Larissa Gaston's Giving Page

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We are truly grateful for your generous donations. We were not able to implement the resources immediately in the way I had originally planned, but were instead able to modify and do something exceptional which has never before been done before in our city. When I went to begin loading the software onto the computers, we realized that the computers were more antiquated than previously thought. However, I had written another grant for some new technology for the music department, so I was able to garner enough money for some recording studio equipment and computer parts using the software which you generously provided for us. We didn't have enough money to buy the computer, so I taught the students how to build one as I have experience in that area. As a result of finding out about our effort, equipment and services began flowing in from other donors, and we were able to build a fully fledged recording studio! The students were tasked with building the computer, laying out the equipment, making every connection, and writing, recording, and producing their own music. Furthermore, upon hearing that middle school students had built a recording room and an audio computer, a cd duplication service offered us greatly discounted cd duplication. We now have the very first recording studio in a public school in this area, and the first middle school recording and music production team that anybody I know has ever heard of.

We put up a web profile, managed by the students, at the following address (copy and paste into your browser):

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?AID=909168&t=4810

I gathered a main production crew (pictured on the profile page), and brought in other students to write lyrics and sing or rap. The only thing that was done by me was the mastering as that's a very complex process, but every word, drum beat, bass line, effects, and all of the mixing were done by students here at the school. You may view our photo gallery to the right, and also select the two songs which we finished for your listening pleasure.

We will hopefully be able to update our computer lab computers to handle more of the software, so that I may spread the program out to more of our students, but you have given us a wonderful start. Thanks to your donation, you have helped us to do something unique that neither the students, nor I, will forget.

My sincere thanks, and you may get continued updates on our web profile throughout the next school year.”

With gratitude,

Mr. Janacek

I wish this letter could do justice to the ways in which your generosity has echoed through my classroom. The books you have provided have gone very far to open my students' eyes to the world around them. Through these books, my students have traveled to Spain with Ferdinand the Bull, exercised their mischievous side with Curious George, and circumvented the globe with Grandfather's Story. The books were used with my Level II ELL students and will continue to provide rich learning experiences for numerous classes over time.

Like many schools, ours has limited access to funding. For my students, many of which are refugees, your generous support has provided learning experiences that they otherwise would not have. Thank you most sincerely for your donation.

”

With gratitude,

Teacher

I can only try to tell you what a wonderful thing you have done for my classroom. The Macs are so great because not only are they a highly desired reward for good behavior, but also for the learning opportunities available through software and the Internet and even learning the skills of how to use a computer.

The beauty of the laptops is that I can allow them to use them at their desks, so they can get used to longer periods of "seat time", which most of them struggle with. They are lightweight, durable, and easy to use. I set up the "Top Sites" feature with a selection of educational websites that they can choose from as large icons at a glance. I have also installed Word and downloaded my books on tape collection (another Donors Choose gift!) on the iTunes program, so they can read along with the books while listening.

One other thing that I personally appreciate is that because my class is made up of some high energy and difficult kids, when I set them up at their desks with their laptops and headphones, I can actually hear myself think for a few minutes. :)

Warm regards to you all,”

With gratitude,

Mrs. McKitrick

Please allow me to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom. The dictionaries and thesauruses that you donated allowed and will allow future students to expand vocabulary, enhance writing skills, and complete daily and weekly vocabulary assignments.

Currently across the U.S., education budgets have been cut, causing a decrease in monies for necessary resources in the classroom. The access to such vital resources are important for academic success in all aspects of language, as it is required in all career fields. Your donation will allow my students the opportunity of better vocabulary acquisition.

The impact you have made on our future citizens and leaders does not go unnoticed. Thanks again for making a difference in the lives of my students! ”

With gratitude,

Teacher

Thank you so much for supporting our instructional program by donating digital cameras to our classroom. The Moving Me: An Autobiographical Photo Essay project was a big hit with our students. By being able to use digital cameras students were able to learn a new language of storytelling. They were able to explore visual strategies by taking pictures that had personal meaning. They were then able to develop their understanding of sequencing and transitions by using a storyboard. And finally, they were able to improve upon their written language skills by adding text to their photo essays.

The powerful effect of the project went beyond the instructional skills learned. Because of the very personal nature of the project, students felt empowered and motivated to learn. These positive learning experiences improved the overall quality of our learning environment. And by being able to share their personal lives and off-campus experiences with others, the kids were literally able to visually experience how their own lives are full of meaning and importance. By experiencing success, students undoubtedly improved both their sense of self and self-esteem.

These experiences were further reinforced when the children shared their photo essays with others beyond the classroom. They not only broadened their own worlds but they also expanded the perspectives of others by the sharing their stories. Thank you all for providing us with these wonderful learning opportunities.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Ribeiro

Everybody knows that being able to participate with hands on activities make learning more exciting an interesting for the students. Your donations toward the project Math! Math! Math! The Fun Way! truly have made this possible. (Smile) The students are exciting about using the manipulatives in my Mathematics' Program!

Soon you will be able to see the smiles and excitement that the students have displayed while using the manipulative's to learn new skills.

Thank you all for blessing us!

May God Bless you richly! ”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Adams

I wanted to thank you so much for your generous donation to the classroom! The books on tape have been absolutely wonderful for my students. They are so excited to get to read more non fiction. Sea Turtles is our first adventure and they are super excited for the Wolves book next. The kids love learning about different subjects through non fiction, and having the books on tape helps all my kids access the text.

I have seen such an improvement in their fluency skills since they have been using the Listening Center regularly. The Listening Center allows them to hear books read aloud using good intonation and flow, which the kids mimic now when they read to me. It's great to have the Listening Center because it allows one group of students to work on their fluency and hear fluent readers while freeing me up to work on specific interventions with other students.

Thank you so much for giving my students this essential aide to improving their reading. They learn so much from the books and have a ton of fun while they are using the Listening Center. This is a fabulous opportunity for them to improve their reading! Thank you!”

With gratitude,

Teacher

Y'all,

After having our new books and materials for a few months now, I need to tell you that the things you have provided have revolutionized the educational experience of each child within my classroom. We did not have books, chart paper or a dry erase board and now we do! I do not have to hoard materials or minimize instruction due to lack of supplies. Many of my kids are now reading on a first to second grade level because of the leveled readers and sight word study packs each of you have provided us.

Words cannot describe the difference that has come about throughout these months. I was doing everything to simply get by, now we are rocking and rolling into the first grade. You have instilled an amount of intrinsic confidence in my kids--they now believe that they are worth it.

From the bottom of my heart I thank each of you for donation to my classroom. What you did truly made a difference.

I LOVE YOU!

Abb”

With gratitude,

Ms. Freeman

Thank you for your generous donations to the "Puzzle Me!" project. These reading readiness and fluency puzzles have helped most of my students reach their Winter Benchmark goals. Out of 26 students in my class, 16 reached their goals and the others are improving while staying excited about learning.

They are continually excited to use the puzzles during Interventions and ask to use them during Fun Friday as well. These puzzles have given my students the needed extra practice using diagraphs, vowel pairs, CVC sound patterns and in many other areas of phonemic awareness as well.

Donors Choose and you have made it possible for these students to have fun while practicing their reading skills and learning new strategies to help them reach their goals. Without you this would not be possible.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Blank

Thank you for your very generous donations. As you can see from the pictures the children have really enjoyed the new art materials. It is amazing what can be done with brown grocery bags, paper, paint and glitter. The children become very verbal when using our new materials. It is so fun to watch the pride the children have using and taking care of the new materials. The supplies have encouraged the special needs children to really verbalize and create wonderful projects and memories.

The paint and paper were used to make costumes for the Thanksgiving program. The paint daubers were used to make decorations for our holiday hop. The children are very excited to make penguins when we return from Christmas break.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you for allowing my children to use materials that I never could afford on my own. ”

With gratitude,

Ms. Rusk