Past projects 75
Celebrating My Students Through Snail Mail
Funded Aug 4, 2020My students and I would like to thank you for all stamps, paper, cards and envelope supplies for their letters. Handwritten anything is so special these days. I've never been a letter writing person. In fact I hate it. But I save every birthday card and thank you note I receive, filling boxes that have traveled with me to various homes. Once I realized their importance in my life, I decided it was my time to pay it forward to my students.
During the Covid pandemic, our lives are uncontrollable and contained by the walls of our homes. Everyone is missing so many special events. I wanted my students to feel a part of and while they may not be celebrating as in the past, I wanted them to feel special in one way or another. I started by sending introduction letters and then birthday cards. I'm still sending mail and will continue doing so for the remainder of the school year.
With your help, many of my students have received letters and birthday cards, including some of my students that I haven't formally meet yet.
Almost all humans need connection and communion. It is especially crucial this generation who rarely send letters or receive them as they always text or send instant messages. They have received them with much surprise and delight. I've enclosed some of their reactions.
I never expect replies. The satisfaction for me is in writing my students, connecting with them and knowing they'd receive something weird and rare in their lives during these difficult times.
Covid has made many people realize just how important the Postal Service is, me more than anyone. I get much joy every week as I place a stack of cards for the postman to take knowing it will bring my students joy. Thank you for your contribution and making the world a better place (one classroom at a time)!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 3 other donors.Give the Gift of Color: AP US Learning Supplies
Funded May 29, 2020My students and I would like to thank you for all of the colored papers supplies. It came at a crucial time considering our school budget was cut further this year and I was only allotted $30 to spend on supplies. And with the Covid pandemic raging forward, I've had to make copies for my students to complete their work at home. Following the unit color system has become of a great help in that students know because of the color the unit we are working on. The colored paper this grant (and you) generously paid for help my students associate certain time periods in American History. For the Gilded Age, for instance, I'm going to use the bright yellow color because this color is similar to gold representing a huge grow in industry and money in America. Ironically it wasn't so much for the poor and the working class.Research has shown that color cues improve memory and that learners recall images in color more easily than images in black and white. And during distance learning, it's helped my students understand each unit better. With your help my students have a greater opportunity of passing the AP US History examination in May 2021.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 13 other donors.iPad Please! We Need Some Tech in Our Teach
Funded May 6, 2020My students and I would like to thank you for the IPAD to help in our distance learning. With the aid of the IPAD, I can perform multiple tasks when teaching that couldn't be done with only using my one school issued laptop. I can take roll, answer student and staff emails as well as grade my students while they present their work giving them instant virtual feedback. It has elevated my already stressful situation tremendously. I need to synchronously teach live for 330 minutes daily, more so than most schools in our area. Because of this demanding schedule, the IPAD has lessened my work load after school as I can do much paperwork (taking attendance, grading) as I'm teaching without interrupting the learning process.
With your help, my students are attended to, and are learning effectively. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without your help, virtual learning and teaching would be a lot more time consuming and strenuous. I know these are tough times.Donors like you make it possible for me to do my job effectively. Thank you for your contribution and making the world a better place (one classroom at a time)!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 3 other donors.Scrapbooking Our Family’s History: An Opportunity to Grow New Roots
Funded Feb 12, 2020My students and I are eternally grateful for the scrapbooks, tape, cutting board, paper and washi tape you so generously helped donate to our class.
The colored paper and scrapbooks have allowed my students to create beautiful family scrapbooks projects (eventually to be presented to their mothers for Mother's Day).
A number of students would never have the economic means to purchase such high quality materials. They are so happy to have the ability to make such precious and long lasting family heirlooms. Most had never scrap booked in their lives and it was a joy to show them videos on choosing scrapbook themes and techniques. It opened up a new creative world to many of them.
With your help my students have taken much pride in their work. I have yet to see their final products since they had taken their scrapbooks home to work on them when school got cut-off by the international virus pandemic. They have all assured me that they have finished and are eager to show them to me. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting public education, and student's personal family history.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
Buy the Basics for My Classroom
Funded Dec 31, 2019My students and I are eternally grateful for the printer, construction paper and painting brushes you're so generously helped donate to our class.
The colored constriction paper and paint brushes have allowed my students to create beautiful projects and advertisements for our upcoming activities including our annual dual language award ceremony.
A number of students haven't been able to print at home for a lack of printer. They are so happy to have the ability to print in our classroom and be able to present and turn in professional work and projects.
With your help my students take mire pride in their work and get the motivation to persevere. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 5 other donors.A Book Haven: Reading Chicanx Voices
Funded Mar 7, 2020I am so excited to see my project has been funded. I can't wait to go to school on Monday and let my students know. The support of the DonorsChoose community is overwhelming and I feel so blessed to know so many people value public education. My students can now embarked in their independent reading for the year and adding these books to our library will definitely encourage them to continue reading. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by A group of anonymous donors and 2 other donors.Free To Be Me: A Safe Space to Read about Chicanxs
Funded Oct 8, 2019Thank you for such a great,comfortable, learning space you've helped create for my students to read, study and relax for small, brief periods of time during their hectic and jam packed school days. Most of my students couldn't believe the space was available to them since there are rarely spaces like this at our high school. They have taken advantage of the space during school breaks, during class working with partners and after school during tutoring or other activities for which my classroom is open. The space has become so popular, I'd like to expand soon adding more books and bags for more students to relax. I am limited to my classroom layout but will always work something out to improve the space. We are eternally grateful for your generosity in thinking of us and our learning and working environment.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 other donors.AP US Learning Supplies
Funded May 21, 2019My students and I would like to thank you for all of their colored papers and folder supplies. It came at a crucial time considering our school budget was cut further this year and I was only allotted $40 to spend on supplies. The folders are a means of my students to keep their work for my class unit by unit. They are to then transfer the colored papers from their folders to a three ring binder. The colored paper this grant (and you) generously paid for help my students associate certain time periods in American History. For the Gilded Age, for instance, I'm going to use the bright yellow color because this color is similar to gold representing a huge grow in industry and money in America. Ironically it wasn't so much for the poor and the working class.Research has shown that color cues improve memory and that learners recall images in color more easily than images in black and white. With your help my students have a greater opportunity of passing the AP US History examination in May 2020.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Torres
This classroom project was brought to life by PwC and 6 other donors.