Ms. P. Castro's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 4

• Classroom Basics for Organized and Creative Learning

  Funded Feb 7, 2025

  When the boxes arrived for our "Classroom Basics for Organized and Creative Learning" project, my second graders could hardly contain their excitement! They were eager to open everything and explore the new supplies. Right away, we put the Crayola crayons and dry erase markers to use during a writing activity where students illustrated their stories with colorful drawings and practiced editing using the dry erase boards. The Post-it notes became part of our reading stations, helping students mark interesting words and ask questions as they read. The joy on their faces was priceless, and their engagement in lessons immediately increased.

  Thanks to your generous support, our classroom is now stocked with essential materials that help us stay organized and ready to learn. The glue sticks, pencils, and erasers are used daily during math journals, while the Kleenex and Germ-X help keep everyone healthy and focused. One student even said, "Now I don't have to borrow anything, I have everything I need!" Our next big focus is a collaborative poster project where students will use the scissors, glue, and gel pens to create group presentations. Your contribution gave us more than just supplies, and you gave us the tools to learn confidently and create proudly. Thank you so much!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. P. Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Montgomery Family Fund and 3 other donors.

• Building Strong Readers with Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books

  Funded Jan 11, 2025

  Thank you so much for supporting our project, Building Strong Readers with Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books! These new books have brought fresh energy to our classroom library. My students are using them during independent reading time to practice fluency, identify character traits, make predictions, and build comprehension. The humor and illustrations help students stay engaged while developing important reading skills.

  One student who previously struggled to find interest in books now asks to read every day. These books have sparked conversations about friendship, feelings, and choices, allowing for natural reading discussions. Seeing my second graders excited to read and grow in confidence has been incredibly rewarding. Your support has truly made a difference in our learning community.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. P. Castro

• Building Literacy with Engaging Books

  Funded Dec 13, 2024

  Thank you for your incredible support of our project, Building Literacy with Engaging Books! Your generosity has transformed our classroom into a vibrant, literacy-rich environment. The addition of these engaging books has not only brought excitement to our reading corner but also given my students the tools to develop critical reading skills like comprehension, vocabulary building, and making connections between texts and their own lives. Books like Dog Man and Pete the Cat have captivated even the most reluctant readers, making independent reading time a highlight of our day.

  In our classroom, reading is an interactive and collaborative experience. These books have become a springboard for meaningful discussions, creative writing prompts, and group activities that encourage students to think critically and express their ideas. For some students, these new books have become their first real connection to stories they can truly enjoy, boosting their confidence and helping them see themselves as readers. One student who initially struggled with focus is now excitedly recommending books to classmates, a testament to the impact of these engaging stories.

  Thanks to your kindness, my students are discovering the joy and power of reading, and it's creating a lasting love for learning. You have made an extraordinary difference in their education and their lives. We are so grateful for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. P. Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Mo & Cher Willems Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Equipping Our Classroom with Essential Items

  Funded Oct 23, 2024

  Thank you so much for providing our classroom with these much-needed items! My students were so excited when the supplies arrived, looking at each new thing with curiosity and delight. From colorful crayons and markers to fresh notebooks, they couldn't wait to dive into their projects with these tools in hand. We have greatly enjoyed having the dry erase boards, which are extremely useful for practicing new vocabulary, doing math problems, and even for some quick games to reinforce lessons. They really love the idea of having their own supplies now, and with this, I can see their confidence growing as they start to participate more in lessons.

  It was during our "All About Me" project when one of the specific moments really showed me just how much your generosity has impacted our class. With new crayons, pencils, and notebooks, they made personal posters to share with the class. Each child drew about favorite things, wrote about their families, and even shared some of their goals for the school year. It was touching how proud they were of their work and showing off these creative, colorful projects with one another. Having their own supplies has made such a huge difference in letting them express themselves even more.

  Next steps for our class would be moving into group projects using these materials to explore concepts in science and social studies. An example is we have a unit coming up on life cycles; each student will get to use their supplies to document the stages of different plants and animals. It is through your generosity that they are set up for success and ready to take on each new lesson with enthusiasm and joy. Thanks for helping to make that possible!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. P. Castro

  This classroom project was brought to life by CFP Foundation Extra Yard for Teachers Week and 4 other donors.