Past projects 4
Please Help Students with Disabilities in Need!
Funded Aug 2, 2023On the behalf of my students at Morningside Elementary, I can't begin to express how grateful we are for the generous and heartfelt donation you have made. The improvement in both the excitement and student alertness is astounding with the flexible seating you have made possible.
I have witnessed the daily enthusiasm of students from Kindergarten to Fifth grade when receiving instruction, in addition to the maximization of their instructional work responsibilities when utilizing these amazing materials.
We (students and teachers) comment daily about how grateful we all are to have what you've provided. You have made the school year for these children.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Spillman
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.Empowering Students Through Art: Literacy Through Creativity
Funded Mar 10, 2016Thank you is simply not enough to express how much your generosity has impacted my students, their parents, and me personally. You have not only given desperately needed materials to low-income children, but the gift of hope and love for their future, well beyond Kindergarten. My sincere hope is that the pictures of my students using the materials you generously provided, along with hand-made notes created using the materials you donated, will give you some idea of the love and appreciation you have given to us. Your gifts have taught lessons teachers can't teach, and will remain with these children for a lifetime, not to mention me.
When the materials arrived, I felt more than school supplies in the boxes. I will never forget when my students saw box after box, and witnessing their excitement as I carried concrete proof of how the lessons of kindness, compassion, and giving I have taught throughout the year, spread outside school walls. The boxes I carried in that special day were not only desperately needed learning materials, but also ignited the love and excitement of children that soared through our small school community.
After everyone gathered on our classroom rug, I asked my students to assist me in removing their brand new crayons, pencils, colored pencils, paint, markers, pencil boxes, construction paper, literacy strips, and their brand new pencil sharpener. The kids were unable to contain their excitement with the presentation of each item. With every child having the opportunity to see their new supplies, the response sounded more like the reception of a celebrity or being at a rock concert. They cheered, clapped, and even shed joyous tears. One of my little girls was moved so much that she said, "Mrs. Spillman, people care about us so much, they spent millions of dollars for us!" I praised her for her gratefulness, appreciation, and reminded her that her experience is proof of her hard work, love, and compassion for herself and others. At that point, I could no longer contain my emotions and was moved to tears. During such a moving time of fellowship, my teacher aide, and a another support staff member were able to share in the experience. Being the future visionaries my students are, they decided to hug each other, as well as the adults in the room, to take a few minutes to celebrate the materials and love you have given to all of us. Their wish was, that whatever you were doing in that joyous moment, you would feel their gratitude and love for choosing us out of thousands of others.
This was by far the best experience I have ever had as a teacher and has moved me beyond words.With all the love that words can express, I thank you from every part of my heart. The materials you have funded are actively being used, especially in the thank you notes you will soon receive. My students really wanted to share what they have been learning this year including tally marks, high frequency words, addition sentences, letters, and numbers to name a few. Thank you for taking the time to donate these materials, and the memories you have made that will remain with these children for the rest of their lives, as well as the adults that will never forget what you have done. You blessings say so much about the person you are, and I only wish you were there to experience the reception of what you sent to us. Please visit us if possible, because we would love to thank you in person! We can't thank you enough for the support, and thank you for taking the time to read our story. You have given the best experience these children have had all year, possibly their entire school career, and certainly mine.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Spillman
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and one other donor.Please Help Kindergarten Leap into Literacy
Funded Sep 9, 2015These precious pictures associated with this project do not do justice to the smiles, laughter, and learning that your donation has given to my class. The beanbag chair along with the LeapReaders, and pencil caddies have motivated and sparked the imaginations of young impressionable minds beyond my wildest dreams! We have access to a computer center in my class, and instead of learning on the computer, every student would rather curl up with a LeapReader or a book on the beanbag chair you have provided.
I want to share that between formal assessments during the halfway point in the first nine weeks, many students were struggling with letter identification, letter sounds, and word families. Shortly after testing, your gifts arrived. Once the LeapReaders were activated, along with the complimentary book the package included, these areas of academic concern almost disappeared!
I want you to understand that you have not only assisted 18 children academically, but introduced them to their imagination! This has improved creative writing, assisted in sentence formation and understanding, and at least half of my class knows all of their vowels giving them and academic edge, which puts us well ahead of our state's pacing expectations.
The beautiful brand new pencil, crayon, and glue organizers included in your generosity with this project has allowed me to create a more organized classroom and taught my kids something that I can't. You have provided living proof that many people love them and want them to be successful.
I begin each year by reading a book called "How to Fill a Bucket." The general idea is to treat others as you want to be treated and to be kind to anyone and everyone you meet. You have been the biggest "bucket fillers" these children have ever experienced by your donations to create an even warmer, loving, and academic learning environment.
This has been a challenging year for me personally and professionally, and your gift has given me the hope that despite budgets, little money, and a lack of morale, there are still people out there like you that make it possible for teachers like myself to make my job easier with things I desperately want to give, but simply can't. Much of my paycheck goes to my class, and your generosity is appreciated beyond any words.
When I found out the project was funded, my students were overjoyed! The anticipation and delivery of these items taught these children that they are loved and also made them even more excited to come to school! Several students asked me, "Mrs. Spillman, why would people give these things to us?" I was able to have several "teachable moments" beginning with the simple statement that people that don't know you, believe in you! All of you have sent a message that is loud and clear. Despite the hardships that these children face at home, which is heart-breaking, you care and want to see them do well to go on and do great things for themselves and one day give back to others!
You are heroes! Your donation has not only given much needed supplies, but have allowed my students to experience a special kind of love that can't be taught, but shown. A selfless act of love. I am a product of how people like yourself showed me I would make something of myself! I was told more often than not in my life that I would never amount to anything, coming from a challenging background as most of my students do. You truly "Pay It Forward," which is exactly why I decided to teach in a high-poverty school.
No amount of words can thank you for the smiles that you have given my students, the academic assistance, a positive love of reading that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and a life lesson. With a strong effort and hard work, the sky is truly the limit! With my deepest thanks and with lots of love, my GOD bless you! Again, thank you for choosing my class!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Spillman
A Carpet For Kindergarten!
Funded Dec 24, 2014I would like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart, for the generous donation you gave toward a rug for my class. First and foremost, thank you for reading our story, or what you are about to read would have never happened!
The day the carpet arrived, I will never forget the looks on 17 five-year old faces that I have the pleasure of working with everyday. They simply couldn't believe that this colorful, sunshine, number-filled rug was theirs. They asked me: "I thought, we had to do the best we could with our old carpet, so why are we getting a new one?" When this miracle was delivered, I asked them a question. "How many of you asked Santa for a new carpet for school?" Every student looked at me and raised their precious hands. I replied, "Boys and girls, the carpet wasn't from Santa. This is from some very special people that wanted you to have a new carpet to learn on." They looked at each other, they peeked out of our classroom window, and they even looked under every table in the class. The children were in shock!
I can only compare their reaction to what it would be like for 17 Kindergarten students to find out they had just won a toy store. My students did everything from cheer and clap, to cry tears of joy. The cheers and tears were shortly followed with the same from me, especially when a student shared that the carpet was so much nicer than her mama's car floor, where I knew she had spent time living in. I made sure she was the very first to touch and feel it.
To have the privilege of working with students that are beginning their academic career, please know that you have given these children the priceless gift of hope. Your donation is living proof of what I teach. I make sure that every one of my students know they can be anything they want to be, just like Mrs. Spillman. It may be tougher for some of us, but anything is possible, especially as long as there are people out there like you. You have given young dreams wings, and an old soul a much needed revival.
After the very first day that the carpet was rolled out, more learning has taken place than I could ever put into words. My class has strengthened their reading skills, mastered hundreds of Dolch words, danced, learned multiple learning songs, numerous math skills such as, reading and creating tally marks, graphing, addition, patterns, and counting to 100 and beyond, to name just a few.
The days of my students experiencing trouble concentrating on my lessons, due to fecal and urine stains, dirt, and holes are over! I am proud to report that every student is very cautious and protective with their new carpet! They are determined to maintain its luster for future classes! You have given a gift that will keep on giving for many years to come.
I can't put into words how grateful I will always be to you all. GOD will bless you for what you have done for these innocent children, and they will never forget the year they received a brand new rug for the rest of their lives! Thank you for teaching something that can't be taught in the classroom, by your generosity and kind hearts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Spillman