Ms. Susannah's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 58

• Immersing Ourselves Into Independence

  Funded Jan 11, 2025

  Thank you so much for your generous donations.

  Our students have been loving the materials purchased for them. They have been able to use scissors during art. The students who use the adapted scissors loved pressing them up and down.

  We made hot chocolate on a cold day. The students loved hitting a switch to see the immersion blender go.

  The best part were the smiles. The fact that they didn't need an adult to make something go or have a final product was motivating.

  Thank you again for your donations. You made a difference.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

• Bicycle, Bicycle, Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bicycle!

  Funded Sep 17, 2024

  Thank you so much for your donations. We have three schools in our building and there are bikers from each school excited to be able to store their bike in a secure place. Other people have been so impressed that they are talking about riding their bikes to school. Parents can now say yes to their child taking a scooter to school and the parent locking it up and jetting off to work sans scooter.

  We had another surprising benefit that came up. The OTs and PTs often use adapted bikes around the school. Having a seoncd bike rack allows them to work with turning accuracy for the students and spacial awarenes.

  That was just awesome! Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 6 other donors.

• Say Aaaahhhhh!

  Funded May 7, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous donations. We have been able to provide students with different types of oral motor tools. Something that will best meet their need. So a child with a hard bit has an oral motor chewing tool that they cannot bite through. The child that needs a bigger tool has one available to them.

  This summer we had more children enter our school with different needs. Thanks to having a bin of various oral motor tools, I was able to discuss with the student's team what their needs were and how they treated other oral motor tools. We chose the best one for him. He liked it and the team thought it was great.

  The clips and bands have allowed children to "drop" the oral motor tools without getting lost or hitting the floor and getting dirty. In the past when they have hit the floor, there is not always an opportunity to wash them right away. Some of the straps have also helped us make the attachment longer and better position them for the child so they can reach out to get the tool themselves or remain in a safe position as they chew.

  Thank you again for your wonderful donations. You have really helped the students in our school with their oral motor needs.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.

• Cuff 'em Danno

  Funded Apr 10, 2024

  Thanks to your generous donations, we have been using these cuffs in multiple ways. During art, we have used the cuffs with markers. The students can now have a marker in their hand without an adult holding it for them. They are still learning how to color with the marker. That is ok, That will take time.

  We have also used the cuff to hold glue sticks. The students have been able to glue art activities with less assistance than before. We still need to provide support, however, instead of hand over hand, we are able to support at the wrist.

  We have them available for students who will need help with utensils. This will keep them from dropping the utensils as they eat.

  There are so many other things we have not discovered yet that we will use these for. I am so excited to figure that out. Thank you again.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

• Spin Spin Spin Around the Rainbow

  Funded Jan 23, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous donations. We have been working on having our students participate in art projects independently. We have gathered materials and tools and adapted them for our students to use.

  Out multiple handicapped students cannot all use a scissors. Having button operated scissors or a special leaver scissors on a base allows them to cut things themselves without an adult holding their hand. The student have been having fun, taking on placing the paper in themselves and practicing. Other students love the buzzing of the switch operated scissors. Our student can do their own spin art. We have adapted the spin art machines to use a switch. The students get to control the spin on their own. There is no hand over hand prompting. Some of them are having a blast slamming that switch. Due to physical issues, our students can't always hold a glue stick. Some of them were having a great time using a glue stick with a cuff.

  This project has really show the students (and quite a few adults) that our students are capable of being more independent and creating art all by themselves.

  Thank you again.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

  This classroom project was brought to life by Someone who cares about New York City and 3 other donors.

• iCommunicate iSpeak iFunction iAutism

  Funded Dec 16, 2023

  Thank you very much for your generous donations. The new ipads for the speech team has helped out practice immensely.

  We have control of downloading apps that are appropriate for our students' speech/communication development. We are often limited in what we can download onto Department of Education devices, even if the app is educationally sound and will yield the best results. Some of our providers have been able to transfer apps that are struggling to work on the older ipads due to updates not working as well. Many apps have been updated to work on the new models in a smoother way. Especially, some of the AAC apps. Our students are exploring more and communicating more.

  Our students enjoy using the new ipads. the new cases are easy to manipulate. The stand works well holding up the ipad. We have been utilizing the extra chargers a lot. Those always seem to be in short supply or get lost. Having extra ones, means we have been able to charge our ipads and the students' AAC devices whenever we need to.

  Thank you again for all of your help supporting our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 27 other donors.

• Snip Snip Snip

  Funded Dec 29, 2023

  Thank you so very much for your generous donations for our adaptive scissors. We have already used them in school. The excitement as the children can press a button to cut their paper is visible.

  We are working on a special art project with a book that requires shoelaces to be added to a giant shoe. The simple task of cutting one strip of paper and seeing it used is priceless. The student got to see their work without adult hand over hand prompting being used. The adults were also impressed with the students being able to cut their own paper.

  We are going to continue working with our new adaptive art materials in order to create art with our own hands. We have started with one class and will now expand to a second class on our school. Another SLP has taken this project to another school. We hope to keep spreading this work and idea.

  Thank you again.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

• Let's Super Charge It!

  Funded May 9, 2023

  Thank you so much for your generous donations. We now have charging stations in every classroom. We also have charging stations in the OT/PT room, the main office, and in the ELL office. We have enough new cords to have replaced all of the broken USB cables we had from the previous year. Each classroom is utilizing the charging stations. Children are no longer going the whole day without getting their communication device charged or having to wait their turn because there is only one charger. Students are learning how to charge their own devices. Also student are now able to travel to OT/PT, to their ELL services, or even into the main office and have the ability to charge their device if necessary. You have helped give our students a voice. Thank you so very much.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors Corporation and 6 other donors.

• Let's Go To Print!

  Funded Apr 8, 2023

  Thank you so very much for your donations towards a new printer. It has already been set up and utilized. I have been able to print out "Thank You!" coloring sheets for the children to show their appreciation with. I have been able to print out assessment protocols for upcoming IEPs and my data sheets for the day's sessions. This was all done within the first day of having the printer.

  You have made our access to materials easier and quicker. This helps the me organize my data and reach the students in the best way possible. My data sheets that I print out for them helps me track what they are successful with and where I need to help them.

  It hasn't happened yet, however, there are times that a child mentions something or our session is going somewhere unpredictable. Now I will be able to do a quick search and find a worksheet or coloring page and print it off for them in the moment. That will help motivate the students.

  Thank you again for your generosity.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Susannah