Mr. Green's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 50

• The Steampunk Reading Club: A Second Head of Steam

  Funded Sep 13, 2012

  Dear Donors,

  The Steampunk Reading Club remains in full "Full Steam Ahead" mode. We continue to meet each Wednesday to talk about our favorite books and the Steampunk genre.

  One problem I have run into, and it is a happy problem, is that the students read faster than I can get books to them. We often make do with smaller sub-groups who read books they are able check out of the school or public library, but it is great when we have a book that the whole club has read. Then we are able to compare our thoughts on the story and characters and get some real energy going in the club.

  Your donation has made this possible! The books arrive in pristine condition thanks to the DonorsChoose vendor. And the students now have their books and are reading through them, I know, while I am writing this letter of gratitude to you.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

  This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 3 other donors.

• The Steampunk Reading Club

  Funded Jul 12, 2012

  Dear Donors,

  My students loved "The Looking Glass Wars" by Frank Beddor. They raved about the characters, the plot, the settings and the outcome. Teachers work endless hours to get the kind of reactions my students had to their reading. You made this possible with your donations.

  Some of the club members told of reading their book through in one sitting. Many are anxious to get the next book in this series. I wish you could have been there when I handed them their own copy of the book you bought them through your generosity. Their eyes lit up as they realized that they would be able to own this book.

  Thank you for enriching the lives of the Steampunk Reading Club.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

• Chessapolooza!

  Funded Sep 12, 2011

  tourneytourneyThank you again for your generosity. I just got back from our first tournament this year. For one student, Zach, this was his first chess tournament ever! Zach made a bunch of new friends at the tournament. He lost his first game, but came back determined to do better. He drew his second game. He felt okay about doing that, but he was determined to get a win. I told Zach that getting at least a draw in this his first outing was pretty good. Zach didn't see it that way. He lost his next game, and I was afraid he would get discouraged.

  Then he went off to his last game. I waited for him in the cafeteria of the school where the tournament was being held. Other kids from his group began coming back, but Zach was still out. Finally, he came bounding into the cafeteria with a large smile on his face. Zach had won his game! His first ever win! He was so excited that he told everyone about it (including the waitress who took our order at the restaurant where we had an after-tourny meal.

  Thank you for giving Zach the thrill of his young life-time!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

• Getting to the Roots of Our Language

  Funded Oct 9, 2010

  Thank you for your donation to our school. Our students come from families who often struggle to provide their children with the basic necessities of life. Many of our students do not have "regular" families at all. We often talk about our students who come from "zero" parent families because they have to live with a brother or sister, grandparent or other relative, many come from foster homes or group homes.

  So, you donation has made up for some of the things they lack. With the books your money has bought us, I have been tutoring students who need extra help to prepare them for college and careers. You have made it possible for these students to get a hand up that will pull them out of the spiral of poverty and make it possible for them to have a productive, satisfying life.

  Thank you once again.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

  This classroom project was brought to life by Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation and 4 other donors.

• Chess School

  Funded Aug 4, 2010

  On behalf of the students of the Bison Chess Club, I would like to send to you our heartfelt appreciation for your generous donation of books and material to our club. We have been able to use the materials to involve many of our school's students in the royal game of chess. The club has had a very positive impact on the lives of our students.

  Several years ago, I began read some articles on how chess helps in the cognitive development of young people. It has been shown to help them develop critical thinking, perseverance, patience, and sportsmanship. I decided to start a chess club at my urban school.

  Since then, we have had over 100 students take part in our program. We have participated in several tournaments, winning one of them last year. I hope to be able to expand our program through teaching students how to play and enjoy the game. Your generous donations have helped me do that.

  If any of you would like to know more about our program, I'd be glad to let you know how we are progressing.

  Thanks again.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

• College Prep for the Urban High School Student

  Funded Jan 6, 2010

  To my generous donors,

  Thank you very much making it possible for my students to do higher level reading at our high school. I have used several essays already out of the "50 Essays" anthology. For example, I used an essay by Frederick Douglass, the Civil War era slave who gained his freedom and fought for human equality. We read how Douglass gained his education at a time when it was illegal to teach slaves how to read and write.My students gained an appreciation for the opportunity they now have because men like Douglass fought brave battle for human rights.

  I want my students to have the opportunity to go to college, and to do so, they must be able to do critical reading. The essay anthology your donations purchase provides them the opportunity to do this type of reading. I will be able to use these for several years to improve my students' education.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.

• Oklahoma In Literature

  Funded Aug 31, 2009

  My 11th grade English class just completed using the Way to Rainy Mountan books provided by the Sonic Corporation's, Limeades for Learning initiative. They were able to learn about the culture of the Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma and about Oklahoma author N. Scott Momaday. I was glad to have this valuable resource so that my students could have their "Oklahoma Cultural Literacy" enhanced. Thank you for making this possible for my students now and in those in the future.

  The students each had to take a different section of the book and "teach" it to the rest of the class. Therefore, they not only exercised their critical reading skills, they also developed oral expression and literary analysis.

  This made for a valuable interactive, student-centered learning process, the type of learning that will pay dividends for my students in college and life.

  Thanks again to you and all of Sonic's patrons. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

• Everyone wants to get into the ACT

  Funded Oct 11, 2009

  Thank you for your generous donation, and please forgive my tardiness in sending it to you. My students have appreciated the help that the ACT preparation books have given them. My students come from working class backgrounds. Most of them would be the first in their family to attend college. They all struggle with college entrance exams.

  I have mainly used the books in class to prepare my juniors and seniors for the ACT exam. There is another exam in April, so we will soon be in them once again. Some books have been placed in our library for check-out, and they are very popular items!

  Thank you for giving my students a help up.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.

• Chess for Success Part II

  Funded Jun 4, 2008

  Thank you for helping our students learn more about the royal game of chess. This year we enjoyed our first year as a club. The students gained a great deal from participating in competitions within the school. Next year we hope to be able to compete with other young chess players in our city and perhaps in other cities and states as well. Your generosity will give us some of the teaching tools we need for us to realize this dream. I will be keeping you updated on our progress. Thank you from the Oklahoma Centennial High School Bison Chess Club.

  Robert Lynn G, faculty co-sponso”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green

• Chess For Success

  Funded Jan 10, 2008

  Thanks for your generous donation to our little club. Our students have been excited about learning and playing the game of chess. With the materials you have funded for us, we will be able to enrich their experience. We also hope that we may be able to take part in competitive events. The Central Oklahoma Chess Society has already contacted us and invited us to join them.

  Thank you once again,

  Lynn G

  Oklahoma Centennial Bison Chess Club

  Faculty Sponso”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Green