this amazing program? Then you all came along, and you made not just my wish come true, but my kids as well.
My students are such hard workers, and giving them another task like Albert didn't make them grumble. In fact, many of their scores have taken off since the initial assignment. It was that initial assignment on Albert (a low scoring assignment across the board), that finally brought it home to them just how difficult the SAT was to conquer. Ten weeks later, they are continuing their climb up that SAT mountain - all with the help of Albert.
Thank you so much for giving them this great gift!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous donor and 11 other donors.A Fighting Chance Too
Funded Sep 14, 2017Once the opportunity to bring the SAT prep program Albert presented itself, I knew that I couldn't offer it to just one class. I wanted to offer it to all my juniors, and so "A Fighting Chance Too" was born. I didn't want to just offer my honors kids the chance to get a good score on the SAT; I wanted my regular kids to have that same chance. I wanted them to be able to aspire, to be able to see college as a real possibility, to be able to want it.
As you can see from the pictures, I have created a leader board for all my classes. I wanted them to see how everyone was doing, and how everyone was progressing nicely using the program. I wanted them to know that progress takes time, and that a little percentage each week will ultimately make the difference in June when they finally take the SAT.
Thank you so much in providing this amazing opportunity for my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Michelle Serrano
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous donor and 9 other donors.