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Thanks so much for providing a computer and printer! I use the computer nearly every day - in fact, I am typing this note on it. Your generosity has made it easy to keep student data organized and available, so I can use it to target every child's needs. I'm also able to communicate with parents, fill out district paperwork, print extra copies of worksheets - all without leaving my classroom. We've also enjoyed using the computer to watch short learning videos. Right now, we are incubating eggs, and thanks to your gift my students could watch a clip of last year's successful hatch. This is a big support to my English Language Learners and visual learners in particular.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Jennifer

My students were so excited to receive the math manipulatives! The manipulatives arrived just in time for our lessons on finding one more, one less, ten more, and ten less than numbers 1-100. We began using the small laminated hundreds charts right away. The students had used small whiteboards before, but using the hundreds charts was an extra special treat that all of the students enjoyed. I would give them a number between 1 and 100, which they would find and underline. Then I would tell them to identify and circle the number that was either one more, one less, ten more, or ten less than the original number. Doing any activity with whiteboard markers is a high-engagement activity, so I had 100 percent participation from my students. Nobody was off task, which made my job easier because I could focus on teaching and not on redirecting. Just finding numbers on a hundreds chart builds the students' number sense and gives them a more in-depth understanding of how many 100 is. Finding one more, one less, ten more, and ten less is a critical skill for first graders to learn because it helps with general number sense and addition and subtraction. It also gets them ready for counting money. We also used the small hundreds charts for a 100th day of school activity where the students made Cheerio and Fruit Loop necklaces after laying 100 of them over their hundreds chart.

I had several students help me unpack and set up the large hundreds chart. They were enthusiastic about getting to see a large version of a hundreds chart where they could touch, turn over, and move numbers as they pleased. We use the hundreds chart every morning as a part of calendar math. I made cards that fit behind the numbers, which have the labels One More, One Less, Ten More, and Ten Less. Each day a different student has the Calendar job. Along with the other Calendar Math parts, the student must place the card appropriately around the special number of the day. For example, if the number of the day were 43, the cards would be placed on 44, 42, 33, and 53. Often we also use the hundreds chart for practicing counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's (a skill that students should master by the end of first grade.) I pick a student to use the pointer and point as the class counts by 2's, 5's, or 10's. Being able to count by 2's builds the students' understanding of even and odd numbers, and it also gives them a tool to use when counting large numbers of items. Counting by 5's and 10's is also useful when counting large numbers of items, but it also particularly helps with counting money. All of these activities increase the students' number sense foundation.

The large timer has been a huge hit in my class. The students love taking turns setting it for various activities. We use it to time our focused work when there should be no talking. The students are able to look up at any time to see how long they have left for a various activity, allowing them to become self-monitoring. The timer is also used for timed math fact quizzes. By the end of first grade, the students should have most of their addition and subtraction facts memorized. This is a critical skill to have before beginning to add and subtract double-digit numbers, which the students will do in second grade. In addition, the timer greatly helps me in my teaching because it assists me in keeping tabs on my pacing, that I am not spending too long on certain lessons and activities. We have not yet used the Ten Frame manipulatives but we will use them as part of an end-of-the-year review unit, working more on number sense and addition and subtraction. Thank you so much for your support!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Harris

Thank you for the scanner/printer. The week we received the scanner/printer our first scholarship applications for the Orange County Department of Education AVID Scholarships were due. We took our picture with some of the documents we were required to scan and uploaded it. From that round of scholarships, we had 5 winners, one of whom won a full ride to a private educational institution. On April 22, the remaining four students will be notified about their scholarships at an award ceremony.

As Benny said, "It helped me win a scholarship and that makes me happy. It fulfilled my dream of wanting to go to college."

"It was easy as 1-2-3," said Jesus about using the machine; he, like Benny, is a scholarship winner.

In addition to using the scanner for scholarships, students have also used it to scan, print and copy documents for classroom projects. Because it has colored ink, they have been able to make colorful documents for their presentations.

As students continue to apply for scholarships, they will use the new scanner/printer. We have the only scanner on campus that is available for student use and appreciate having daily access to it.

Thank you again for supporting our dream to attend college through your generous donations. We are excited about the prospect of winning more scholarships to support the many college acceptances we have received and are excited about the upcoming awards ceremonies celebrating our accomplishments. We are scanning for scholarships!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Blandford

Dear Donors,

On behalf of my students, I want to thank you for your generosity. It is really exciting to know that are people like you that are willing to help make education stimulating, exciting, and therefore better for our students.

Through these tools, you will have enabled our students to learn to read, write, and count much more quickly and enjoy each lesson. I will be able to provide my students with interactive lessons that will engage the whole class.

Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate computer class. Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. Effective technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent and when technology supports curricular goals.

Many people believe that technology-enabled project learning is the new plus ultra of classroom instruction. Learning through projects while equipped with technology tools allows students to be intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the modern office looks like. Through projects, students acquire and refine their analysis and problem-solving skills as they work individually and in teams to find, process, and synthesize information they've found online.

The myriad resources of the online world also provide each classroom with more interesting, diverse, and current learning materials. The Web connects students to experts in the real world and provides numerous opportunities for expressing understanding through images, sound, and text.

New tech tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomenon and to view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding. And, as an added benefit, with technology tools and a project-learning approach, students are more likely to stay engaged and on task, reducing behavioral problems in the classroom.

Technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.

I have amazing technology in my school! An electronic whiteboard is the latest and greatest technology for elementary classrooms - Teachers can take turns using it. It allows all learners to interact with activities, create meaningful and enriching experiences, and deeply enhances the curriculum in a fun way. I feel so fortunate to be able to provide my low-income students with such a great educational tool. With this computer attached to the whiteboard it will be possible to access all of these opportunities.”

With gratitude,

Teacher

We are so excited to have received these supplies! The day they arrived felt like Christmas - I had five of my students come in after school to help me set them up and play around with all of the nifty features. The computers will be put to use right away - we are starting a forensics unit in which groups will need to type up lab reports and make presentations to summarize their investigations. I am working with a few groups of students who will be entering a robotics tournament in Albuquerque, and now we have the computers to program their robots!

I look forward to sharing pictures of students in action with these supplies. Thank you again for your generosity and support in providing more opportunities for these amazing students!”

With gratitude,

Mr. Pande

Dear Donors,

I wish you could have come in when I brought the laptops to school to be a part of the students excitement. When it is our computer time all the students want to use the 2 laptops, even when they have the option to use the iPads they seem to really enjoy working on the computers. We have about 4 other computers in the classroom, however because they freeze all the time students get frustrated and this is a main reason why they would rather be on the new computers because they are not freezing.

The computers are being used mainly for math games and practice testing. I hope to start teaching researching and how students can use the Internet to research a topic, however with state testing around the corner we have not started this process yet.

Having workable computers in the classroom, students are not arguing over the computers and I am not having to fuss around with getting them to work which would take away teaching time. I am not loosing teaching time now and students are able to boost their math skills without having to fuss with the computers themselves and use the whole time allowed to work on program they are using that day.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. W.

I can not express my gratitude for all of you who donated to my project. It is with much appreication that I thank you for your generosity and kindness on behalf of my students. These supplies have made a world of difference in my classroom.

The supplies I requested now provide the students with the tools they need to be productive and successful in school. The protractors are being used to help them get ready for the Common Core State Math test coming up. And there are always those who don't even have a pencil with them for the test.

I could not have helped all of these students on my own, it is because of your unwavering support that more of my students could be successful in school.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Woodley