Past projects 9
Fresh as a Daisy!
Funded Apr 21, 2025When Springtime FINALLY hits upstate New York - it is amazing to see all the beauty the area has to offer! We encourage our students to get their bodies moving and exercise whenever they can!
As Middle Schoolers, bodies are changing like the seasons, and these supplies will help keep the room smelling fresh, AND our students. Being mindful of hygiene is good for socialization, which we also encourage for our scholars here.
When the room smells good, the kids smell good, all is well with the world. Your generous donations bring life back to my teaching space and make it welcoming for all! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Listen to the Sounds!
Funded Feb 5, 2025Having students independently work on classwork at their own pace is amazing!
Using these newly gifted headphones on projects during class is so helpful. Students are able to have text read to them, translate text...... the possibilities are endless!
There are so many new programs available to help our students - and we are lucky to align our curriculum to be able to use these headphones for so many units of study.
With your donations, we can help make learning easier for all our students. Your generosity is amazing, and helps US to help THEM! A million thanks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
Ready, Set.... Blow!
Funded Dec 20, 2024Sometimes we take the idea of students being able to provide their own supplies very lightly.
When students see the new supplies we are gifted, they are thankful - and so are we as teachers. Supplies don't seem so basic anymore. It is a simple need for ALL to survive.
When we get grants and personal supplies funded by generous people such as yourselves - it can be a great triumph and moment of self-reflection. Makes us realize EVERY donation, EVERY supply is important.
YOU are important - keep making donations, keep supporting. We appreciate YOU!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
Let's Give 'em Something to Sing About!
Funded Aug 21, 2024Your generous donations have allowed us to begin to document basic vocabulary in class - kind of like a dictionary or terms. This will allow our scholars to begin to express themselves using literal and proper musical language!
In the age of computers, everything is seemingly a click away, but writing is key for our students!
Thank you so much for these donations.
The digital recorder will allow our performing ensembles to critique their performances as well, and we can show them just how much they have grown during the school year!
Our 6th grade scholars will be able to have these journals for the next 3 years, and they will prove to be very useful tools. They were so relieved to be able to actually be able to write down information as opposed to being tied down to a computer all the time!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 7 other donors.See, Say, Write and Play!
Funded Mar 27, 2024There is nothing more satisfying than starting the school year off with some fabulous new supplies! Your generous donations will allow me some variety as I decorate my classroom in the fall! The Music Quotes Posters are amazing! I love that next school year the students can enjoy seeing performers they recognize! It adds HUGE value to the content we study!
Instruments of the Orchestra Wall Poster - a great visual as we study instruments of the orchestra. I cannot wait for the students to see it next year - especially our orchestra classes!
To end the school year I do a subtle dive into the lives of some composers. Meet the Great Composers Book- this is a wonderful well constructed resource I have used in other schools for many years! I love starting composer studies with pictures of the composers, trying to help the students understand the struggles and hardships of what composers went through 'back in the day'
As far as making subtle changes in curriculum, nothing will help more than the new sets of Dry Erase Lapboards! They are awesome! Together we're saving the planet one step at a time.
Thank you seems so slight a phrase, however your donations are worth a thousand thanks!!! My classroom will be a better place thanks to your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT and 6 other donors.Ready, Set Play!
Funded Feb 25, 2024I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support towards our Music Program here at school! Your donations will leave a lasting impact within our department as a whole, but most importantly our population with special needs.
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to purchase a FULL CLASS SET of glockenspiels!! While these can be challenging to play for some of our scholars, most are giving it their best efforts in class!
In our class time when we use them, once a week at least, our students are not only learning to play these instruments but are also enhancing their motor skills, coordination, and concentration abilities.
It is truly heartwarming to witness the joy and sense of achievement that radiates from our students as they create beautiful melodies together. Your contribution has empowered us to provide tailored and effective learning experiences that cater to the unique needs of each student, enabling them to reach their fullest potential.
On behalf of our entire school community, I extend my sincerest gratitude to you for your kindness and generosity! You make my teaching job so meaningful, and your contributions mean more than you know!
Thank you once again for your invaluable contribution!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
I Can Hear the Bells……
Funded Feb 8, 2024I wanted to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude for your generous contribution to our bucket drumming project. Your support has brought a wave of excitement and creativity into our classroom, and I am thrilled to share some of the highlights with you.
From the moment the materials arrived, the energy in our classroom was amazing! The students' acted like it was Christmas as we unpacked the new drumsticks, and passed out the buckets. It was a great day.
Since then, we've been hard at work exploring the world of bucket drumming. With their buckets and drumsticks, they experimented with different beats, patterns, and dynamics. A fun time was had by all!
Classroom next steps include exploring new ways to play the buckets, while encouraging students to unleash their creativity and express themselves freely through their drumming. It's a process of discovery and self-expression that promises to unlock new levels of musicality and confidence in each student.
Your generosity has not only provided us with the tools we need to make music but has also instilled a sense of pride and ownership in our students' musical journey.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in our project and investing in the future of our students. We are immensely grateful for your support”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
Help Us Fill Our Buckets
Funded Mar 2, 2024I wanted to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude for your generous contribution to our bucket drumming project. Your support has brought a wave of excitement and creativity into our classroom, and I am thrilled to share some of the highlights with you.
From the moment the materials arrived, the energy in our classroom was amazing! The students' acted like it was Christmas as we unpacked the new drumsticks, and passed out the buckets. It was a great day.
Since then, we've been hard at work exploring the world of bucket drumming. With their buckets and drumsticks, they experimented with different beats, patterns, and dynamics. A fun time was had by all!
Classroom next steps include exploring new ways to play the buckets, while encouraging students to unleash their creativity and express themselves freely through their drumming. It's a process of discovery and self-expression that promises to unlock new levels of musicality and confidence in each student.
Your generosity has not only provided us with the tools we need to make music but has also instilled a sense of pride and ownership in our students' musical journey.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in our project and investing in the future of our students. We are immensely grateful for your support!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
Music - More Than Just Playing Around!
Funded Dec 8, 2017As you can see, my students are THRILLED with the idea of playing a 'real instrument' in Elementary School! I am so thankful to Donors Choose and all of YOU who donated to fund my project! It is clear that YOU value music education as much as I do! I have been teaching since 1991, and still feel such joy as my students love for music grows and grows!! The composer posters will help bring Beethoven, Bach, Handel and more 'to life' in my room as we listen to music from these time periods, and really get to know these composers and their lives and LOVE for MUSIC!!
3rd grade is diving right into recorder playing, learning proper technique and care for instruments! I am hoping this grant will be funded yearly so 3rd graders can proudly own their own recorder as they move through elementary School in Lancaster, South Carolina!
I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of introducing recorder playing to 3rd grade each and every year that I can receive this valuable grant - who knows? We all may be able to see some of these lovely students' names in BRIGHT LIGHTS making BEAUTIFUL MUSIC someday!
My students crave knowledge - and my approach to music is visual, and the posters will be used as we study composers - in all grades. My favorite ones are: 'Lizst' - aka 'The Fiery Redhead' and Beethoven - the kids are amazed about his 'CRAZY HAIR' - but then as we learn all Mr. Beethoven overcame while trying to maintain his career is amazing - they all can sing 'The Fate Symphony' by the time the unit is done for sure! We learn so much by seeing and listening, and these posters are great tools!!
Thank you, thank you thank you!!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Manuel
This classroom project was brought to life by Mark Brodsky of Red Ventures and 6 other donors.