Past projects 77
When In Doubt - Read Aloud!
Funded Mar 16, 2021I am so thankful! I just can't even begin to describe what being an elementary teacher in a lower income school in NYC has been like during "covid" time. It was a scramble last year to go from in person to totally remote with NO resources.
This year we had some planning and we had some time, but much of what we use is still not "digital" friendly. I had to make a big change in my 24 years of teaching. In 24 years, I never send home class novels because getting 30 of a book is expensive and I use the books over and over. Well, this year, I had to change my ways. IT WAS HARD! I protect my books like crazy. Class library, you know they will come and go. But class novels, you hold on to!
So I have been sending class novel books home each day JUST IN CASE! We have literally left school on Friday and get an email over the weekend that the school is closed for 10 days due to 2 or more covid cases reported. And it just didn't work with the books in the classroom.
So now my treasured class novels travel with the kids daily, with their math books and notebooks. JUST IN CASE! We are about to start our American Revolution unit and I needed books that could go home and travel (Just in case!). So I thank you so much for helping my kiddos get to read two great books that happen during this time. I love historical fiction. It not only helps to show the historical context of things, but usually happen in the middle of a great story. So now they will get to read two great stories that have the American Revolution as a backdrop thanks to your generosity.
Maybe I get the books back, maybe I don't. I can't worry about that anymore. Covid made me realize I have to trust and let go. You helped me to make that transition.”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 3 other donors.Headphones for 21st Century Learning!
Funded Feb 13, 2021Thank you so much for helping get this project funded. When we went remote last year, one of the number one issues we encountered was how noisy the kids homes were. Not just family, but also from multiple kids in multiple grades in one room trying to have class at once.
This year, we started hybrid and the first thing I did was go into my closet, give each child a whiteboard, markers, and headphones to take home. THANK GOD I did! Kids were able to show their work on the computer by holding up their whiteboards. They were able to plug in their headphones and hear me over the noise of their house. When it was time for them to respond, read, ask a question, I couldn't always hear them.
So to "replenish" my headphones, I did this project. I got smarter though, I requested headphones with a built in microphone. Not that I want another year of this remote teaching, but even with my in-person class, we keep getting shut for covid outbreaks for 10 days at a time. Now, I can give out headphones with mics so we get rid of as many issues that the kids might have while working at home. Now, if I could just give them reliable internet!
Once again, thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
It's Time for Time for Kids!
Funded Dec 1, 2020Thank you so much for your donations. This school year is so back and forth, up and down, forward and backward. I needed some high interest, grade appropriate non-fiction articles, and no one does that better than Time.
This year they offered a digital subscription only that was cheaper and digital! This is the perfect option for those times where we get sent home for 10 day quarantines and you have no idea when you leave school so you didn't bring anything home to plan. It becomes ninja planning!
These articles are written for kids so they are accessible and entertaining. They often have skills attached so they can extend the learning. It is a great parachute to have during this year of Covid teaching. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.Now More Than Ever, We Must Capture the Moment!
Funded Dec 1, 2020I only have 6 kids who come to in-person learning, and 12 kids who join via live-streaming. Needless to say, a full size classroom with just 6 kids can seem a bit empty. This is what classrooms in NYC look like right now. The buildings are sadly quite quiet and half empty. Parents are scared to send kids back, but for those who do come, we have to keep it as normal and fun as possible. It isn't the same school year as they are used to (masks, social distance, stay in room all day, no time to play and socialize)... but we are back in school and we can see the light at the end of the covid-hole.
Literally from the time we opened the packages, to we started printing out photos for our parent Holiday Ornaments - the kids were smiling.. I couldn't see their actual smile, but I could see their eyes... I let them put the pictures on the bulletin board outside where they wanted to put them. They were KIDS again. Several of the kids on the computer asked, "Will you send me a postcard selphy?" I take pictures of my ZOOM kids all the time, so they will be getting holiday post cards of the class as well.
Thank you! Your kind donations brought a little brightness back into our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 4 other donors.Ready, Set, Teach - Remote or In-Person Tech Needed
Funded Nov 8, 2020Thank you so much for helping me obtain the technology so I can teach my kiddos, whether we are in person or remote. As you might have heard, the COVID rate is rising again and we are trying to figure out what to do as educators.
I am currently doing both in person and remote for my small group of kids. Well this week COVID struck close to home and several of my kids had to quarantine at home until results came back. Since I didn't want them to miss out, I tried Livestream. I had 3 kids join me from home and 4 kids in person and it was ok.
Now I have been asked if I would go out of contract and do "livestreaming" because the fully remote classes are so crowded and I only have 7 kiddos for in person. Now I will have 7 kids in person and I am taking 11 kids from the fully remote to my class. I can only do this because of your generosity and I now have the technology not just at work, but also at home for our remote days. I was going into work on remote days and teaching from my empty classroom because I didn't have the technology. Now I can work from home on remote days, and at school on in person days, and I have the technology to accomplish this thanks to you!
And if we go fully remote, I am covered... again, thanks to you!
Thank you so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by Arman Roy Foundation and 5 other donors.In Person or Remote Instruction - We Need Guided Reading
Funded Aug 11, 2020This year is already shaping up to be nothing like we have ever seen before. With all the options, I picked in person teaching. They call it blended learning because the students would have me live days, and another teacher on remote days. Then it turned into HYBRID because I had all my kids switch to one track and I teach them live on LIVE days and remote on REMOTE days.
Live days are pretty easy. Open your books! Let's go! Remote days can be a challenge. How do you get quality literature to read that is on grade level and high interest. How do you share those with your students.
Well, Scholastic Storyworks, Google Classroom integration, and you made that possible. I can assign a story, assign work, and still meet with the whole class to read together and work together because of your donations. WE can do small group. We can do whole group. They can do independent work. They can just enjoy too! Storyworks has been a great addition to our classroom. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and 3 other donors.Remote Learning or In Person - We Need Scholastic News
Funded Aug 7, 2020Thank you so much for supporting our classroom. I say our classroom because it is more than just mine. It belongs to these children and now, to you as well. Your support means that they have access to current, high interest, grade appropriate texts on all kinds of subjects that kids find interesting.
Our classroom is one that picked hybrid learning. That means that we are in school 2-3 days a week and at home remotely 2-3 days a week. What Scholastic has done has enabled me to use these texts either in person, or on the computer because it is linked with Google Classroom. The use and sharing is seamless and the students get the best of both worlds - live in person instruction sometimes, and on the computer sometimes.
Your generosity allowed this to happen. My kiddos, and now your kiddos, will get access to Scholastic New and Scholastic Science Spin all year now, no matter if we are in person on learning remotely. Again, I can't thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by A Generous Donor and 2 other donors.Guided Reading with Scholastic News!
Funded Aug 14, 2019Thank you so much! The students LOVE their weekly readers! Scholastic News does a great job at writing stories that are on grade level and yet still very interesting to students and teachers alike. This year I was able to get the regular Scholastic News and also the Science Spin. This way they get a variety of nonfiction texts to work with.
We have become a Google Classroom, and the scholastic now has a digital component which means I can share extension activities and comprehension checks right to their computers as well as the stories to refer back to.
I cannot tell you how much this shapes our FRIDAYS! We look forward to working with the texts. Reading, Discussing, Working With, Referring back to, Writing About... you name it, we do it!
Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! It truly means the world to me!”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Classroom Basics for Creative Learners!
Funded Oct 24, 2019Thank you so much for the wonderful donation that enabled us to get basic supplies for our classroom. Students need to be pushed to be creative and think outside the box. They have become stagnant learners who want to just give back information instead of working with information, creating projects, and delivering products that show they have learned.
Your donation and supplies means that my students will be challenged. They will work with these products to create, produce, be a part of their learning. They will use these products to make our room one of creators, not regurgitaters.
Thank you for supporting me and my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 2 other donors.We Need Instructional Technology - Portable Color Scanner
Funded Mar 6, 2019The kids had a great time today unboxing our new "toy" as they put it. It is a great addition to our classroom which will allow our classroom to scan and upload color work. They can take a photo or a work or art, scan it, and bam, now we have a high quality scan that can be used in digital presentations and learning opportunities.
Students get so excited when they get to experience technology that is NEW to them and unique. They wanted to scan their math work today just to get it on the screen. I was like, um, we have a document camera, but no, they had to scan their math work to share. That type of energy and enthusiasm is what EVERY teacher longs for.
I can't wait to see what they come up with and produce now. Thank you so much for your generosity and caring.”
With gratitude,
Mr. McDougall
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 3 other donors.