Past projects 10
You Show, I Show, We All Get To Show
Funded Apr 6, 2023I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the gracious gifts you have given my students this year. The three vertical whiteboards have engaged and provided visual support for my diverse learners. I want to share how these tools that your generous gift provided to my 5th and 6th graders have changed my teaching.
When the package arrived, my homeroom class was eager to put them together. We used our Crew (morning meeting time) to plan and get into teams to assemble the whiteboards. My students' joy in working together to build the whiteboards helped build community and collaboration. This was an unintended consequence that changed our crew. Once the boards were built my students researched the best cleaning materials to use on the boards so they will last as long as possible. My homeroom class then taught the other three sections how to use the boards and clean them properly.
I was also moved by the number of ways I could engage all my students with these tall whiteboards. I have had students reluctant to come to the ELMO become excited about sharing their work on the board. I can do more collaborative work; having six whiteboards means more kids have a voice.
Finally, I hosted a Math Site where teachers from all over the country came to observe math at my school; We did a problem-solving share with the whiteboards, and the teachers were in awe of the vertical whiteboards. They were excited to see them in action. I was so grateful that this gift you provided for my 75 students will now impact students nationwide.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT and 5 other donors.A Coop For Cool Chicks
Funded Mar 24, 2019Thank you for again supporting my crew in Chicago. My students started this expedition of chickens by receiving a letter that fertilized eggs would soon arrive. The first question my students asked was, where will they go when they grow up? We knew that we would need a coop but we had no idea how we would acquire one.
I turned again to the beautiful friends and family members who believe in what urban education should be. Your generous support and gifts mean that the entire school at Polaris Charter Academy were able to learn about chickens and build compassion by caring for the coop and the chickens.
Thank you again for all your support, it meant the world to my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
Compassion and Active Citizenship: An Expedition About Chickens
Funded Jan 10, 2019I am in awe of the kindness and generosity you have provided to the two third grade classrooms. We currently have 8 chicks that were able to hatch because of the awesome incubator. our students were able to place the eggs into the incubator and then turn them each day to make sure they were developing appropriately. Once the chicks hatched, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the chicks were able to set up the brooder box with the heat plates, waterer and food container.
Due to your generosity, my students had all the materials they needed to ensure proper growth and safety of our chicks.
When you donated to my project and helped to fund this project it means that 56 students in the city of Chicago have an experience that many of their peers across the city will never have.
Thank you again for your love and financial support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
3rd Graders Looking for Computers to Explore their World!
Funded Aug 30, 2017I just want to say thank you again for all your support for this project. It has been an amazing resource for my classroom. I would love to share some of the ways we use the Chromebooks in our classroom.
My students use the Chromebooks to research about the Great Chicago Fire. They were able to see secondary source photos and illustrations. My students were amazed to watch a video about how the streets and sidewalks were made from wood. I am now 1:1, so each student in my class has a computer, I am able to take advantage of programs like Google Classroom. Google allows me to send work to my students electronically, submit assignments and so much more. My students are excited to practice web-based games that support their learning in reading and math.
Many of my students come from homes where there is no computer. I know it is crazy to think in 2017 kids don't have access to technology. This amazing gift you gave to my class means all my students have access to the world. My kids have loved the responsibility of making sure their Chromebooks are plugged in and working properly.
I have one particular student is significantly behind in reading, she is able to use the Chromebook to have the text read to her. This allows her to have access to the same text in a way that works for her.
Thank you again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
This classroom project was brought to life by Tom's of Maine and 6 other donors.Hey, Hey 5th Grade Read All About It
Funded Nov 12, 2016I have done many Donor's Choose Projects and I have seen tremendous results from my headphones, cameras, and projector. This project was especially important because my students use their scholastic news every single day.
The opportunity my students have to interact with the world outside of their city, and even their country is tremendous. My students have used their scholastic news and super science newspapers to explore the world and different animals.
I would like to share one anecdotal that I experienced with my class. P is a student who shows little interest in reading. She has been held back before, and she struggles to read. I knew this upcoming nonfiction unit would be tough for her, but just in time here comes our Donor's Choose Project. One day, P got up in the middle of my reading block and said, "Mrs. Griffin I have to interrupt you." I said, "well, can it wait for a second, let me finish with my group?" She interjected and said, "No it can't, did you know that almost 3,000 people died on September 11th?" I said, "Wow, no I didn't, where did you read that?" She said, "It's here in my scholastic news!" My other students stopped what they were doing to crowd around P and ask her question about what she had learned.
P has grown 3 levels and proclaims that nonfiction is, "Her Jazz!"
This is just one story, but there are many. My students every Monday rush to their mailboxes to check their scholastic news.
Thank you for everything you have done for us! Your generous donation means the world to my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
Ms. G.'s Third Grader's Horrible, Awful Loss of Books
Funded Oct 21, 2013I will try and express my gratitude for your thoughtful and generous gift to my class. We have had such a difficult start to our year; a delayed start, 3 moves, and our books being ruined. My students are so smart and deserve the absolute best. Your kindness helped them get the best books in their hands.
The books we received because of your donations gave my students the motivation and excitement to read everyday. For many of my students, they beg to take the books home each week. They are high interest and popular books that in my opinion all 3rd graders should have a chance to read. We have seen 8 students make growth by at least 1 level already.
Thank you for providing me with the resources I needed to ensure my students had exciting books at their reading level.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
I Can Hear...You Can Hear...We All Can hear!
Funded Jul 30, 2012We love and enjoy the headphones you all have so graciously donated to our classroom. Thank you for thinking of us when choosing a project to fund. My students are thriving because they have the necessary resources to access books at levels a little higher then where they are reading.
Your generous gift to our classroom has helped us read over 100 books within our classroom. We are hoping to reach 200 by the end of January. We could not have done this without your gift for our headphones so that all students in my class can listen to classic stories on cd.
Thank you for your help, and support,”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
A Smart Projector Will Help Us Be Really Smart!
Funded Jan 24, 2012We have spent the last three weeks using our smart projector for reading, writing, mathematics, social studies and even to work out our muscles. I have found five amazing resources that I can use that have helped my students learn their letters, and write. I had no idea what impact having a projector in my classroom would have on my students excitement and engagement for learning.Our class spent the first week learning that sometimes we need to access things from the Internet, and that if we used our little computer, we could not all see. One of my students who has a difficult time focusing, said, "I love being able to see everything really clear." This projector has allowed me to provide stories magnified so that all students can see. I value being healthy and fit, we found a free resource, getsweaty.com, we can access this website with our projector. This website allows us to do daily workout activities, and promote healthy behaviors like stretching. On days when we can not go outside for recess, or when we do not have P.E. We use our projector to help us get active. I had no idea something like this was available until I received this amazing resource.
Overall, the best thing about your amazing donation to our classroom was that my students have never seen acts of kindness like this before. They couldn't believe that someone they did not know cared about them so much that they would help to buy us something we need to be super smart. Before your amazing donations, my students didn't believe me when I told them they were special; now they really feel special because of your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
1st Grade Wildcats Know A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words.
Funded Sep 8, 2010I have so many words to express my gratitude for our classroom cameras. I want to take a moment and share how your generosity has helped my classroom.
I asked for the cameras so that my students could participate in digital story telling. I wanted my students to capture pictures of the world around them, and then write exciting stories. However, my students have devised their own appreciation for photography in this process.
My students regularly ask to use the cameras to document some of their best work, sharing with others proudly, the outstanding job they have done. My students use the cameras to document our field trips, and after school activities to bring back to the classroom and share. But yet, there is even more benefit from these wonderful cameras; my students ability to interact appropriately with their peers.
Since we have received the cameras, our class has become more responsible. They understand the importance of taking care of items that are valuable, and precious. Students are helpful to show others how to use the digital equipment appropriately as well.
Lastly, I am excited that my students are excited to take the cameras home, and take pictures of their friends and family, and bring them back to share with the rest of the class. This is bringing alive the culture and diversity of our beautiful classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin
Inner-City Chicago Wildcat Cubs Need a Listening Center
Funded Feb 15, 2009I want to take a moment and thank you for taking your time and your money to help us buy our Listening center and book boxes. I want to take a second to let you know how our listening center has helped our classroom.
Our school utilizes the balanced literacy method for reading and math. I spend a lot of time reading different books to my students, and they have come a long way with their own reading. However, since we received our listening center my students are reading with excitement. But most importantly, my students have shown huge improvement in print awareness. My students are better able to follow the words as they are being read in a story. I have used the listening center to expose my students to a larger selection of books. I have also used the listening center to reinforce our farm unit. We watched Charlotte's Web, and then my students were able to listen to the story on tape. Your support in funding our listening center has given my students the additional reinforcement in reading comprehension that they needed. My students are so thankful to have an extension to our center-based learning, and often times they fight over who will be next to listen to a fun interactive book.
Thank you again, for supporting our very smart kindergarteners.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Griffin