Past projects 3
Learning with Laptops
Funded Oct 19, 2023The word 'ubuntu' is defined as I am because we are. Your generous donations are an exemplary example of this manifesting term! Thank you for helping me empower my students' world as the laptops will guide students to discover the world, connect worldwide, and enhance their own world of adventures!
I'm truly so honored and grateful for YOU!
We are because you are!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Polo
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 16 other donors.Rolling and Learning with Flexible Seating
Funded Aug 3, 2016With greatest of love and appreciation, my class and I thank you for your support to help make our classroom more exciting! The students are thrilled each day of class to utilize the stability balls, or like we like to call them, "bouncy balls!" The purpose of obtaining these stability balls was to provide students with various seating choices and flexibility. At first, the students questioned and thought, "My teacher is so cool. We have bouncy balls." The students quickly spread the word to their friends in other classes and now all the students in the school come by our class to sit on the bouncy balls. Of course, all of the students wanted to sit on it right away, but after establishing some important rules and safety measures, the students quickly picked up on the routine of when and how we can use the stability balls to learn.
You might be asking, how do the stability balls help children? This new choice of seating provides students with the flexibility to obtain self-control of their bodies, learn about balance, and make tactile connections to their learning. When the students have the choice to sit on the stability balls, they have taken ownership of their learning and reached their expectations. For example, I have been able to work with small groups during specified projects, like creating a puzzle of the continents of the world, in which I was able to observe that these students sitting on the stability balls were always on task, engaged, innovative, creative, and responsible for their daily objectives.
Overall, this is one small step towards creating a fully flexible seating classroom. The stability balls along with the stools, pillows, and chairs currently in the classroom provide students with the opportunity to take ownership of their own learning journey and expectations. The young learners love to bounce, learn, and create while using the bouncy balls. Therefore, it is with great pride to be able to provide a classroom where students love to participate and become active members of our school family. My heart bounces with joy every single time the students say "I love school. This is the best class ever!" So donors, these words sums up the true power taken place in my dedicated first grade classroom, and it is all because of your power to help me make a difference! Simply, thank you!
"The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice." –Brain Herbert.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Polo
iCan with iPads
Funded Jan 28, 2016Dearest Donors,
It is with great enthusiasm and awesome sauce that my class and I thank you for your endless support to help make our class more innovative! The students are excited everyday to utilize the iPads to research, investigate, photograph, and enhance their learning through technology. Students have been able to research their own questions about topics of their interest, especially all of those "But how does .... and Why does ...?" The students are able to investigate deep critical thinking facts and expand on their own learning by being able to investigate more ideas and thoughts through various websites and links.
In conjunction, students have been able to utilize child-friendly apps that help students learn various skills, like counting money, telling time, Earth's structure and components, explore space, build rocket ships, write constructive paragraphs, implement art skills, and so much more. Instead of using plain paper to demonstrate certain skills, students were able to use different built-in features, like the camera roll and notes features to construct their own thinking map. Likewise, other apps have helped students make collages, build on their vocabulary, explore science, create their own videos and songs, take virtual field trips, and build positive character traits. Most importantly, students have been able to learn how to implement safe technology and Internet tools.
Would you like to know the best part? Every time the students use the iPads, I hear "This is the best day ever! I love school!" That is truly priceless and rewarding. This didn't happen only one time; oh no, every single time the students learn with the iPads, these comments were made! How happy does our heart feel? It is beyond words that I thank you for helping me enhance each child's education in an endless manner! With great pride, I was able to bring the world to my students because of you!
"All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them." - Magic Johnson. THANK YOU for being our Superheroes!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Polo