Past projects 14
The Power of Play Time in Kindergarten!
Funded Sep 1, 2019Wow! I wish you could have seen the excitement on my students' faces each time we took out a new playtime item! They love each and every one. This is all possible because of you and your generosity.
We have learned a lot about building, using our imagination and playing with others. We have been using the tent as a reading tent during quiet reading and during imagination play centers. Our new big building blocks have been used to build rocket ships and chairs to hold our toys (as seen in the pictures).
All of the items are being used during our Purposeful Play Time. I recently read a book called "Purposeful Play" by Kristine Mraz, Cheryl Tyler, and Alison Porcelli. The book discusses the importance of play and how to develop time in the day for play, but in a meaningful way. We have been completing various "missions" in our class. The mission is specific, such as: build something that moves or build a chair for a toy. However, the students are able to choose the object they would like to use in order to build. It was been so much fun! These missions would not have been possible without your generous donation.
I look forward to all of the new creations my little ones will make with the items you helped to donate. Thank you for your help and for this opportunity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Patten
iPads, Osmos, Coding, Oh My!
Funded Dec 3, 2018I can't thank you enough for your generosity in providing the Osmos program to my students! From the moment I brought out the iPad and games my students were hooked. The way Osmos works is it uses a mirror to reflect what the child is doing on a desk in front of the iPad to the camera. The iPad can then detect specific numbers, letters or shapes. My students filled with excitement when the iPad notices that they put the next piece in the correct place.
My students have enjoyed all of the games and of course the novelty of the iPad, however the Tangrams game in particular has been the most rewarding. At first it was quite difficult for my students to see how the shapes came together to make a picture. It took a lot of teamwork and growth mindset to get them to arrive at the correct solution. It has been truly wonderful to see their learning, growth and excitement as they overcome challenges.
A couple of students grew very fond of the tangram game and requested a different version. I thought they were ready for the Cooing game. I introduced the Coding version last week and they are already in their way to understanding the hows and whys of coding.
Thank you so much for helping to make this happen. My students are being provided rich, quality activities because of your donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Patten
This classroom project was brought to life by Staples and 3 other donors.First Grade Sensory Needs!
Funded Aug 29, 2018Thank you so much for your generous donation of fidget and sensory tools for our classroom. My students have been using the weighted vest, headphones and lap weights so much throughout the beginning of the year.
The beginning of the year can be the toughest time for students with sensory needs. There are a lot of changes in their routines and the transition from summer to school can be daunting for kids that need extra sensory input. The tools that you helped to provide for our class made that transition much smoother and more enjoyable. Thank you!
A couple students in particular were very pleased with the feeling that the noise canceling headphones and weighted materials gave them. I could personally see the relief on their face and in their bodies when they applied the headphones or put the weighted vest on. After putting the headphones on, one of my students said, "Wow, I think I can work now!"
I can't tell you how much it means to me and my students that you were willing to donate to our class. It has been such a wonderful start to year because I was able to provide tools for my students that their bodies truly need.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Patten
iPads for Second Grade Mathematicians
Funded Oct 2, 2015Dear Donors,
Thank you so much for generously donating to this project. Having iPads in the classroom has benefited my students even more than I could have imagined. It has truly opened my eyes to how technology can greatly affect young minds.
Throughout the day, students are given an opportunity to use the iPad to supplement their learning. My students have grown to be more fluent and more motivated mathematicians. The apps from IXL and Sushi Monster have transformed the mundane into a thrilling part of the day. IXL measures the students' progress on skills, such as place value, addition, subtraction and multiplication (for our more advanced 2nd graders!). As a teacher, I can see if they have mastered a level and if they are ready to move on to more complicated topics.
One other way we have used the iPads is listening and reading about famous people during our biography unit. Students researched people, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Benjamin Franklin, using a website called PebbleGo. This website shows them videos and reads aloud information. This was a big help for our struggling readers.
In addition, struggling readers frequently use an app called Lexia, which is a personalized learning program created by Rosetta Stone. This app teaches students fundamental literacy skills such as phonemic awareness, decoding strategies, and comprehension techniques. Students have their own login information so they are able to work at their own pace. It's amazing to witness students' progress throughout this program!
Another app, called Epic, is enjoyed by students on all academic levels. Epic is a virtual library that allows students to access a variety of library books based on their reading level and specified interests. Students create their own profile when they first sign up so that Epic will recommend books just for them! Epic also has the feature of reading stories out loud to students. This enables struggling readers to follow along with a story, and ultimately recognize more sight words and word patterns. Epic has helped to increase student engagement during independent reading time. Instead of moans and groans when it's time to take out a book, students are actually counting down the minutes to some quiet reading time!
Overall, the implementation of new technology has helped to make learning even more exciting and engaging for all students! We look forward to using the iPads for projects, such as our Popup Shop in December! Thank you again for your kindness and support in reaching this goal!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Patten