Dan Gonzalez's Mustache

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We have been using the play kitchen and food in our classroom for several months now. The children were so excited when it arrived that I had to immediately open the large freight and set up the kitchen (which was so easy because it came in one large piece). So far two kindergarten classes and one preschool class use the kitchen on a daily basis. My teacher partner and I have made one of the students' rotating centers the kitchen play! The children are learning everyday home activities and vocabulary by playing with the kitchen. Playing with the kitchen center is by FAR the most popular activity the children choose. I am also extremely impressed with the rugged craftsmanship of this particular kitchen play center. It is built for everyday use and can hold up to small children being rough with the kitchen, as children can be when playing.

You have brought such joy to my class and other classes at our school that use this kitchen center! I am most excited that they don't even realize they are learning while playing with the kitchen and play food! I smile when I see them pretending to cook, bake, wash dishes, and serve food. Small everyday activities like that were hard to teach my students without this play center. Thank you so very much!”

With gratitude,

Mr. Giorgi

The room dividers have made a great addition to the class. All my students work best in a 1:1 setting with no distractions. Before receiving the dividers it was very difficult to accommodate the students need. Everything seemed to be a distraction from there learning. Since receiving the dividers I have noticed a great difference in distractability as well as improvements on my students goals. the students also seem to enjoy the comfort of the defined areas and don't get as easily agitated and upset. Thanks for all your support!!!”

With gratitude,

Ms. h.

Thank you for the generous donation that you made to our classroom. My students and I appreciate the fact that people like you want to help us make our classroom the best place possible for children. It is through donations such as this that our classroom is what it is. I could not provide for my students without your help.

Now that we have visual and audible timers in the classroom there are fewer students asking me when something is going to happen next. Having the visual timer with the red tape that shrinks as time passes is really helping my students understand how 5 minutes feels different from 20 minutes. As a result, they feel more independent because they don't have to ask me for the answer.

One of the disabilities that many of my students have is called a nonverbal learning disability. A typical characteristic is not being able to tell time or even to have a sense of time. With these new timers, students are supported in learning to have that sense of time. It means a lot to me and to them that they have visual an audible reminders to keep us on on track.

I appreciate you for helping me support my students and by giving me the opportunity to show them how special they are.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Schneider

Thank you for generous donation. It has been a very exciting journey as my students have begun their first novel study this month. It is a refreshing change to see them excited to read a chapter and actually pleading to read ahead of the class. As a result of your gifts we have had in depth conversations about forgiveness, first impressions and the meaning of friendship.

Our school has no literary closet so these books will not only benefit my current class, but many classes still to come. This is the first year that our students are going to go to science camp and this novel is a perfect tie in to the trip we will be taking at the end of March.

Thank you again for your kindness and your generosity. That in itself has been an invaluable lesson to my students!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Dickinson

Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! My students were so excited the day our packages arrived. As we opened them, I told my students about our special friends at Donors Choose who sent us all of these wonderful hands-on activities to help us learn about colors, shapes&numbers.

When we unpacked the activities that you donated, my students were immediately drawn to their vibrant colors. Their interest was peaked as they explored each item with their hands and fingers – and in the case of a few little ones – their mouths too! The items you have donated are safe and child-friendly so that even the child who likes to explore materials using her mouth can do so safely. These materials are just perfect because they fit in little hands and are textured so that the children get sensory stimulation as they manipulate each piece. My students especially love the color magnet game that allows them to drag colored balls into paint buckets using a magnetic wand. They think this game is MAGIC!

I hope the photos that I have uploaded illustrate just how happy my students are using these materials! May the smiles on their faces warm your heart with the knowledge that you put it there!

I cannot tell you how much it means to me that you, a stranger, would support my classroom for children who have special needs. As you may or may not know, special education programs are very costly for a school district and many times there is no funding to purchase "extras" like the hands-on materials you have donated. But what a difference these little "extras" make in the education of children!

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your generosity. ”

With gratitude,

Ms. Ramsay

Can you believe that my students look forward to rainy day recess? It's because they have been so thrilled to get more chances to play with the math activities that your donations purchased. I am so impressed with these math materials and the endless hours of thoughtful fun and mathematical thinking they provide. I have also noticed many budding friendships between students who are bonding over a shared passion for math puzzles or dice games. I appreciate how much math vocabulary is emerging through this kind of interactive play.

Thank you so much for supporting and for helping us grow smart, sweet, and strong through playful learning! We are so happy we could "count" on you!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Patel

Thank you, thank you, thank you, on behalf of my wonderful students and me. Your generous donation has enabled me to provide my students with fun, engaging and challenging literacy activities games and puzzles.

I have been using the materials with all my students daily. My students who have little school experience or are learning English as a second language especially benefit from curriculum in the form of a story or game. They are gaining skills and acquiring English at a faster pace because of your participation in Donors Choose.

I truly appreciate your willingness to give to my community of learners. The materials benefit this class and others next year and beyond.

Thanks Again,”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Novak

The generous donations that you have made to this classroom have improved it beyond words or pictures! Each and every person who enters our space comments on the chair sox and new bright, green chairs.

As soon as the items arrived, students jumped at the opportunity to open the boxes and get everything in place. They were so happy to place the ball sox on the desks because they knew how much quieter moving the desks would be. We were all surprised by the difference and our transitions are not distracting to others anymore. In my Special Ed class, fewer distractions equals more time for learning.

The new green chairs have also improved our environment. It's so easy to have students put the chairs back where they belong because they all match. Better than that is the fact that they don't wobble like our old broken chairs.

Again, thank you for helping me create an environment that my students deserve. I couldn't do it without your help! ”

With gratitude,

Ms. Schneider