Ms. Graper's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 4

• Fine Motor Skills is Everything!

  Funded Apr 1, 2020

  Our class would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project to help assist with building fine motor skills in class. When this project was published, it was before covid-19. Then when it got fully funded, we were on distant learning. The way we do things in class now are very different and what is expected of us have changed. While my student numbers have stayed the same, 8 children. My actual face to face numbers are only three.

  The students have seen the materials and they just want grab and play but due to restrictions on materials we can have out in our class, things have been limited. For the time being we have only been able to use the books, since they do not want students touching materials that another student may touch. We can not wait for the day when all materials can make their way into our classroom and freely be used. In the meantime, we will practice with turning of pages while reading a book to assist in independent skills.

  Thank you once again for your support and we will one day have a sense of normalcy in class.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Graper

• Our Voice!

  Funded Aug 17, 2019

  First off, I would like to say thank you for your generous donations. Your donations have allowed our class to receive 3 iPads. This in return has allowed my students to access their classroom better. More than half of my students are unable to express their wants and needs, along with being able to grasp a pencil. This can be frustrating for both student and teacher. Yet with all the apps that are available, my students can now be a part of the class and have a voice.

  So once again, thank you from Ms. Graper's class.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Graper

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.

• Autistic Classroom In the 21st Century

  Funded Mar 15, 2013

  First and for most, I would like to send a giant heartfelt THANK YOU!! This gift means the world to my students and me. Let me take a minute to briefly explain my classroom and why this generous gift means so much to us.

  I am a teacher of Autism to a group of fabulous 4th and 5th graders in a self-contained classroom. My students abilities range from being able to read independently and some who need picture supports to assist with their success in their day to day activities. Students of autism tend to be visual learners, so to have that extra support in the class would really give all the students that extra push to excel.

  Our school is part of the 4th largest school public education school district in the United States. Unfortunately with budget being slashed, public education is the first to get hit and with that we see the repercussions in the classroom. Teachers must dig inside their own pockets or search for others means, such as DonorsChoose.org to make their classroom function on a day to day basis.

  The curriculum that our district has chosen for students on a modified curriculum – students who do not participate in state and district assessment – is strictly online. We do not use books but rather we must print everything on copy paper. The stories we use for reading comprehension, math, science and everything else in between in on copy paper. Now with this amazing gift of a projector, we are able to maximize student participation which in turn will enable them to interact with one another. This is huge with students of autism, since the majority of them have difficulty interacting with other children.

  So in short, WE would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand times over for your generous gift to our classroom. Words cannot express our gratitude.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Graper

• Unique Learning Materials

  Funded Aug 5, 2012

  First and fore most I would like to thank you for your generous donation for my students and me. Being a teacher in the public education system can be quite expensive, considering budget cuts that have impacted us greatly. So of course any little bit helps in making sure that my students have the opportunity to achieve.

  I would like to take a minute to describe the population that I work with. I am a teacher of Autism. I have an amazing group of six students whose levels of intellectual ability range from low to high in a self-contained setting. The one thing that they all have in common is that they are all on a modified curriculum. This means that they do not take state or district required assessment and with this means that our curriculum is a little different than the average student who uses books on a daily basis. Our curriculum is completely online and in order for us to access it, this requires a lot of printing. Most teachers have a class of 30 students or so and at the beginning of the year they request for their students to bring in a ream of paper. 30 students = 30 reams. Having only 6 students in my class does not give me the opportunity to achieve 30 reams. This can be quite difficult when you are trying to make sure you have all of your resources in your classroom. Paper as we know isn't cheap or at least on a teacher's salary. With this being said my next thank you goes for the contribution of laser jet ink. Like I said earlier, we print EVERYTHING. I don't print everything from a large copier since sometimes I only need one of sheet and maybe three of another. This would seem tedious in printing from a large machine, so once again a laser jet is much more economical and more convenient. This of course is quite expensive as well.

  Paper is used in our classroom to print worksheets from science, social studies, math, reading and language arts. Each activity will have roughly three to five sheets per child. Five times six is a lot of paper for just one assignment. Some assignments require the use for extra visual support for my students. Students of autism tend to be visual learners, so of course more the visual the better.

  We are hoping to gain access to a projector which of course would ease the burden of costly paper and ink but in the mean time we must use what resources are offered to us. This of course is Donorschoose.org and donators such as yourself who are generous enough to give to teachers in this rough economic time supplies that help in the education of our students.

  My students and I are very grateful for your contribution to our classroom and we hope that in future any request that are submitted, you would help us again in building our students success.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Graper