Past projects 4
Sensory Sanctuary - A Haven for Self Regulation and Learning
Funded May 10, 2024Receiving the grant for sensory items has had a transformative impact on the lives of our adult special needs students. These sensory tools have not only enhanced their learning experience but also significantly improved their overall well-being and engagement.
The introduction of sensory items into our curriculum has created a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. Students are now better able to focus and participate in activities, leading to improved academic outcomes. The sensory tools have been instrumental in helping students manage anxiety, regulate their emotions, and increase their attention spans, thereby fostering a more productive and positive classroom atmosphere.
For many of our students, sensory items serve as vital tools for emotional regulation. Items such as our new swing, balance balls, and wobble stools provide calming effects that help students cope with stress and sensory overload. This has led to a noticeable decrease in behavioral incidents and an increase in students' ability to engage in group activities.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kuhns
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.Let's Be Friends!
Funded Oct 1, 2020Thank you so much for helping supply my students with social emotional materials and stories to help develop coping skills and strategies to use.
The students are enjoying the all of the books and activities that go with them so far. We have been reading one story a week and then completing games and activities to support the central message from the text. The children are particularly fond of "The Danny Books" because they are semi interactive in the world of virtual learning. To prepare for the lesson, I have to scan the pages of the story so that the kids can see them large on their screen while I read. While reading, we come to a 'choose your own path' where the children have to learn that it is okay if the group doesn't pick the path you want to go. We are learning about compromising and not always getting what we want. This is an extremely difficult task to learn.
We have not yet been able to work with the weighted anxiety animals or games due to going remote. We will be using these other materials once students return to the school building for in person instruction.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kuhns
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 21 other donors.Can You Hear Me Now?
Funded Jan 27, 2015Thank you so much for helping my children receive working wireless headphones. It was amazing to see their faces when they went back to the computers and saw them for the first time! I didn't tell them that the headphones had arrived so when they saw them, they were shocked and excited and even a little afraid to touch them! When I told them that a special group of people donated the money to buy the headphones, their faces lit up and I was instantly able to see how special each and every one of the children felt!
My students use their new equipment each and every day. They have assignments on BigUniverse.com, and TenMarks.com each week to complete as well as independent reading quizzes. The headphones allow the children to hear the information they need to hear without the other children being interrupted. With working headphones, it has cut back on the amount of re-starts we have had once in our programs which allows more children to access the assignments daily.
The children are actually excited to complete their assignments on the computer now because they know that they will be able to hear the instruction. The children are no longer frustrated with classroom computer time!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kuhns
iListen - iLearn
Funded Dec 31, 2013Thank you for providing my students with the much needed technology to enhance their listening comprehension as well as so many other needed skills. They were thrilled when I revealed the contents of our package to them. They cheers could be heard in the next classroom!
The children are using the iPod Touches during our daily listening stations as stated in my initial proposal, but have also been used for so much more! The children are also able to use them during independent math stations to work on flash cards, play partner games, as well as skills reinforcements. Morning time is so much more fun when the children are able to use the iPods for Accelerated Reader, small group work with parents, as well as reading and listening to books downloaded from the public library.
I love how I can do a search for the lessons that I am teaching and download games and activities that are directly correlated to the standards I am teaching.
Thank you once again for providing my students with the opportunity to add technology into their daily learning. We all appreciate your generosity more than you know!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kuhns