Past projects 12
What We Like About Uke, Music, And Literacy
Funded Dec 18, 2016When my students learned that they were going hold and use a "real" instrument they were overjoyed. They were also somewhat worried that it would be hard for them to play. After all, they're only 5 and 6 years old. I responded with my favorite response, "Oh, I'm so glad we found something you don't know, now I get to teach you. Teachers love teaching."
We started with strumming to a steady beat, strumming with a pattern. And tapping the body of the ukulele. We are beginning to write our own songs! We are practicing to accompany our school song for the spring festival. We may even learn to play a chord or two.
There is a look of pride in my students' eyes when they talk if performing. They have been able to collectively watch each other grow from not even knowing how to hold the instrument to plucking away a simple rhythm and sing along. They eagerly participate in the shared writing of simple songs. So thank you donors. You have gifted us with instruments, inspiration, imagination, confidence and pride.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
Tunes that Teach
Funded Jul 22, 2013Thank you, for your support and generosity. It has been so wonderful to see the impact of your gift in my classroom. My students think its amazing to have been given our MP3 playing boom box and 250 new educational songs. They often ask "Is there a song for that?", whenever we start a new subject or concept and I am able to say, "Yes, there is." I press the remote and we start to sing. I'm also able to attach the boom box to a set of wireless headsets and my students can listen to their favorite stories again and again.
I think that having this technology in our classroom is exactly what is expected of today's kindergartener. They know how to work and select their MP3s and tracks on the CDs. They can manage their independent learning time. We have also recorded students reading favorite text and then they listen and follow the text along with their peers.
As a teacher in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Classroom, I am so happy to be able to provide up to date technology to my students. It is all in thanks to donors like you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and 6 other donors.Listen Up! We Are Reading!
Funded Jul 25, 2013Thank you, for your support and generosity. It has been so wonderful to see the impact of your gift in my classroom. My students think its amazing to have been given wireless headphones to use in our listening center. The great thing is I can play the story by remote while I am working with a small group and another small group can be listening several feet away from the CD player in our "cozy" library and listen to their favorite stories again and again.
I think that having this technology in our classroom is exactly what is expected of today's kindergartener. They know how to work and select their MP3s and tracks on the CDs. They can manage their independent learning time. We have also recorded students reading favorite text and then they listen and follow the text along with their peers, all on wireless headphones, without the worry of tangling or tearing.
As a teacher in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Classroom, I am so happy to be able to provide up to date technology to my students. It is all in thanks to donors like you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and one other donor.Kinder Mathmaticians need Common Core Materials
Funded May 11, 2013Wow! The level of discussion we have during math time is amazing in our kindergarten class. My students are using math manipulatives to prove their thinking and discuss in depth the concepts they have learned.
Math has become my students' favorite time of the day. They really enjoy sorting, counting, comparing and discussing the different groups they form with their new math manipulatives. With their vehicles, bugs, fruit, and sea animals, they create stories and story problems for their seat partners to solve. The best part is... they think they are playing.
Your generosity and decision to support my project is greatly appreciated. My students are joyfully participating in higher level thinking and strategies. I am enjoying creating new activities and opportunities to use your kind-hearted gift.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and 9 other donors.Stay Focused
Funded Apr 3, 2013From the kindergartners--Thank you all for being so generous and supporting our classroom. This project has really helped our class. We asked for a timer that everyone can see and privacy partitions. We have been practicing independent quiet work time and the partitions really helped us to focus. We were surprised at how much we use the timer. We kindergartners like to make goals and try to improve everyday. So we were always reminding our teacher to set the timer! We improved our focus and we did more and better work in a shorter amount of time.
From the teacher--I was really impressed at the focus my students had during independent work time. They went above and beyond my expectations. They challenged themselves and set new challenges. THANK YOU!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and 10 other donors.Keeping Our Technology Up and Running!
Funded Feb 27, 2012I really want to thank each and every one of the donors who supported this project. With school budgets diminishing and present technology aging, it is a struggle for teacher and student to keep up with the times. I have 3 desktop computers that had deteriorating headphones and a missing mouse. At anytime, I could have only one or two working at a time. Our school is fortunate to have a digital reading program but without the technology, my students were only able to get on for 10-15 minutes a week. The recommended time is 1-2 hours per student.
Now with our new accessories and wireless router, I am able to get almost an hour a week for each student. We now have three working desktops, 2 wireless Laptops and 5 students can be on line at a time. It has helped with classroom management because students see more equal opportunities in the classroom. It helps with leadership and confidence, because I can put students in charge of booting up the programs and assisting others with their passwords. And, of course, reading, writing, rhyming and phonics skills are improving because more students are getting more time with this very important tool.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
Art at Our Fingertips
Funded Dec 9, 2011Your amazing gift has inspired some amazing young artists. In kindergarten, drawing and painting is, the first way, other than speaking, that students have to express themselves and their understanding of the world we live in. They are encouraged to add many details, to show what they know and understand. Having multiple ways to express themselves is very important at this young age and any age. Thank you for giving us a painting area where students can pick up a brush and color their world.
We also are so thankful for our crayon and marker caddies that are on the student tables and in use most of the day. Students know exactly where to find the tools they need to put their ideas on the "canvas" or construction paper. Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by Wasserman Foundation and 9 other donors.Jump for Joy (and Health)
Funded Dec 2, 2011You have made us JUMP for JOY!! We have jump ropes, hoops, jumping bars and a hopscotch rug! We love to move and jump whenever possible because we are kindergarteners. We need structured jumping and playing because we are kindergarteners! Now we have more opportunities for exercise. Two days a week, our assigned area is a stretch of concrete. We used to play games such as duck, duck goose and red, light, green light. These games were fun but now, with our jumping equipment we have more things to do. We even share our equipment with other classrooms. We recently had a Jump-rope-for-heart competition and we were actually able to jump rope!
From the teacher, I want to thank you for your generous donation. I did not realize what an impact a set of jump ropes would really make for my classroom. They have taken responsibility for taking care of the jump ropes. They share them during recess and then they responsibly collect and count them and put them back into their box. They are more confident in their physical skills and ask to jump rope almost everyday. Thank you, again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and 4 other donors.Favorite Authors for Inspiration
Funded Dec 2, 2011Your contribution to my kindergarten classroom has made such a wonderful impact! We have readers in kindergarten! Some did not even know they were readers until they had these beautiful new books in their hands. I chose a collection of authors whose illustrations and engaging text inspire young readers. You brought those books to my classroom and now the students are begging for reading time.
When they have completed their classroom work the most popular "may do" is to go to the library, choose, a "sit-upon" and a book. They practice reading their selection. When we have read-aloud time, some of the students have been getting up in front of the class to read in front of their peers. This is exciting and heartwarming to the eyes and ears of a kindergarten teacher. Hopefully, with the pictures I have posted, you will feel the power of your impact in the lives of these children. Thank you, again. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In A Perfect World and 2 other donors.I Can Read!!
Funded Mar 15, 2011My kindergarten students are at the beginning stages decoding and reading about 30 to 50 sight words. Your donation of "easy" readers has sparked a new confidence in my students. They knew they were able to read the "decode-ables" that are part of our reading program. They would even come across a few books in our school library that they could read. But to have our own library of 30 books at their level and interest, is a gift I could not have given them without your help.
One of their favorite choice activities to do now is go to our own classroom library and read to themselves or a friend. They have even started to tell me that some of the books are too easy and they now have the confidence to pick up a higher level book. My lower level students are so amazed that their peers are reading, that they are excited about trying it too. They are now more focused and picking up books as their choice as well.
I am so grateful to In a Perfect World Foundation and my Anonymous Donor. Thank you for being a support to my classroom and an inspiration to my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Briscoe
This classroom project was brought to life by In a Perfect World Foundation and one other donor.