Past projects 48
Classics Through a Modern Lens!
Funded Mar 16, 2021Once again, I am in your debt! Never do I see that rocket and not think, "how are people this nice? This generous? This kind?" Yet, here we are, in the middle of an event that will forever be remembered as one of the worst times of our lives, but my students (slowly returning to the actual classroom) are reading books on their own. They read, not to answer study guide questions or to get a grade, but because with your help, I can provide them with books they WANT to read. Thanks to this project, my students are reading books that interest them while simultaneously, earning an appreciation for the classics that came before them.
As my students and I enter a well-deserved Spring Break, I will continue to ponder on the kindness and generosity of my friends, family, colleagues, and strangers acting as guardian angels for room 265!
Happy April, all! I hope this email finds you well! Thank you, again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 40 other donors.Giving Kids The Power of Choice!
Funded Feb 2, 2021As we are finally moving back into normalcy (I often wonder what normalcy is going to be), I am so happy to witness my students reading. Sometimes they don't believe me; they think I'm overemotional, but NOTHING in the world (besides the sound of my son's laughter) makes me smile more than watching a room of teenagers read. And while so many have lost family, jobs, and ways of life, and I fully admit these are worse, I've lost that joy - the joy of seeing my kids get excited about their latest book!
Thanks to you, as my students begin to trickle back into Room 265, I can put new books in their hands. They can CHOOSE the next great read they want, helping them not only to become stronger, faster readers but to receive the Social and Emotional strength that is so important right now.
Thank you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
This classroom project was brought to life by Allstate Foundation and 4 other donors.Never Underestimate the Power of Sitting Comfortably
Funded Jan 27, 2021Who knew that sitting comfortably would make such a difference in my classroom? My students (all currently juniors) are absolutely loving the bean bag chairs donated by you through DonorsChoose. They already loved their 15-20 minutes of Choice Reading time. They find it so relaxing compared to the hustle and bustle of their day. But NOW ... they get to sit comfortably and read! They are in heaven!
It never ceases to amaze me when boxes appear in my classroom from friends, businesses, or complete strangers who want nothing but to help students thrive in a classroom.
I hope that this email finds you all, especially during these difficult times.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
One is Silver and the Other is Gold
Funded Jan 18, 2021I want to take this moment, once again, to thank you for your donations to my project "One is Silver and the Other Gold." My personal goal as an educator this year is to focus on finding a balance between Choice Reading (something I believe in wholeheartedly) and exposing students to the classics. With your help, I now have an abundance of resources.
I'm already knee-deep in ideas. I'm particularly enjoying "The Best Lesson Series." Your donations purchased me both the Literature and Writing books. The marriage of these texts will help me guide students to find their love of reading, as well as understanding that reading and writing go hand-in-hand.
On Monday, I begin new classes. After 14 years of always having freshmen, I am going an entire semester of only 11th grade. During this last week with freshmen, I am testing out lessons to prepare myself for the challenges of upperclassmen!
Again, all my love and gratitude! Please keep safe!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
A Dose of Reality!
Funded Dec 18, 2020Let me admit: it is WAY too early for me to write to you right now. My packages started coming in Thursday and finished today (actually, there are three more books coming tomorrow). However, this morning, I announced to my class (a group of 6 kids due to Hybrid learning) that we have new additions to our library and they are all nonfiction ... well - they RAN! RAN to the bookshelf! They began to read the backs and immediately took books for our reading time. 5/6 of them were not done with current books. Nevertheless, they wanted to read the first few pages of new books in order to decide if this was their next great read!
The students in Google Meet were quite upset that they were not here to do the same.
This excitement, this clamoring to a bookshelf, this collegiate arguing is all because of you!
I am so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to read about my project and help me make it come to life.
In February, I will only be teaching juniors. My plan is to add a complete unit of non-fiction texts. At first, I was worried about the interest level. Thanks to you, I am no longer worried!
I hope you are all having a Happy New Year!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 10 other donors.Let's Get Graphic!
Funded Nov 23, 2020It's unusual that I would be writing on the day of the deliveries. I usually wait a few weeks, so that I can provide true feedback on how the project is affecting my classroom.
Today, 25 Graphic Novels were waiting in various Amazon Boxes when I arrived in my classroom. I spent the morning loading the books into my online classroom catalog and putting them on a brand new shelf.
When my students arrived this morning, they were drawn to the new shelf, like eager moths to a reading light! Already, seven graphic novels have been taken out. And kids who are home today and coming to school tomorrow (Hybrid model) have already said things such as "please hold that one aside for me!"
Two students asked, "is it really okay? I thought you wanted us to read books." I was simultaneously elated and frustrated to hear this. I want my kids to know that Graphic Novels are literature, so I'm frustrated they've spent the first 14-15 years of their life believing otherwise. But at the same time, I love being the one to tell them that Graphic Novels are works of art! They literary bring words and visual art together to make a story.
From the bottom of my heart: thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
This classroom project was brought to life by Allstate Foundation and 6 other donors.Discussion Leads to Ideas!
Funded Sep 21, 2020Through the madness of the pandemic, the hybrid model, the uncertainty week by week of if we will be in school or home, my students have very little consistency in their lives. However, thanks to your generous donations, we've found our constant in reading.
Our book clubs recently finished reading Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. We are so grateful to you for donating these books, so students could have the experience of reading a modern, relevant book, and have strong class conversations in class. I promise you that not once did they have to answer a study guide question or take a test on the book. Rather, thanks to you, they read and discussed the aspects of the book they felt touched them. They got a deeper understanding of literature because of you!
Due to having items not being available, other books were thrown into the mix as well. Students are particularly enjoying the Graphic Novels, based on books by Ray Bradbury. Mr. Bradbury has always been a staple reading in high school, but students are now finding a new (perhaps eerie) relevance in his stories and loving the illustrations as well!
Finally, I'm grateful for the bookshelves you help bring into the classroom, as my students walk into a haven for literature and reading! From the bottom of my heart: Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 20 other donors.Surrounding Students With Books
Funded Jun 2, 2020It is with such a smile on my face (underneath my Batman facemask) that I write you this note. Throughout the craziness of hybrid learning, I have been insistent that my students will have opportunities for Choice Reading - a personal passion of mine!
Even though some students are home, some I only see once a week, we are exercising our choice to read what we want! The shelving you helped purchase has made my room look like a treasure trove for literature! The books are some of my students' favorites. I currently have two students arguing about who will get their hands on "The Bad-Ass Librarian..." next! While I do not encourage fighting, I secretly love this type of row!
Thank you for your help! There is a special place in Heaven for people who spent any moment of their lives helping kids enjoy their education!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli
Get Lost, Teens! (In Great Books)
Funded May 31, 2020It is with such a smile on my face that I write this note (the smile is under my mask of course). Through the craziness of hybrid learning, I have insisted that my students will still be able to have access to new, exciting books, and not just the assigned classics. I have watched my students' love of reading grow, even in this short, chaotic month of September.
Through your generous donations, we've purchased 8 copies of 8 of the most popular young adult novels on the market. My students are now reading the same books as their friends in the room, at home, and in other classes. They are having virtual book clubs! No study guides! No questions to search for! Just deep, interesting, innovative discussions about the characters, symbolism, themes, and morals found in these novels!
Thank you for all your help!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stefanelli