Past projects 8
Classroom Community Essentials
Funded Nov 7, 2021THANK YOU SO MUCH for funding this so generously and quickly! This will make a significant impact on our class. It has been a challenging year for so many reasons, but your kindness has aided us in making the remainder of the year go smoother. Your gift has directly impacted how our third graders' days go. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
Lighting for a Warm Community
Funded Aug 21, 2021THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You are helping to make this weird, weird year feel much brighter already. Your kindness and generosity are unmatched. I can't wait for the third graders to feel right at home in our classroom. So excited to build community in our well-lit, warm space.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
Building Kids' Home Libraries: Part 2
Funded May 5, 2020Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your thoughtfulness! This final project of 2nd grade set kids up for success and confidence as they navigated their summers pre-third grade and pre-an entire year of Covid school. Many students opted to continue distance learning from their homes and the supplies and books we were able to send them because of your generosity contributed to their meaningful home learning environments. Students were thrilled to have science projects, puzzles, books, art supplies, and more. Thank you for thinking of our class so generously.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 6 other donors.Building Kids' Home Libraries
Funded May 5, 2020Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. Kids were in the onset of the global pandemic and receiving books personalized for them helped ease them into distance learning. They felt more in community with one another because of your gifts. Kids excitedly shared in messages and during morning meeting and with their friends the books they received, and they continued to read them all year.
Thank you for thinking of us during the confusion and pandemonium of the pandemic. Our class could not be more appreciative!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 2 other donors.Cultivating a Comfortable, Colorful Learning Environment
Funded Aug 28, 2019Thank you for your donations! Our classroom rug, book baggies, and bins have made our room a more close-knit, effective learning environment.
We used our new class rug every single day. It is where we gather for lessons, it's where kids love to read independently or in partnerships, and it's a space for kids to do peer mediation when they have conflicts. All the students in my room are drawn to its newness and bright colors. The bins have been exceptionally helpful as well! We have been using them for everything, from organizing math materials to writing materials to using them for class games. All of these items are sturdy and will last us for years to come. Thank you for your generosity and for making second grade a better place to be!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
Books for Critical, Reflective Readers
Funded Aug 23, 2019Thank you so much for these books!
You helped us get a much more diverse library full of stories kids love. We have used so many of these books as whole class read-alouds and for kids to read on their own or in partnerships. Kids have learned more about Indigenous Peoples, segregation in the past and present, feminists, their feelings, and many other topics that are super engaging for them. They've been asking themselves big questions about racism, sexism, and many other systems of oppression, and these stories help them root some of the problems in narratives they can connect with and learn from.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
An Equitable Classroom: Differentiation for Unique Learners
Funded Oct 19, 2018Thank you so much for all of our materials. There is no such thing as one type of learner or one type of learning, and too often classrooms are only equipped for the fictional, monolithic learner. However, every room is filled with different needs! The seat cushions, kick bands, noise cancelling headphones, fidget toys, and more helped us meet kids where they were at and get them what they need so they can fully engage in our learning environment.
Kids loved to use the seat cushions especially, and one kid even ended up creating a system so that everyone in the class could take turns. She keeps a list in her cubby and makes sure every kid in our class gets a chance to use it each day. Many kids are able to better focus on work with their kick bands or fidget toys, and the noise canceling headphones ensure that children with intense noise sensitivity are fully cared for. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making our year wonderful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes
Peace Corner for Second Graders
Funded Sep 26, 2018Thank you so much for these materials. It's a requirement in my school to have a Peace Corner because it helps foster emotionally intelligent children and gives a physical space to kids when they have big feelings.
The cushions, rug, and timers you provided helped us construct an area for kids to go when they need a peaceful place to work or a moment to breathe. You have made our year go so much more smoothly than it would've been without this space. Kids are now able to better self-regulate when they're having big emotions, take deep breaths, and they can request peer mediation for conflict resolution or simply take time for themselves. Your generosity made all of this possible!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mapes