Past projects 5
Feel the Difference: Supporting Sensory Needs!
Funded Oct 2, 2024I hope you can imagine the joy on my students' faces when they saw all the sensory toys delivered. They eagerly participated and explained with delight, using their preferred mode of communication, as each item was unboxed. As a classroom team, we collaborated on where the best place was to keep all the new sensory toys.
We established parameters as to when and under what circumstances these items can be used and how they would be rotated. My students get so excited for "sensory time" and they wait to see it on our schedule. They are aware that they must share with their peers and are learning to request items as well. The "Spot" books are helping with recognizing different emotions and the most appropriate ways to act on them.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. Best wishes for a happy & healthy New Year.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spiewak
A Multi-Sensory Approach to Help My Students Focus
Funded Oct 28, 2022Smiles, surprise, and amazement have been my students' reactions to the project "Multi-Sensory Approach to Help My Students Focus" that your donations have brought to reality.
My students begin each day by picking out a sensory toy, that helps them to stay focused throughout the day. These toys have helped my students remain focused, while learning in the classroom. My students are always fidgeting and as counterintuitive as it seems, them fidgeting with sensory toys, frees them up to concentrate on lessons being taught. The wiggle wobble chair feet serve a similar purpose and so students can put aside this distraction and learn more effectively.
Thank you for taking a chance on this project. It has produced wonderful results.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spiewak
Collaborative Cooking
Funded May 16, 2022Smiles, surprise and amazement have been my students' reactions to the collaborative cooking project that your donations have brought to reality. The project is a resounding success on so many levels.
This year has brought me a new class of novice "chefs" who are incorporating different skills while having fun in our classroom kitchen. Our collaborative staff comes up with a new recipe every Friday, that is linked towards curriculum and healthy eating. The students find the process of turning raw ingredients into prepared foods, absolutely awesome. My students use the skills that they are taught in the classroom such as reading, sequencing, following instructions, weighing/measuring ingredients and peer to peer interaction. Recipes are posted on our Class Dojo page so that parents can discuss this experience with their children and replicate the experience at home, if they so choose.
Your contributions have enabled this fun learning experience and I thank you so much for believing in me and my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spiewak
Help My Students Get Ready To Read!
Funded Dec 24, 2020It is so gratifying to have you on my team. The enrichment that you have provided to my students in the classroom, has enabled them to come through the worst of the COVID pandemic successfully.
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for taking your time and money to help support our class. We started using the supplies and it makes such a difference in class. When it's time or Foundational Reading, my students get so excited to use the magnetic letter tiles, white boards and worksheets from our color printer!
Thank you for partnering to give me the tools to ensure our students' success.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spiewak
Help Me “COVID Proof” My Special Needs Classroom
Funded Sep 9, 2020I'm so excited to share with you a real-time update of how the technology and sanitary aids you provided are being used in the classroom.
In these strange times mask wearing and hand sanitizing are a challenge for all of us who can comprehend what is going on in the world around us, imagine how difficult it can be for a special needs child to integrate these precautions into there daily lives. The books that were donated have helped establish new routines and a better understanding of the new rules that were put into place, in order to create a safe environment. Feedback that I get from parents tells me that these classroom lessons are carrying over to in-home practice.
Today most of us have smartphones and/or iPads that we refer to constantly for all kinds of information. As a teacher, I find the iPad a fantastic tool for individualized and specifically tailored group learning. The iPad, as opposed to a SmartBoard is perfect for small group settings. It personalizes on a very specific level what I am trying to communicate to my students. For example, if I am teaching phonics I can create sounds , visuals, and tie it directly into the lesson that I created. The enrichment this donation has provided is reflected in the wonder on the students' faces.
Thank you so much for your participation. It means the world to me and my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Spiewak