Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 5

• Lights, Camera, Action! "Vivid Expression Through Technology" by PreK Deaf Students

  Funded Aug 13, 2017

  These Samsung Galaxy Tab A Tablets, backdrop, stand, and other technology equipment has made such a HUGE impact on my students! I wish we could upload videos so you all could see the Language acquisition of my Preschoolers, Pre-K, and Kinder students. They have acquired naturally Reading Principals used by Deaf adults reading to their Deaf children. My students have learned to sign on top of the screen, use classifiers, expand on the characters & story line as well as expand on their facial expressions.

  All of my students have been so motivated to learn, stand up in front of their peers and perform their songs to the music videos. They want to repeat the songs over and over again so everyone gets a chance to perform. Instead of a 20 minute Circle Time it has become a daily 40 minute music signing performance. Even my newest and youngest 3-year old with no language has learned to perform his favorite parts and follow the routine.

  Students have learned to watch each other, listen to Teacher feedback to other students and include it in their own retelling of the story, song, and rhyme. Parents have been amazed at their children's expansion of language, thrilled to see their child eager to attend school, and learn signs from their child.

  Thank you SO MUCH for ALL of YOUR support and belief in my projects and especially my Deaf Students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia

  This classroom project was brought to life by Omidyar Network and 6 other donors.

• Deaf Students...American Sign Language...Spanish Speaking Families...Teaching Through Technology at Home!

  Funded Jan 31, 2017

  My Deaf students are learning to use the tablets to film themselves "orating" through American Sign Language (ASL) their book reviews, retelling of stories, and express their experiences. This is a good tool for them to communicate and "perform" in front of a camera for others to view. At the beginning they were shy, smiling, and laughing while expressing themselves. It took several tries but they are getting the hang of it. They are learning to communicate using the proper "signing space", "role shifts" for different characters instead of creating different voices, and "facial expressions" as part of their grammatical structure in ASL. They are also learning to manipulate and save their videos onto Google Drive and then they will learn to upload unto Google Classroom.

  My students are also learning to film themselves to review their videos and use it to assist them with writing their essays. This is not an easy feat but they are learning to view, pause, write, rewind, write again. This allows them to add more details in their writing that they would normally forget to include.

  We are still in the process of creating videos and uploading them onto Google Classroom for students and their Spanish speaking parents to watch from home as well as to share with our hearing peers at our school.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.

• Empowering Deaf Students Through Art

  Funded Jun 10, 2016

  Dear Donors,

  We are so grateful for your monetary donation which in turn allowed us to purchase many kinds of arts supplies. My students were so excited to see the boxes arrive. They asked, "Who is that for? What is that?" They were elated to know that it was all for them. They sat around the kidney table as I unpacked the boxes and showed them the colored sand, beads, paint, brushes, easels, and leather. We have finished four projects so far...we created a picture of Hawaii with colored sand to go along with a story we read in class. We created land forms related to our geography lessons. We also created beaded necklaces like the Native Americans in California. We are currently making a paper maché mobile like our ancestors did. We will begin a unit on primary and secondary colors then move onto lines. Our visiting deaf artist comes on a weekly basis and helps us learn to use things around us, recycling objects from around our homes and classroom. We are reminded of our Social Studies lessons on the Native Americans that used everything and nothing went to waste.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 13 other donors.

• Empowering Students Through Art: Native American Art

  Funded Apr 7, 2016

  My students were so excited to see the box on the kidney table. They kept asking, "Who? Who brought the box? Who is it for?" I went on and explained that I had written a project and that many of my friends and former students gave money to buy the materials that were inside. I then went on to show them pictures of all of you. They asked if you were Hearing or Deaf and if you signed. I explained your place within the Deaf Community and that you all wanted to help them learn better.

  We then opened up the box and pulled out the materials. They were so excited to see the Peglooms and the yarn. They loved all the colors of the yarn and reminded me of the art that the Native Americans used. I showed them the projects that we would be making and their smiles were priceless.

  They were so excited to start working with the clay. The said the clay was the color of red dirt. I replied that the clay came in many colors. That Native Americans used the clay that was available to them. We had already studied the Hopi and I went on to explained that they created their pottery by using coils that looked like snakes. We all practiced making snakes of various sizes and thicknesses. We then began creating our pottery just like the Hopis.

  As you can see in the pictures posted we are well on our way with weaving our mini-rugs on the Peglooms. It takes a lot of time...we practice in 20 minute increments in the afternoon. Our clay first set pots are complete but we will be making more.

  THANK YOU again for your generosity and thoughtful donation. We are making great use of it and we'll be displaying our Native American Arts at our school's "Art Fest" in about three weeks. Thanks for your help and friendship.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia

• Writing Through Environmental Print And Pictures

  Funded Jul 14, 2015

  My students were so excited to see and use the new computer and printer. One student kept signing "new computer" and let everyone that came into our classroom know that we had gotten a new computer and printer. She even showed them her work from drafting to revising to publishing and adding a picture. My third grade students are using the computer and printer several times a week.

  My first graders are using our picture word wall printed on our new computer and printer on a daily basis to write their sentences during Writer' Workshop. My first graders are looking forward to getting on the computer, typing their Small Moments, adding a picture and printing them out.

  Many students have gone from just drawing pictures and depending on me to spell words to label their pictures to independently using the picture work wall and asking for a few words to be spelled.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Sylvia D. Garcia