Past projects 8
Data Driven Learning Centers: Let's say BYE to COVID learning-loss!
Funded Nov 30, 2021Thank you so much for donating to this project on Giving Tuesday! I can already envision the literacy centers and the student learning that will happen because of your thoughtfulness. It isn't every day that public school teachers receive such love and generosity from the greater community! It means a lot that you recognize the importance of this type of center-based, phonics driven reading instruction and small-group work.
Thank you! #givingtuesday”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Understanding the Meaning Behind the Numbers: 2nd Grade Place Value
Funded Dec 31, 2020Thank you so much for the math manipulatives that have helped my second graders better understand place value. When the shipment arrived at the school I'm not sure who was more excited - me or the students! It's such a luxury in teaching - especially in public education in the South Bronx - to receive new, highly effective teaching materials. So from all of us, thank you!
You donation allowed each student in the class to receive a complete set of personal place value math manipulatives. These manipulatives are always available for students to use as needed, however, most students tend to rely on them more at the beginning of the unit when they need the concrete place value materials to understand the concept. They are also an integral part of my small group instruction when I pull struggling students during independent work time.
Thank you for bringing new energy and support to our math classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
PBIS School Wide Incentives
Funded Dec 31, 2019As 2020 comes to an end and I reflect on the goals I had for myself as a teacher and the goals I had for my school community - as shown by this project - I realize how many of them had to be put on hold due to school closures in March. While we were fortunate enough to receive your very generous donation of PBIS incentives in January, our students only had a few months to exchange their PBIS points for them. The pictures that I was able to secure of a second grade class visiting the "PBIS store" before the closure are clear evidence of the impact your donation had on our school community and culture during that time. The scholars in these pictures are using the points they earned in the classroom for being respectful, responsible and safe to get one of the various incentives you supplied us with. Look at those smiles - they are priceless.
At PS 277 we remain committed to helping students make positive changes in their behavior. Once we are able to safely reopen the PBIS store for all students to visit, we will continue with the work surrounding managing, supporting and rewarding positive classroom behavior that COVID-19 disrupted. I can already imagine how excited the scholars will be to see a store that is fully stocked with incentives that will help them in a post-COVID world. Thanks to you and your generous donation we have the incentives that will help students stay on track to meeting that goal.
I wish you all the best in the New Year - please stay healthy and safe!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
Acquiring Language Through Audiobooks
Funded Mar 6, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! Although the school year is almost over I have put nearly all of the supplies that you helped fund to productive use.
So far the audiobooks have been used in literacy centers with both the kindergarten and first grade students I work with. Normally the students love to get their hands on new books - who doesn't? - but when they realized that these books were far from average their excitement was palpable! I am also happy to report that students have learned how to responsibly (and independently!) use the supplies during this time.
As for the headphones and the headphone spliters - those are used throughout the day. From first grade students completing a stop and jot while watching an educational videos about natural disasters to second grade students in after-school listening and practicing songs for the talent show, I had not imagined just how useful they could be.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness in supporting this project and the potential of my students. We appreciate you now and for all years to come as we continue to acquire language through audiobooks!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
Experiential Learning: Building Memories and Birdhouses
Funded Dec 29, 2018It is with great pride and accomplishment that I can report we have completed our DIY birdhouse kits. Every student in the program was able to carry out the small project from start to finish. This entailed planning the steps needed to build it, sanding each piece down to perfection (well, before they banged away at it!), assembling, hammering, screwing and eventually painting their birdhouses. While there were varying levels of skill, there were only a few casualties during this whole process - one of which was my thumbnail! I originally thought the students would only need 3 days to complete it I quickly realized this was a first for many of them. Some did not know how to hammer a nail straight (or at all!), while others grappled with the idea of "righty-tighty", "lefty-loosey". Even today - which marks the 5th day of completing the birdhouses I STILL have students asking to add one more layer or paint, or detail to their houses. While I must now tell them no - we have dioramas to create! - I think this truly highlights the success of the project.
For this reason, I must say another THANK YOU for making this happen. Thank you SO MUCH for your donations that allowed us to buy DIY birdhouse kits for each student. This process of planning a project and carrying it out from start to finish is not commonplace in public education in New York City and I cannot say how touched I am that your generosity was able to make it possible. It was an invaluable experience that I hope they will carry with them for a long time. We will have a big party at the end of the after-school program and their birdhouses will be displayed for their parents, teachers and friends to admire. At the time that this letter was due the students were still adding their final coat of paint so I will have to send more pictures at that point. They are all so unique.
Please know just how thankful we are for you and your kind heart! All the best to you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
Talking Our Way into Learning
Funded Dec 6, 2018It has been fun thinking of all the ways I can use your donation to support my students' growth in speaking, reading and writing. Here are just a few ways I have used the devices,
1. It has been wonderful to have access to our very own NEW ipad and two kid-friendly microphones that easily record small-group discussions. The students have gone from not having any technology incorporated into their lessons to now EXPECTING these devices to be used during our time together! Students who were once too shy to speak, now find comfort in recording their voices and listening to it later.
2. While the ipad has been used as a "reward" during my after-school time with first grade students (you can see this in one picture!), it is generally used by students to upload the speaking samples that are recorded on the kid-friendly microphones during small-group discussions. This has allowed the students to track their progress in their verbal response to literature. Since many English Language Learners (ELLS) have a stronger command of oral language, it is important to show them this progress and to reflect on their success.
3. The microphones have also been used to improve the ELLS writing ability. This has been done by having them speak about the text, record it and listen to it - all before writing about it. Since their speaking is stronger than their writing, I have seen this as a perfect opportunity to leverage their strength (speaking!) to improve their weakness (writing!) all through reading and discussing the text.
You are TOO kind - and it does not go unnoticed! THANK YOU SO MUCH - from myself and from all the students who have been touched by your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
The "Language Gap" Won't Stop Us From Learning to Read!
Funded Jan 19, 2018Thank you for the very generous, humbling donation that fully funded my project "The Language Gap Won't Stop Us From Learning to Read!" This first year of teaching has proven to be a year of learning not only for my students, but for me as an educator. I started the school year not knowing how to ask for assistance, but now through generous donations like the one you recently gave, I realize that if I want to be truly effective in the classroom I must not shy away from the resources that others can provide. For that, I personally thank you.
As for my students, it goes without saying that the engaging, visual educational materials that you brought to my classroom have been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Sometimes as I observe them manipulating the materials - strengthening their letter-sound recognition- I wonder if they realize just how much they are learning amongst all that fun. They particularly love the phonic books sets that include multiple activities using images, sight words, letters and blending that they must perform before even opening the book. By front loading reading with activities so closely aligned to the book my students feel confident as they open the book, and successful once they close it. The frustration that can often be felt when they are not prepared to succeed in reading is completely avoided. For that, they thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
"To Have a Ball" We Need Balls!
Funded Nov 14, 2017Your kindness and generosity that led you to support "To have a ball we need balls!" has had an incredible impact on the children in our After-school program in the South Bronx. ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS por todo!
As expected the array of materials you donated has led to hours of enjoyment (and exhaustion!) for our group of energetic first graders after they finish their daily homework. Within a week of receiving the materials I was pleasantly surprised to see how the materials also play a pivotal role in helping the children develop their ability to share and work together. As anyone who works with young children (or who has their own) knows, this skill set does not always come naturally. Concerning behavior that I saw at the beginning of the year that often resulted in hurt feelings, tears and time-outs has started to disappear thanks to you and your donation.
On a personal level, as a new teacher who came to a school with limited supplies and support, I cannot begin to express how it felt to receive news of your donation. It made me realize that as teachers we are not alone in our mission (or struggle!) and that together we are stronger.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schelble
This classroom project was brought to life by National Fitness Foundation and one other donor.