I would like to express my deep gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom.
We added the books on artists to our expanding art library. The books help my students refine their researching skills for current and future art projects.
We begin a project by reading the artist books. This gives us the perquisite information we need in order to further explore the artist's styles and techniques. We also examine the paintings in depth by studying the reproductions in the books. The books are used in all of my classes from Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Using these books as research tools continues to enable my students to answer review questions about what they studied. This process of research has been and continues to be much more meaningful to them and will therefore have a long lasting effect.
Without donors like you I would not be able to extend this quality of learning and a well-rounded education to my students.
My students and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the wonderful books you purchased for
our music classroom. We have used them countless times throughout the past few months and the kids beg to sing/read them over and over again.
You obviously grasp the importance of music in our schools because of your past experience with a music teacher who touched your hearts. Thank you for allowing me to touch the lives of my students in the same way! You have made a real difference. Thanks!”
The students recorded their voices earlier this year and were very frustrated with the results. It was great to have the students work so hard and get positive results and feedback from the students and parents. the investment in the soundproof recording room has really paid off. Some of their new recording are being used in their core classes, competitions, fun assignments, songs they have written and sung. This has been a very positive experience for everyone involved.
Thank you for understanding how much this makes a difference to the student's self esteem, experiences and joy of using their voices. It is now difficult to get the students out of the room and on to their next class. What good news.”
What a year it has been so far!!! Your donations have enabled me to start a fledgling band program at my school which I hope will increase music literacy at my school and offer opportunities to the students that will follow them after they leave elementary school and head to middle school. The band instruments are the perfect motivator for my students in 3rd and 4th grade to read music while learning the recorder flute. In addition, for the younger grades, seeing band instruments in the classroom reinforces the concepts they are learning about different tonal colors.
My music program is based on music literacy. Music programs across the country are being cut all the time. I believe this is because people who analyze and make decisions based on the test scores, do not value the correlation between the music literacy and increased math and literacy skills. My school has a very high rate of English Language Learners, but I am in the glorious position of teaching them a language where the symbols on the music staff in an American song, are read and played the same way as symbols on the music staff in a Spanish song. Once they understand the decoding concepts of pitch letters, rhythm values, and fingering they are ready to look at a piece of sheet music, write out any of the pitches, rhythms, or fingerings they have not internalized yet, and read and play the music on recorder flute. Those students who excel on reading music notation are invited to join band.
Currently, the band census, is small, but I anticipate the numbers growing as more and more students master the skills on the recorder flute. The technical ability to play band instruments is much more difficult then recorder flute, and it was very satisfying for me to see that moment when my band students understood why I put so much emphasis on music literacy to be in the band, considering how much trouble they were having with technique. Your donations have greatly increased the chances that I will have at least 70 percent of the student population musically literate within 3 years. I am also discussing with my administration tracking certain 3rd grade students who have had music since 1st grade and are on the path to achieving music literacy, to see how their city and state test scores compare to those students who don't achieve music literacy. I thank all of you again for your generosity in helping to achieve this common vision. ”
With gratitude,
Mr. Leopold
This classroom project was brought to life by Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium and 52 other donors.
Thank you so very much for the generous donations you made to my pre-k classroom. The children are utilizing their new art supplies on a weekly basis. They have already made fantastic collages, clay models of their favorite foods, water color paintings, and holiday cards for their family. The materials you donated are offering plenty of art opportunities for these children and they are becoming more confident and creative each day.
I understand that the economy is difficult right now, and schools are getting massive budget cuts because of this. It is for this reason that I am so grateful for your donations. Without your support, my children would not have had the supplies they needed to receive art in the classroom. Please take this time to truly know that your act of kindness made a huge difference in the lives of many four year olds. You are appreciated.
I just wanted to send out this short message to thank everyone so much for your generous donations. I'm so lucky as a teacher to teach a subject that students flock to because of desire not because they are required to. The greatest joy for me is that I do not have to fight to get students into my class but to get them out of my class and to their other classes.
Like so many things in our current economy the arts have taken a severe hit. At the beginning of this year I was uncertain whether I would have to limit the never of students allowed to take my class. Because of your generous donation I was able to accept all students that signed up for my guitar class to attend.
Once again, thank you so much and know that your donation is used daily with joy and reverence. ”
Thank you so much for the books! The "Read Aloud Handbook" is working wonders in the lives of my students. I have heard many positive and up lifting stories from the students telling me that their parents or loved ones are reading to them ar home more and more.
I have also heard from many parents that I distributed the book to. They have called, wrote a note, and even stopped by to see me and thank me for the book. They admitted that they were unaware of the value of reading to their own child. They are thankful for the helpful tips and great list of rrecommendedbooks.
Once again, thank you so much for the gift you have given my students and their families. ”
My projector arrived and in no time, I was connected and showing all types of things to my students! I am uncertain if the photos will do justice to the impact of the projector because photos do not share the sounds or the silences of my students as they listen and see new worlds of information opening to them. Comments like, "That's tight!", "Cool!", "Awesome Dude!", "Wow!", "Did you hear that?" and many, many more were heard accompanied by facial expressions that speak without using words. My students have had new worlds opened to them through your generous gift!
Special thanks to Adam Lambert and all that he has done to promote the arts. His help continues to make such an impact upon people in my situation as well as the many students that will be effected through this projector. Adam, you are one-of-a-kind! Bless you!
Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for believing that one person can and does make a difference. Thank you for seeing past today and into tomorrow!
Once again, I am overjoyed with excitement for your contribution to our classroom project. It is great to see that you share in our vision for reaching children. In art, we so often use abstract explanations to explain abstract things and when the students can use lasting impressions by snapping their own inspirations, it is making a huge difference.
The cameras that you have funded is enabling the students to create and explain their own concepts with concrete tools, which will associate to the abstract. In addition, I will be able to demonstrate setting, mood, theme, and other genres in art.
Thank you so much. The students are enjoying every minute of use with the cameras.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Love
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 10 other donors.
I can't thank you enough for your generous gift. During the entire month of October, my kindergarten through 6th grade students had the opportunity to accompany themselves as they sang "Skin and Bones", a Halloween song.
Students played a simple baseline of their own creation using a suggested arrangement of notes. After several attempts through out the month, it became obvious they could hear the pattern in their head. Audiation, what a wonderful thing to have happen for a music teacher. They were able to predict the progression of the next note/chord.
Often times, my students see the instruments and eagerly ask when they will be using them again. I am just as eager as they are to hear them make some incredible music. I look forward to using the instruments when I teach "Frere Jacques" after the holidays. Again, they will be able to accompany themselves while they sing both French and English. Without your generosity, the musical experience my students have had would not have been possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bradley
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