Ms. Zucker's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 8

• Diving into the Units of Study for Reading & Writing!

  Funded Feb 1, 2016

  Dear Donors,

  We are so grateful that we as teachers were able to make use of the Readers and Writers Project curriculum in our 5th grade classrooms. We received the curriculum in the middle of the school year, yet we were able to implement a few of the units of study. The units we were able implement were memoirs and personal narratives. Students were so excited to jump into these fantastic units of study and learn more about elements of this type of writing.

  The Readers and Writers Project has a great deal of resources that the teachers can you use to support students. The model followed for implementing lessons is engaging and interesting. First the teacher does a mini lesson modeling the lesson for day, next students get to work while the teacher confers with students throughout their work, after the teacher then does a mid-workshop teaching, and finally students are able to share their work for the day.

  One of the important factors in why we chose this curriculum was because it uses the common core standards to drive instruction in the fifth grade classroom. By fifth grade, writers are expected to use a variety of narrative techniques to develop their stories and more specifically their characters. Through this unit students were exposed to several different texts in order to analyze the different techniques that writers use in their own writing in which they could incorporate into their own writing. When developing their own narratives students were taught techniques such as writing effective leads/beginning to stories in order to hook the reader into reading on, using transition words to make the story flow smoothly and in the order it happened, elaborate/ paint a picture for their readers using figurative and colorful language, and writing an ending to their story. Students were able to brainstorm a list of topics that were interesting to them and then finally pick a topic they felt strongly about to write a narrative. Students were given checklists, graphic organizers, and peer suggestions while writing their narratives in order to get as much suggestions as possible. This was a great unit because students used the techniques they already knew and what they learned in order to write fantastic narratives that they could share with classmates, friends, and families!

  We are eternally grateful that we had the support from the donors to purchase this great curriculum in which we integrated into our classrooms the best we could this year. We are very excited to be partnering up with Teacher's College in order to be formally trained in using the curriculum with our students. We are looking forward to using all the units in our classrooms moving forward!

  Thank you!

  5th Grade Team”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

• Striving for Greatness in Reading/Writing Workshop

  Funded May 6, 2015

  I wanted to reach out and say thank you so much for you generous support. This summer I was able to attend Columbia University's Teacher's College Reading Institute. This week long workshop allowed me to learn from numerous leaders in the field of English Language Arts education. Not only that, but I was able to collaborate and learn from many fellow teachers from around the country. I was able to take away more than I could ever imagine possible from this experience. I learned new strategies as to how I can best support my fifth grade students. The kids are more engaged and are getting more out of our new class practices this year. I can see that they are thinking more critically about what they are reading, and in turn are able to comprehend texts at higher levels. All in all, this has made me a better teacher and, more importantly, I am able to provide better instruction for my students. Without your help, this wouldn't have been possible. Again, thank you for all of your help in getting me to Teacher's College - it means the world to me!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.

• Visualizing Our Success!

  Funded Mar 17, 2012

  I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generosity in helping to fund this project. The document camera has been an exciting addition to our classroom over the past couple months. The students find it fun to use, and I am now able to share things with them in ways I was previously unable to do so. For example, I can immediately show student work to the classroom via the document camera. I am also able to show students how to use various small manipulatives (such as spinners, money, dice, etc.) on a larger scale, so they can all watch from their own seats. I am even able to show students books and diagrams without having to waste heaps of copier paper to do so. I am extremely appreciative of our new class accessory and I am eager to continue working with it throughout the upcoming school years.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

• Looking For Our Dream Classroom!

  Funded Dec 20, 2011

  I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your generosity. My classroom has been transformed with all of the supplies that you have so graciously helped to donate! My students love using the Disc-O-Sits and I really feel that they are helping maintain a calmer climate in the classroom. They also love the stress balls and privacy partitions, even when they are not working on an assessment! We also have been able to work on fun downtime projects with some of the craftier supplies. As their teacher, I am thrilled to be able to organize more efficiently - especially with the use of the A/V cart.

  Thank you so much for helping turn our classroom around. I know that I would not have been able to attain these items without you. The students and I really appreciate all that you have done!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

• Make Our Classroom Complete!

  Funded Oct 27, 2011

  I want to thank you so very much for the profound impact that you have had on our classroom. Since we received this new computer, we have been able to accomplish so many fascinating things during our classes! We can now watch online videos, play online games (such as Jeopardy and other fun review games), show power point presentations, and soon we'll even be using a document camera with the computer to share our work with each other! The students have found the computer and the activities we use with it to be very engaging, which makes learning more fun! I have noticed the difference and I can't thank you enough for this opportunity! We will be grateful for you for the rest of this school year and the school years to come! ”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

• To Infinity and Beyond!

  Funded Oct 12, 2011

  I wanted to extend my deepest gratitude for your generosity! The manipulatives you helped to buy for our classroom have been so incredibly helpful! We are currently working on a Geometry unit, so the protractors and linking cubes have been a great aid to use in correlation with our lessons. We also used the spinners for our Probability lessons a few months ago. In fact, I have been sharing these resources and another math teacher has used the equation tiles and other materials for her class. As you can see, these items have had a significant, positive impact at our school and I am ever so grateful for your help!

  As I am sure you know, working in a urban school doesn't always afford teachers with the items that we need to be successful. I can tell you that because of you, my 6th grade class is a big step closer to reaching success! Not only do they understand the lessons more deeply, but they are having a fun time doing so!

  Thank you so much for your kindness. We appreciate you!

  Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

• My Mathematicians Need an Ipod!

  Funded Jan 4, 2011

  I just wanted to express my deep appreciation for your generosity. My students have been infatuated with the iPod that you helped to fund for my classroom. Many students seem to be more eager to practice their math facts since they know that they can use the iPod and various apps to do so. I have also found an app that I can set up interactive flash cards which students can use to study. Since we began to use the new iPod, I have found that some student's scores have risen in their quick math fact assessments. I know that without your generous contribution, we would of never been able to acquire such a high-tech item in our classroom. I, along with my students, are forever grateful for your kindness.

  I hope that you will continue to donate to donorschoose.org and please keep my classroom in consideration for your future charitable actions.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

  This classroom project was brought to life by American Express Members Project and 6 other donors.

• My Special Education Class Needs to See Computer Videos

  Funded Oct 10, 2010

  I wanted to take the time to graciously thank you for your generous donation to my students. The students were so excited the first time they saw the LCD Projector. We have been able to incorporate heaps of new activities in our classes, such as video- and computer-based games, Power Point presentations, on-line and digital videos, and more! The opportunity to present mathematical concepts in these various ways really help the students understand lessons in a much deeper and concrete way. Also, this projector has given our classroom a sense of being up-to-date with technology and the kids really enjoy the lessons in which we use it. I am able to use this projector with all of my current classes and will be able to do so with my future classes as well. As you may or may not know, New York City schools don't have quite the expendable budget as us teachers would like to have, so donations like yours really help teachers and students like us to be able to acquire and use the resources that will help us succeed.

  Again, I sincerely thank you for your generosity and I hope you consider us in the future.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Zucker

  This classroom project was brought to life by FreeCreditReport.com and 2 other donors.