Past projects 6
Don’t Reinvent, Spend More Time Teaching and Learning
Funded Sep 26, 2024With your support, I aim to provide our Special Education and English Language Learners (ELLs) with access to a vital educational platform. This subscription will enable me to differentiate and scaffold instruction effectively, ensuring every student receives the tailored support they need to thrive. By leveraging pre-created resources, I can focus more on delivering engaging and impactful lessons rather than spending extensive time on resource creation. This approach not only enhances learning experiences but also fosters a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment. Your donation will directly impact our students' ability to access grade-level content and achieve their full potential. Thank you for helping us make a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.Can't Sit Still To Learn?
Funded Mar 10, 2024I hope this message finds you well and thriving. Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been transformed into a vibrant and dynamic learning environment. Our new flexible seating options have revolutionized the way we teach and learn at P.S. 958. Our students can learn on our new and inviting rug. The kids enter the room with a smile on their faces. The excitement was palpable as they gathered their clipboards and settled into their chosen spots, their eyes wide with anticipation. This new setup not only accommodates their diverse needs but also enhances their engagement and activity.
Seeing the students' joyful reactions the first day I introduced the new seating was truly unforgettable. Their eager faces and enthusiastic cheers filled the room with an infectious energy that persisted. Thank you once again for making this possible. Your contribution is not just improving our daily learning experiences -it's shaping a more inclusive and inspiring future for every student who walks through our doors.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 8 other donors.Spanish Class Superpowers
Funded Feb 15, 2023It is with a grateful heart that I write to you. Thanks to each donor, we were able to finally have a rug to sit on for our mini lessons (start off the lesson on the rug and then we go to the desks for the rest of the hands-on work). The bilingual rug that you helped us purchase was well received. The students in grades K, 1, 2, and 3 were ecstatic to see their Spanish class with a bilingual rug.
The variety of bilingual materials and learning tools have elevated the excitement about learning Spanish as a foreign language. Parents are sharing with me that their child loves Spanish class and looks forward to coming to Spanish class. It is my goal to continue to make learning Spanish fun and engaging.
Some may consider it a difficult task to compete with a generation of learners that might be engaged only with videos and tablets or that are tech savvy; however, the playdough and art materials truly rock! There is no substitution for the hands-on opportunities that my students have received and the variety of materials they have been gifted by people like you.
All the materials that have been donated are also shared with our Spanish speaking English Language Learners to support their learning of content in the Spanish language.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro
Support English As A New Language Teacher
Funded May 7, 2022It is with a thankful heart that I write to you. As an English as a Second Language Teacher or officially...English as a New Language Teacher, I am responsible for administrative work, parent engagement, and every thing that involves teaching students English. These responsibilities have been increasing due to the diversity of our school community, and the new wave of migrants that have reached our city. As a Former English Language Learner or an Ever ELL as we're labeled, I understand much of the thought process that my students and their families experience.
Your donation has been helping me have access to the tools that are helping my students have a greater understanding to the lessons being taught in school. Some of my students do not know how to read or write and then I have some that clearly are demonstrating that they are above grade level. The supports I put in place help each of them climb up to the highest level possible and have access to meaningful lessons.
Thank you for your partnership. Whilst I did not have the supports my students have, I will endeavor to ensure that they have what they need to soar. You have helped me do this and continue to do this meaningful work as an ESL/ENL Teacher.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro
HEEEELP Squeeze Out Anxiety and Stress
Funded Aug 31, 2020The stress balls were a hit! My students and I are frequently using the stress balls to recenter ourselves when we feel stressed out by everything negative associated with the pandemic and remote learning. I will not forget how relieved I was when I began to see some of the comments students were making directly from their assignments online regarding their use of the stress balls. My students were SO happy to receive something special in the mail! Students do not usually receive mail and the stress balls package was colorful and exciting to receiving in the midst of being stuck at home. I thank you all for donating to my project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro
This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and one other donor.Ay Caramba! Spanish Class
Funded Jul 3, 2018I cannot thank you enough for all the supplies you have provided for all my Spanish class students. I have revealed all the supplies to the majority of my classes and the students were overwhelmed with gratitude. I was stressed out thinking how am I going to afford all of these items and BAM! Through Donors Choose and a generous person such as yourself, I was able to have that stress lifted off of my shoulders. My older students in 5th grade were really excited about having tape dispensers and tape for their interactive notebook work. The non-fiction books are a new addition to our growing library and I am teaching about Hispanic Heritage with some good resources for my students. These new books allow me to expose my students to Hispanics and many Americans that have made history or invented something great. This also allows me to show a positive side of different Hispanics and teach our students diversity in cultures. Reading is a big deal in my classroom because the majority of the books are in Spanish and the students use them on a daily basis. In particular, I have some Spanish speaking students that get bored with elementary or nursery level Spanish books and they LOVED the new books! It felt like a celebration when I was opening the boxes and showing my students what arrived for them. Muchas gracias por todo.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Ana Castro