Past projects 6
Calming Area
Funded Feb 14, 2023Thank you so much for providing our Kindergarten students with alternate activities on the playground. The students have benefitted from it in unexpected ways. Not only have they learned how to work better together and provided a space for certain students to cool down but their creativity has also sky rocketed. They now use the many building and connecting tools to express themselves and have become young engineers.
Your donation has inspired us to continue to purchase other items for your students to use while they learn, explore, and have fun outside on the yard. Thank you again for your generous and willingness to back our school the best it can be!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza
Students of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow!
Funded Aug 25, 2022Thank you so much for providing our student council members with their special poster making supplies and an area to keep their materials safe and accessible! Many of our students talk about joining student council for many years before they are eligible to join the council in fourth and fifth grade. One of the aspect they look forward to participating in is promoting school spirit and with your help that experience just got better!
I kept the supplies a secret until it was time to make their first poster. The look on their faces when they saw the colored paper, poster letters, glitter pens, and the special smelly markers was priceless. I wish I was able to hold the camera up as I showcased each special item. As the pictures show, the students are making great use of the supplies and I can't wait to see all the creations they make this school year.
Best of all, the materials are stored in a special cabinet easily accessible to the students. And even better, the school's special treasure chest for students being caught being safe, responsible, respectful, and kind now sits on top of the bookcase that you helped fund! Thank you for making our school an even better place to learn!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza
This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 2 other donors.Can You Hear Me Now?
Funded Mar 29, 2018Your donation has been used for multiple years by countless students. My fifth grade students made great use of the sound system by using the microphones during class to share their thinking. The students also made use of the speaker while we filmed our many short educational video showcasing our learning throughout the year. The sound was clear and loud enough for all to hear.
The following years, the sound system has had an even larger impact on the school community. I started the tradition of bringing out the speaker on Friday morning and playing upbeat music as students and staff arrived to campus. The music is one of the best ways to celebrate an amazing week of learning coming to an end.
The Kindergarteners this year also take advantage of the speaker during our Friday lunch dance parties. It's not uncommon to hear the students count down the days until Friday, not because it's the start of the weekend, but because of the music! Thank you again for your generous donation!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza
This classroom project was brought to life by Verizon and 4 other donors.Lights, Camera, Action, Share
Funded Dec 1, 2017Once I received the notification that my project was fully funded I couldn't wait to spread the great news. As soon as my students found out they started shouting out ideas of projects that we could do once the technology arrives. These ideas included videotaping our learning, making movies, and even extending outside our classroom and reporting what other classes are doing. Their excitement and eagerness to showcase their talents confirmed that this piece of technology will redefine the learning that happens in our classroom.
Our first recording had students pretending they were newscasters reporting to citizens of a fictional island experiencing a water shortage. Students worked in small groups to summarize their findings, present recommendations to citizens, as well as answer questions. This culminating activity was based on a month long science unit. As I visited with each group I witnessed the students using academic language and collaborative conversations to share their knowledge they gained as water engineers and now to share it as journalists.
I look forward to the next three months of school and the many uses that we will be using our camcorder for. My plans include having my students choose a topic of their own interest and teach the class about it. There is no doubt that many of my students will use the camera to record their information, teach us about editing video clips, or showcasing learning across our campus. None of this would be a possible without you!!!!!
Your donation has increased the learning in our classroom. All my students have benefited from your gracious donation and now can present and share their knowledge in a new way. You have provided me with a tool that I was lacking and now our students are becoming twenty-first century learners and thinkers. Thank you for your support!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza
Can I Use the Computer?
Funded Sep 9, 2014My class and I couldn't wait to get our hands on the new laptop and the excitement only grew as we tracked our package from the warehouse to our school. The laptop has increased learning both in the classroom for individual students as well as during whole group lessons where we are able to project games, books, videos, and pictures bringing a whole new level of learning to our classroom.
It has been several months since we received our laptop and the many different ways we use it continue to increase as the days go by. On a daily basis individual students use the laptop to type up their imaginative stories, letters, and summaries. Not only does this give students the ability to practice and improve their writing skills but also increase and speed of typing as well as their understanding of using a computer. In fact, one of my students has a difficult time focusing and getting his work done. Writing is one of the hardest subjects for him, but he looks forward to the opportunity of typing his final draft instead of writing it. This is only possible because of your donation.
To increase the engagement of my whole group lessons I have started to project different types of technology. For example, we are currently learning about the different regions of California and the ways that animals and plants are able to survive in them. I have been able to find videos that show these animals in action using their surroundings to help them live and strive. This enhancement to our studies would not have been possible without your donation but now it happens multiple times during the day. Instead of using strictly the white board for our math lessons I have found games that review the same concepts that we are learning. At least once a week I introduce a new math game as our whole group lesson; the students think we are just playing games but in fact we are reinforcing skills and strategies taught in previous math lessons, all while we are having fun. The best part about this is that the students often beg for more math games to play and after adding these games to our class web site they are available for students to use both at home as well as in the computer lab.
Your donation has increased the learning and teaching in our classroom. All my students have benefited from your gracious donation through the opportunities they now have to individually type, research, and explore the computer as well as allowing me to enhance lessons with whole group activities, videos, pictures, and slideshows. You have provided me with a tool that I was lacking. Our students are now becoming twenty-first century learners and thinkers. Thank you for your support!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza
I Spark Their Interest, Will You Keep the Fire Going?
Funded Feb 22, 2013My class and I couldn't wait to get our hands on our new Kindles, the excitement only increased when the office called to tell us that a package was delivered and waiting for us. After opening and charging the Kindles they quickly became the most requested tool in our classroom.
During Universal Access my students can be found reading books, playing and exploring the different applications, and most importantly learning without even realizing it. The vivid illustrations found in many children's books are just as realistic and intriguing on the Kindles. My students are currently fascinated with reading nonfiction material about animals. Our current language arts readings are based on different animals and their habitats. During class discussions my students ask "Is there a book on the kindle about ____?" or "Can you get a book about ____?" This excitement and desire to learn is rewarding to watch and would not be possible without your support as a donor.
During math time, my students love to practice their basic facts using flashcards and solving math problems through math applications. This also allows me to differentiate based on the needs of each individual student. I have some students who still need help with their addition facts 0-5 while most of my class is reviewing subtraction and multiply by 0,1,2,5,10. I have some students who are practicing multiplying with all different factors. The ease of selecting the correct level for each student allows them to be challenged while building their confidence in a fun and interactive way. Thank you again for supporting my class. My students and I love the addition of Kindles into our daily learning!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Mendoza