Ms. Stephanie's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 13

• Music and Social Emotional Learning

  Funded Feb 16, 2025

  We are overwhelmed with your generosity. It was incredible to have this project fully funded within minutes of it “going live.” Thank you so much for your generosity. Our students can continue to grow, and can thrive thanks to you.

  We have heard many stories of students telling their teachers and their peers how much they look forward to music. It’s such a special gift you’re giving them — please know it means a lot to all of us.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

• Music, Wellness, and Independence

  Funded Dec 10, 2024

  Our students have had such wonderful successes with their instruments and materials thanks to your generosity.

  Because of your generous donation and match, several of our students have been able to independently engage in music making by holding a bell and touching it with their thumb--a small movement with a BIG impact! We also now have a way to engage students with their voice. And finally, it may seem like a small thing, but we have a safe way to store our instruments so we can use them for many years to come.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

  This classroom project was brought to life by Donaldson Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Creative Voices

  Funded Feb 23, 2023

  Our students have been rehearsing for their talent show / student showcase for the past several weeks. They are so excited to share their talents with the whole school at our showcase on June 12th! The microphone stands have given them independence and confidence in singing and playing instruments.

  We also have students with higher support needs who have been really enjoying the stretchy band. Yesterday, we had a student smile and laugh and share a special moment with a peer when using the stretchy band. It was one of his first times engaging with a peer in a spontaneous way, and it was so exciting to see!

  We will be able to use these materials with many students for many years to come. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity to our special education music programming!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

• Authentic Music Engagement

  Funded Apr 15, 2022

  When our students opened their materials, they were excited. Bean bags in music?! We immediately started exploring different ways to use the bean bags. Improvisation with blocks?! Let's do it!

  And the jellyfish deserve their own paragraph. I have had so many interactions with students and staff because of the jellyfish lamp! They love it -- and it helps students stay in my room and calm down if they need a "reset."

  One of our student's favorite games is to sing "ahh...bum!" from the 5th scale degree to the tonic / resting tone while he drops the bean bags. Several other students enjoy building scales or improvising rhythms on the blocks

  It has been exciting to see students who typically don't like to touch instruments that are hard or loud engaging with the bean bags and blocks in musical ways. Some tap the materials lightly, and some hold them and move them rhythmically or with "flow."

  Thank you for your kind and generous donations to my classroom. It is an honor to serve my students, and your donations have improved their ability to engage and connect with independence and authenticity.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

• STEAM Drums

  Funded Nov 6, 2021

  Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our STEAM Drums project. Our students were SO EXCITED to unbox their drums. So far 3 have arrived, which gives our classroom 9 drums to use. This has given most of our classes incredible opportunities for group drumming experiences, and I know when we have a classroom set of 12 drums that we will be in for even more fun!

  So far, we have used the drums to explore ways that drumming can affect our heart rate and emotional state. We've also practiced over 6 different Afro-Caribbean drum patterns with intricate polyrhythms. Finally, we've worked on games that encourage students to focus and pay attention with drumming.

  For this Spring, we have a virtual drumming performance in store. We also plan to continue learning new drumming patterns, and continue using drumming to improve our health and wellness in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

  Thank you for your care and support during this time. These drums will support our students at this very crucial time, and for many years into the future.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

  This classroom project was brought to life by 3M and one other donor.

• Classroom Cajon

  Funded May 6, 2020

  I came back to school in-person this month, and unwrapped our amazing classroom cajon!

  This year, due to the pandemic, we are using individual instrument kits and I'm in students' classrooms. I'm very hopeful the classroom cajon will make its debut during our 2021-2022 school year!

  I can see so many potential uses for this wonderful instrument. With it, our students can build their relationships with music, connect with one another, reinforce academic concepts, and explore Latin music culture.

  Thank you for your continued support during this very challenging year. It is an honor to receive your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 4 other donors.

• Take Home Music Therapy Kits

  Funded Aug 27, 2020

  Thank you for your support of our Take Home Music Therapy kits. Our Prek-8th grade students have benefited from these kits in distance learning settings, and our transition aged students have benefited from the materials in both hybrid and distance learning settings.

  This year has been incredibly stressful for our students, and having materials of their own that allow them to engage in music making experiences has been an incredible gift to our classroom.

  These kits have also improved my practice as a music therapist. My favorite part about the kits is that students get to make choices about what they want to play, and they can practice playing their instruments at home.

  We will continue to use these materials in distance learning and face-to-face settings in order to engage in safe music making experiences. Students will have their own music kits at school or at home.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

• The Learning Rug

  Funded Mar 1, 2019

  I am very pleased to share that our Learning Rug has been a fantastic addition to our classroom! I wish you could have seen the looks on my students eyes the moment my students walked into the classroom and saw their beautiful new rug. They all expressed excitement; wanting to explore the rug by sitting on it and looking at the shapes. One student just smiled and "hugged" the sun in the middle of the rug. Another exclaimed, "this is awesome!" It was a "hit" right from the beginning.

  Since that first day, we have used our rug in many ways. We use it to identify "self spaces" during our groups when we sit on the rug itself or on chairs. We play circle games that allow us to identify numbers, colors, and letters. We dance on the rug, stand on the rug, and celebrate learning together with the rug. It provides a warm, welcoming space in the classroom upon entry, and makes students feel loved and cared for.

  We will continue to explore possibilities with our learning rug. I want to thank you for bringing my students joy and making them feel loved as they grow in their academic skills and social skills. Donors like you continue to make positive differences in my students lives, and I'm very grateful for your support.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 5 other donors.

• Sensory Music

  Funded Jan 29, 2019

  Our students have been enjoying their sensory tools and props! We have used them in music therapy as well as for support in general education chorus.

  They especially enjoy using the parachute together, and are learning different ways to engage with it. All students are learning to use the weighted lap and shoulder pads as tools to help them calm and focus. We love using the weighted balls to squeeze and find hidden objects! The wobble cushions provide just the right amount of "wiggle" for our students who like to move.

  Thank you for helping provide my students with tools and objects that give them success and enjoyment in and through music in their special education classrooms and in regular ed settings!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Stephanie