Past projects 25
All About Art
Funded Aug 25, 2024Our dream was to create an art center to be used by all of our students in any way they deemed important to show their understanding of any content.
Your donations allowed us to put together a vibrant art community. Students use the materials provided by your donations, as well as unusual and random items we have collected to create works of art that go beyond our wildest imaginings.
This has allowed students who struggle with traditional methods of assessment another outlet to show their understanding.
We are forever grateful for the color, energy, and passion this station has added to our classroom and none of it would have been possible without your donations.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Math with Movement
Funded Sep 3, 2024What an amazing fall we have had! We have been using whiteboards to work on collaboration and group thinking. The boards have allowed students the opportunity to talk through problems as they work, allowing for more thoughtful, better-developed solutions.
The boards have exceeded our expectations for contributing to math talk and math thinking. The students are eager to work on math in a way that textbooks never encourage.
We are so grateful for your contribution. You have allowed us to make our dream of collaborative work a reality and we are now expanding our use of the boards for other projects.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Diversification and Differentiation
Funded Mar 16, 2021The books have been an endless source of conversation and sharing among our students. They have been able to explore cultures that are familiar and ones that are new to them. Students were able to highlight for others important parts of their lives that have not traditionally been shared at school.
Through book clubs and presentations, we grew as a community in our understanding and appreciation for one another.
Thank you for this priceless gift. Without your generous donation, we would not have been able to improve our library to make it more inclusive and representative of our wonderfully diverse student body.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Anti-Racism and Technology- a Modern Classroom
Funded Dec 9, 2022Thank you for helping us create a new unit of study for our students. This is the first year we have done a Stamped unit and it was incredibly successful.
The students read together and answered questions. They kept lists of the people they were introduced to and kept a timeline of historical milestones. Throughout it all, we engaged in thoughtful, difficult, and important conversations about the past, the present, and possibilities for the future. The students were engaged and aware of the importance of the work.
This new unit will remain a part of our curriculum for the coming year and we are excited to continue to grow our resources and expand the materials presented.
Our students left us filled with hope and the promise of a better future.
Thank you again.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Going Graphic 2
Funded Oct 26, 2019First, please accept my sincere apologies for not sending this sooner. This has been the craziest and most unusual school year ever! I do want you to know, however, what a huge difference you made to some amazing kids just before their lives got turned upside down.
The graphic novels were such a hit, we had to have sign out sheets with waiting lists. I have always believed that every child is a reader when they find the right book. Sometimes the right book provides some extra visual support and that is an amazing gift.
Thank you for your generosity and for making a difference in the lives of our FUTURE leaders.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Going Graphic!
Funded Aug 13, 2019Thank you for your generous gift. The books have already made a huge difference in our reading life! The students clamored for the books as they arrived and they have been in constant rotation since (some even have waiting lists). For a class with struggling readers, this is a huge accomplishment that would not have been possible without you!
While we are lucky to have an involved and active parent body, there is not much money to be had for extras and without your participation in our school community, extras like these, that make such a difference in the kids' lives, would not happen.
Thank you again for standing for quality education!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.Math Mania
Funded Nov 13, 2018The games that you gave us have made math more fun! We have been using the intervention program with many of our students who find math difficult and the games open up a whole new way of looking at the concepts.
The best part of having them? The kids are having so much fun, they do not realize how much they are learning. It makes it easy to get kids to want to work in small targeted groups and have them feel special, not called out in any way.
Thank you so much for your generous contributions. The Learning Lab is grateful!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
This classroom project was brought to life by ETA hand2mind and 5 other donors.Learning by Listening
Funded Aug 29, 2018Using the headsets and speakers has given the students in our room access to listening to books on tape as well as using virtual field trips to enrich our curriculum. We use technology every day both for enrichment and support purposes.
We now have headsets for every student. This allows students to read at their individual reading level with virtual support. We have seen substantial increases in reading levels and engagement.
Without your support, none of this would be possible. Your support has allowed us to forward the vision of the Learning Lab even farther.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Sitting Pretty
Funded Sep 16, 2018Thank you for enabling our room to become a reality. I have dreamed for years about creating a learning environment where learning is fun and an adventure every day. It always seemed a herculean task to make it a reality, but with your support, I am getting closer to my vision every day.
We have been reading books together as a class while seated in our comfy chairs. These books have generated deep discussions that go far beyond the pages of paper, reflecting the children's thinking about justice, equity, and meaning in life. Your generous donation allows me to continue to grow as a teacher and to help grow my students as, hopefully, lifelong learners.
Thank you for everything.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey
Sitting Comfy
Funded Nov 5, 2018This year has been an opportunity to expand my practice by using projects as a basis for learning. I believe that students learn best when they are directly invested in the material they are studying and projects allow students to create learning opportunities that reflect that investment. Having the kind of seating that we now, thanks to you, have available int he room, allows for little, energetic bodies to work while staying busy swaying, bouncing or rocking as needed.
Your generosity has allowed me to make my dream a reality for the kids in my classroom. We are a diverse group of learners, as all groups of learners are, and one size does not fit all!
Thank you again for all you do and have done!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reitzfeld and Mr. Rainey