During the month of February, I have committed to growing a mustache once again but for only for one reason and that is to help schools out. Overall, I need your support. Please sponsor my progressing mustache by choosing a local classroom project and make a donation of any amount that you would like. I am willing to take another one for the team.
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer
Life changing is how I describe the generous monetary donation you made to "Twinkle, Twinkle! We are Reading and Math Stars!" Each donation gave me a sense of what wonderful, kind people you are. It was so heartening to be able to fulfill my dream of providing highly engaging reading and math intervention material to my fifth grade students. With your gift, I received much need resources for them. I will even share them with other fifth and sixth grade teachers reaching even more students!
Unfortunately, the reality is not all children enjoy reading; mostly because they struggle. Likewise, many have difficulties learning basic math skills. With your gift, you have opened the door to learning that is fun! Due to your generosity, these terrific kids are learning to embrace reading and math. The materials from Lakeshore include interactive file folder games and centers. There are hands-on materials that are engaging to the students. They think all we are doing is playing games! We are! But, they are learning so much! One student even asked me if he could buy the game at Toys R Us!
Your kind gift tells my students that someone they do not even know believes in them. Reading and math are the foundation to everything we do in life. Please know that you set a solid course of these children's lives.
Again, words cannot truly express my sincere appreciation for wonderful people like you. My students thank you too.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi”
Thank you so much for funding our project! My students are DELIGHTED to be able to use their iPads (with sound) independently. Student engagement has increased tenfold in my class on pencil and paper classwork assignments. Every day, students come in and ask if they will be able to solve problems on the iPad after completing their classwork.
Since students know that they may work independently on their iPad after finishing their assignments, I have had 95% homework return for the first time in my 18-year career!!! It is refreshing to see kids so excited to hone their individualized math skills and deepen their understanding of concepts on khanacademy.org and firstinmath.com.
The student dialogue in my class has also shifted from off-task talking to students comparing the number of points, stickers, and badges earned as they complete their classwork. They are competing with each other to master skills with very little teacher-prompting. Also, I have been able to demonstrate how to navigate sites and manage their user accounts online by using our new iPad-to-projector adaptor. It has made assisting students so much more simple and effective!”
Thank you again for your wonderful donations. My students were so excited when I told them and showed them their 55 new books. They were in shock when I told them people helped purchase the books for our classroom. They thought the books came from someone I knew. Then I explained the DonorsChoose process. One student said, "They must of really liked what you told them about our class." Another student said, "When can we start reading them?" A few stated, "That was really nice of them."
After receiving the books I organized them into the provided bins based on reading levels. I displayed the books on shelves that the students could easily reach. I had to teach the students how to locate books at their level using the color stickers. I gave the students their reading level color and let them drive in. The students used the books during Silent Reading time or when they had free time. After the students read their book, they took an AR test on the computer to test their comprehension of the book and earn points.
My students gained a lot from being able to read these books this year. They all were able to find books that interested them and that were on their reading level. My students were excited to read and enjoyed reading, which was the most rewarding. There were times I couldn't get them to put their books down. Overall, about 95% of my students raised their reading comprehension test score or DIBELS score. I feel this is due to the last few months and the amount of interdependent reading they were able to do. The 55 books received were a big part of that.”
My students were so excited about receiving these math items. It was perfect timing as we were working on fractions and the fraction tiles arrived. One of my students said "I now have the knowledge to compare different fraction. I know that 1/2 is larger than 3/8." A few of my students said these items help me understand math much better. They also talked about how thankful they are and how easy this made them to understand fractions.
We used the fraction tiles as a whole class during the fraction lesson. The students were comparing fractions and using the tiles to create the fractions given so they can compare. After they used them in the class they were used in RtI groups. These groups were created for those students who need the extra help. The tens frame paddles and place value chart were used with a small group of younger students that I tutor.
I noticed while we were working with the fraction tiles students were feeling successful. This made it a visual learning tool. They could see how big one fraction is compared to the other. The tens frame paddles made it fun for the students to understand a sense of numbers.
We used the tens frame paddle as a game within my small group. I always like to play a game with math. It helps the students understand math concepts but in a fun way.”
My class and I can not begin to thank you enough for the materials we received through your generous donations to "Fluency Tubs". We were ecstatic when the project was funded, but even more so when the materials arrived at our school. The students could not wait to open the box and get their hands on new materials that would make learning more fun. The fluency cards were bright colors and the large print makes the students feel as if they are doing something other than working at becoming better readers. All students, even those who struggle with reading could not wait to get their hands on the fluency microphones and get an opportunity to hear themselves read. We even had students excited about working with one another so that they could begin polishing their skills.
The students in my pull out groups are using these resources as an independent learning center. As I work one on one with students on reading skills, other students can use the fluency tub to be actively engaged in authentic practice. The students enjoy that the fluency cards offer a variety of genres and vary in ability level. No student feels intimidated by having to read to themselves; they know that there is material that they will be able to read and understand. The tools we received, the microphone and the whisper phone, are fun for the students to use while giving themselves an opportunity to hear their reading. They love that the microphone has the ability to save their reading and they can compare how they have improved after a few days. We have seen a major increase in motivation to read to themselves, which is a huge feat.
Working in a school that is distressed financially, I do not often get the opportunity to buy learning materials that are fun and can be used as an "extra". I am so grateful for people such as all of you who are able and willing to help others in the field of education. My students and I thank you for the generosity to make not only learning, but practicing reading fun”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Schmidt
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