Marek's page... Cash for the 'stache!

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There have been many teachers who have received the generosity of this website, but very few have been impacted the way I have. Donors Choose has given me a wealth of resources that I never imagined possible as a public school teacher and for this I say "thank you". Your donation made it possible for me to showcase technology that my students have never had the opportunity to work with before. Their lives have been forever changed thanks to you.

While it seems like such a simple concept, the impact it has on students can be life-altering. My students had never used a Mac until they met me and worked on mine, but once they did, it became imperative that they continued. The ease of use, creativity, and endless ideas that the Mac has to offer became an addiction for them. Once they started working, they never wanted to stop. While it wasn't always educational, it was spontaneous and fun, which kept them coming back to my class and kept them in school.

We have created Power Points, photo bulletin boards, animated books, and even used the built in web-cam to chate with other students from across the country. It was a way for us to break down the barrier of pencil-paper writing and create a new way to tap into their creative nature. It also helped them build some of the technological skills that they are going to need when they enter the workforce after their education is over. It is an experience that they will never forget and a gift that I can never repay you for. So I say "Thank You" and I will remind you that you made a difference in the lives of some wonderful young people who were only looking for an education, but received an experience to last them a lifetime.”

With gratitude,

Mr. Murray

Thank you very much for your kind donation. Throughout the three years that I have been a math teacher, I have always been interested in starting my own mathematics library. In fact, during my first month of teaching, I have come up with a list of mathematics-related books that I feel should be in my classroom. Unfortunately, I had neither the time nor the resources to fund for that idea and it has fallen by the wayside over the past couple of years.

It was not until last June, when our school's freshman class took the new Integrated Algebra Regents examination (an exam that is required by the state of New York in order to fulfill their graduation requirements), that I realized that the state now mandates all students to meet basic literacy levels in order to complete mathematical work as well.

Thanks in part to your help, my students are now seeing that connection. Furthermore, they have created some wonderful interdisciplinary projects thanks in part to the references that they have easily available in class.”

With gratitude,

Ms. B.

Reading is a very important part of our first grade curriculum. The students are constantly learning and strengthening their reading strategies. One of our goals is to have the students reading fluently by the end of first grade. The listening center materials that you donated will help us meet this goal.

The listening center is a very important part of our center time. It allows students to read and listen to a book that they may not have been able to read independently. It is also a great example of fluent reading. Your donation made it possible to keep this very important center running in our classroom. Before you made your donation, we were trying to use machines that worked occasionally. Thank you for helping to make a difference in our high-needs classroom!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Smith

    I am writing to express my gratitude for your contribution towards my classroom library. The money you donated helped purchase a wide variety of novels that students are currently reading as part of an independent reading project.  As a first year teacher, I have not had the benefit of years to build a classroom library for students to use. Because my school does not have a library of its own, student access to books of their choice is quite limited. Contributions from donors like you have provided my students the opportunity to engage in an independent study of a novel of their choice as an end of year project. These books will continue to be a valuable resource used by students for years to come. 

Thank you for making this project a reality.

”

With gratitude,

Mr. Ward

There is no way I can thank you enough for your generosity. Your contributions will provide many more opportunities for our students to have enriching musical learning experiences. My students are thrilled at the new equipment that your donations have provided. The new music stands will be a great addition to our music program and allow us to have our music classes and performing ensembles learn to play music properly and independently.

When we first got our music stands and I brought them into our first class to use them...it was amazing! What did we see from the students? Everyone busy working and practicing on their own! Normally, the students either have to share with a fellow student, or place the music on the floor or a chair. This can sometimes be problematic since the students can easily go off-task or a more advanced student is kept on a slower pace because of their stand partner. These problems were instantly solved, and we also noticed that the students took on more responsibility for their education when they are working independently. Their growth as musicians this year will surely be greater than before when they were learning in less than ideal circumstances. You have brought music back into our music classrooms! Thank you for your help and contributions!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Wentworth

I am thrilled to be writing this letter, for it means that I have received the LCD projector which I requested through your organization. My students and I have been using the projector for approximately one month, and have been delighted with what it has added to the classroom.

The learning of a language incorporates so many things - culture, history, art and more. The ability to import vibrant images, historical scenes and actual works of art from the many web sites that are available adds a realism that truly brings the Spanish language and culture to life.

Across the curriculum, engaging students in the educational process is frequently a challenge. Having the projector allows me to incorporate photos of the students themselves in our classroom activities. Recently we took a field trip to tour the Latino district of a nearby city. The photos from this trip were a highly effective tool for contextualizing instruction.

I wish to thank all of the donors who made this project a reality. My students and I appreciate your generosity. We will be enjoying these benefits for many years to come. ”

With gratitude,

Ms. Ripley

Thank you so much for your generosity. We are so thankful for the materials that your donation helped to provide our classroom. The science kits that you helped fund, will be hours of learning and fun for students each year. Since we are a school of high poverty, we often have to spend most of our time learning the basics. Our students come to us so far behind that we spend most of our day focusing on math, reading and writing. With your help, we will be able to integrate those subjects with science. Not only will our students be enriched, but these kits may spark a love for science.

Thank you again for donating to Donorschoose.org and to our classroom. ”

With gratitude,

Mrs. I.