Past projects 5
Play During Indoor Recess
Funded Mar 1, 2024Since you generously donated to our project, over 150 students have been able to play, draw, and problem solve with one another during indoor recess. Many students do not have access to board games at home and therefore having exposure to classic games such as Guess Who? Candy Land, and Uno has been a wonderful experience for game playing without the use of screens.
When I first introduced the games to grades K-2, they were ecstatic. For months, the lunch aides had no other choice for indoor recess but to put a movie on in the auditorium; and to keep kids from getting too wild, students had to be quiet the whole time. They hated indoor recess and it never gave them the "release" they needed from the routines of the classroom. Now, with your help, the lunch aides are able to take different grades to a separate location to play games with one another where they can actually have a fun and engaging indoor recess (as deserved!)
Again, thank you so much for your contribution towards this project--it means more than you know!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Truscello
Broadway Clean Up
Funded Mar 25, 2022This year, our 5th grade focused on many social issues and injustices. Climate change and the looming effects of it hit them hard for several reasons: 1. they are aware that time is running out and something needs to be done. 2. small changes can make a big difference. 3. they determine their own future. After delivering the boxes to the classroom and making a grand "opening" students immediately had big ideas: "We should do this every week!" "Maybe we can help the custodians downstairs with these!" "We can teach the lower grades about how to keep our school and the streets clean!" Although our year only provided one time for us to use them during the school day, the event had a lasting impact on how they view their community and the ways in which they can lend a hand. I had many students tell me days after how they convinced their mom or dad to stop throwing cigarettes on the ground because "oh my god, there are so many out here!" Or how they saw some kids in the hallway throw food wrappers on the ground and instead of walking over it, picked it up and looked for a trash bin close by. Picking up a few items off the street will not stop climate change in it's tracks, but it is helping kids recognize that even the smallest changes can illicit a positive mindset.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Truscello
A Book a Day, Makes the Teacher Say "Hooray!"
Funded Oct 1, 2019This year, I took on the challenge of teaching 5th grade solely as an ELA teacher. I see very different classes everyday, each with their own needs, interests, and flavorful personalities. It's been difficult to say the least, particularly in an urban setting. You never know who is going to come in angry from the night before because they got into a fight with their older brother, or who didn't go to sleep until 3 AM because her parents were with friends in the living room--in the same room that child sleeps in. My job as the ELA teacher is to teach reading and writing skills, but often times, it goes far beyond just that.
With your help, not only was I able to provide books for my kids to read--I was able to provide them with an opportunity. An opportunity to explore new experiences--an opportunity to encourage them to try harder--an opportunity, in some cases, to escape. Particularly for our ELL population, many of which are new arrivals with little experience merely holding a book, have now been given the opportunity to have choice in what they'd like to read, expanding their thinking and showing them that their language matters even.
With your help, my year has gotten better. My students love these books so much, I constantly have to send out messages to parents asking for their safe return! Kids loving books so badly they want to keep them? What else could a teacher ask for?”
With gratitude,
Ms. Truscello
Rapidly Reading
Funded Sep 14, 2018Thank you for your overwhelming kindness and generosity in providing my students with what we often take for granted--the gift of reading. With your help, I was able to update and reinvent my new 3rd grade classroom library; the number of lives your contribution will and already has changed, is endless.
This year, I started off knowing 3rd grade unsure whether or not I'd be able to provide the best education possible knowing I was coming in with such a lack of literature. Yet so soon after beginning my project, you swooped in and gave me hope that this year would be a smooth and exciting new adventure, not just for me, but for my kids.
Thank you again and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Truscello
Read, Create, Repeat
Funded Aug 22, 2018As a past student, I never realized how fortunate I was to always have art on my weekly school schedule. More than that, I never realized how fortunate I was to have art as a part of my personal home life. Drawing, painting, and creativity as a whole has helped shaped who I am today and, after losing our art program at my school this year, I realized how much it shapes the young lives of my students in a positive way--it wasn't something I was ready to give up.
At first, people thought it was silly of me to include in my wish list canvases and sketchbooks as, "gifts; " I was starting my year in a new grade with a new classroom and, to be honest, missing quite a lot of materials that I still at this point need. However, I was more concerned with bringing my kids together in a culminating, simply creative, and expressive activity that didn't require them to stress themselves with due dates and rubrics. Instead, as I've always loved, I turned to art to and with great success, I got to know my kids quicker than I would've in any other way.
Of course I can't forget about the contributions the donors have brought in the form of storytelling. My library is now complete, not just with an abundance of books, but with new and clean books that the kids are actually drawn to. One of my favorite things to do is visit the local book store--to touch the pages of children's books and awe in amazement at the cover illustrations and silly stories of my favorite characters. Unfortunately, many of my students do not have the time or chance to do the same; but bringing in dozens of brand new stories to our classroom library was a second best.
I cannot say it enough how grateful I am for this opportunity to bring these life changing experiences to my classroom and I couldn't have done it without the generosity of each and every one of you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Truscello
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 other donors.