Ms. Gionti's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 363

• Teaching Racial Justice With The Nickel Boys: Books Needed

  Funded Dec 29, 2024

  Thank you so much for donating copies of The Nickel Boys to our classroom. Your support means so much—not only because you've provided books but because you've given my students access to a novel that sheds light on an important yet often overlooked part of American history.

  My students loved Elwood and Turner, the novel's main characters, and their friendship. The powerful ending (no spoiler alerts if you haven't read the book!) left students with a lot to say about justice and hope.

  Students were also surprised to learn that The Nickel Boys is based on the real-life Dozier School for Boys. They were fascinated (and outraged) when they learned that the abuse and corruption described in the book actually happened.

  Now that we've read the novel, we plan to watch the movie together in class and make comparisons. Thank you again for your continued support! It really does make a difference!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and one other donor.

• Let's Build Part II: LEGO Needed for STEM Activities

  Funded Dec 19, 2024

  Thank you so much for your support in funding Legos for my classroom! Seeing my students fully engaged—collaborating, problem-solving, and creating—has been an absolute joy.

  As you can see from the pictures, students locked in while building - using any space possible (even the floor) to sort bricks and create sections. They worked diligently, coming in during their lunch period and before or after school to continue building the R2-D2 (I never realized how much my students LOVE Star Wars!).

  Your generosity has made a real impact, and I'm truly grateful!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 3 other donors.

• Learning Chinese Calligraphy for Lunar New Year

  Funded Dec 30, 2024

  Thank you so much for funding this project and providing an opportunity for my students to learn about Chinese calligraphy!

  Working with one of the Paraprofessionals in my school from China, students learned how to write the character for fortune (fu), and a few wrote Happy New Year or their names. My students absolutely loved this activity, and my classroom was soon filled with tons of students wanting to learn and practice. Several of our Chinese students loved practicing something they once learned or have seen their family members do.

  Thank you again for this amazing opportunity to build community and learn about Chinese culture and language.

  Happy New Year! 新年快乐”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Express and 6 other donors.

• Mental Health Matters: Art Supplies and Kits Needed

  Funded Sep 18, 2024

  Thank you so much for funding this project and providing my students with these amazing supplies!

  When I created this project, I had no idea how much my students would love building things like Legos and other 3D models. When I brought out the first Lego set, my students screamed with excitement -- these are high school students, remember. Seeing them this excited about a toy was not something I expected. Watching them build the Lego sets gave me a whole new appreciation for the little bricks -- students worked together and got so caught up in the building that not a single kid was on their cell phone -- a miracle.

  Students have also enjoyed creating projects with different art materials and supplies, trying new techniques, and experimenting with designs. Seeing them be creative and relaxed while making art has been so much fun.

  Thank you again for your generous donation! It has really made a difference!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 6 other donors.

• Digging into Shakespeare: Copies of Othello Needed

  Funded Oct 1, 2024

  Thank you so much for funding this project and providing my students with copies of Shakespeare's play, Othello!

  My senior English class has just begun reading the tragedy, and already they are hooked. We started by using some of the supplemental readings in the Folger edition to provide students with background knowledge of Shakespeare's times and information about Venice and Cyprus. The first scene really captured my students' attention, and they couldn't believe the racism Othello faced. Many of the students didn't know the terms 'white' and 'black' when describing race date back to the 1400s. My students are excited to finish reading this complex play, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read brilliant work and have the many discussions it raises.

  Thank you again for your support!

  Happy New Year!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Smarties Candy Company and one other donor.

• Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble: Macbeth Books Needed

  Funded Oct 3, 2024

  Thank you so much for funding this project and enabling me to bring Shakespeare to my students!

  We've begun reading the play through Act One, and my students are hooked. After every scene, each class has tracked how likely they think it is that Macbeth will actually kill King Duncan to become king himself. Our last class before break ended in a debate that had students digging in their books looking for evidence to show that they don't really think Macbeth will commit regicide. By having their own copy of the play, students have taken ownership of their learning. They love being able to annotate key passages and vocabulary.

  Thank you again for your continued support! Your donation is greatly appreciated.

  Happy Holidays!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Books Needed: Klara and the Sun

  Funded Dec 28, 2024

  Wow! Thank you so much for funding this project and providing my students with this amazing novel! I cannot wait for the discussions this novel will bring about AI and coming of age.

  Thank you again for your support! I look forward to sharing an update with you later this spring.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Express and one other donor.

• Supplies Needed for Hands-On Mixed Media Projects

  Funded Dec 3, 2024

  Thank you so much for the generous gift of mixed media art supplies! These materials have been an incredible resource for our creative projects, allowing students to explore a wide range of artistic techniques and expressions.

  Inspired by the works of Wassily Kandinsky, we used the supplies to create abstract art pieces that focus on the interplay of shapes, colors, and emotions. The paint sticks were perfect for layering vibrant colors and creating bold, dynamic lines, while the paper provided a versatile canvas for experimentation. The glue allowed us to incorporate collage elements, adding texture and depth to our work.

  Your thoughtful gift made all of this possible, and we are so grateful for your support. Thank you for inspiring creativity and helping us bring these projects to life!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and one other donor.

• Crafting Cards for Kindness: Supplies Needed

  Funded Oct 21, 2024

  Thank you so much for funding this project and providing an opportunity for my students to create cards showing thanks.

  Students used the supplies to create thank you cards for the teachers who helped them apply to college. Not only did they have fun using the various punches, papers, and markers, they also learned about the importance of writing thank you notes and how this simple act can help them in the future.

  Students also made holiday cards which were shared with residents of a local assisted living facility. My students' excitement at playing with washi tape for the first time or using the wax sealer for their envelopes was a great joy.

  Thank you again for your generosity!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation.

• Basic Supplies for English Class Needed

  Funded Sep 1, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous donation of essential classroom supplies, such as pencils, markers, paper, and highlighters. These materials have been put to great use this fall!

  Your contribution helped us create vibrant posters for a group project on propaganda in the novel Animal Farm and allowed students to annotate and highlight key passages during reading sessions.

  Thanks to you, our classroom is functional and a little more inspiring. Your support means so much to us and helps our students feel equipped and confident to learn.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Gionti