Past projects 74
Crafty Reading Creations
Funded Feb 11, 2021I am sorry for the delayed thank you. I just wish I had waited on the pictures also. My students are so excited about learning thanks to your support in bringing art into their academic lessons.
The clay was used to create a hedgehog after a writing and research project about the animal. Each hedgehog was so unique, and we had a hedgehog parade. The small box was used to collect small flowers and seeds during our investigation of plants. The picture frame is finished this week as a gift for their mothers. Each child had a photo of themselves inserted to present to their moms. The paints were used on each project and the students were so excited to show their creativity.
During this process, some students returned to the classroom while others stayed in distance learning. Words cannot express how my heart feels as I watch the students continue to work as a group while attending class separately. I am thankful for the materials you provided that allowed each child the resources to express themselves and their learning, artistically. Thank You for providing joy during these trying times!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 3 other donors.Basic Writing Dream
Funded Nov 15, 2020Wow, A dream came true thanks to you! The students are improving their writing and letter position due to the lines on the marker board. We use them every day for all classes but the most success is our phonics as we practice how to spell certain sounds. The lines on the board provide a visual for where letters sit. Students can clearly see and practice those letters that stand tall, stay below the dotted line, or hang below the bottom line.
Another reason my first graders are excited to use the marker boards is because you provided colored markers. They enjoy switching colors to show vowels and consonants. Students are proud to have their own eraser instead of using tissue to wipe the boards clean.
Children who used to complain that writing their numbers to 120 hurt their hands, now ask when we will do it again as we use the blank 120 chart and skinny markers. The blank charts are easy to wipe clean and have generated an excitement for writing numbers. The thinner markers make it possible for students to keep numbers in the box.
The gold construction paper has been used for many purposes. Folded in half it becomes the cover for our writing as we research animals and occupations. We have also used it for drawing lessons and cutting for crafts. Your generosity made it possible for school to be less online and more hands-on! We are living less of a dream and more of a reality! Thank You!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by Equitable and 5 other donors.Read to Write
Funded Dec 2, 2020Words can not express how it feels to give my students books to read and a journal made for intermediate writers. Thank you for your generosity that has improved the academic achievement of my first-grade students.
The books offer two levels of reading. One is an easy reader for pure enjoyment as we read it together and students can reread on their own. The other book is more challenging We read it together and explore many phonics lessons that we review and learn. It is also providing opportunities to discuss family generations, immigration, and traditions that link to the world we live.
My ever-flourishing writers were ready for journals with more lines that supply them more room to express their ideas. They have learned to use words to create pictures in their writing and the journal allows them to write full paragraphs. Your donation will live on in the minds of each child in my class!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 3 other donors.Artfully Designed Shirts
Funded May 6, 2020This has been a difficult time for connecting with students. I keep holding off completing our shirts hoping to use it as a project when returning to the classroom. However, this does not seem to be happening. Your generosity is providing a team building activity to help us connect during this time of distance learning. So we are working together to design our class logo for our shirts.
I will do a line drawing for each shirt before sending shirts and materials to each child. Students will then add their own colors, buttons, gems, and name to create their unique design. We will plan one day a week to all wear our class shirt with pride and anticipation!
It is more important now than ever before to capture the creativity of each student and still show our interconnected goals. Thank you for your donation that is building pride and self-awareness!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 4 other donors.Reading Is FUNdamental
Funded Nov 25, 2020I am so excited to share these books with my students! Not only will they have a selection of books to choose from, but we will read the books together as they practice previously learned phonics skills. The author, Mo Willems, writes with humor that my students enjoy and will allow us to discuss times of joy and laughter.
The books can be used to incorporate writing that uses speaking bubbles. The books also will give us a chance to be more expressive with reading by reading only the character each child chooses and being online, use our voices to demonstrate the feelings of Piggy or Gerald.
The students will be returning to class after our Christmas break and I hope to have a pick-up date for them to get the books within the next couple of weeks. The increased Covid issues have us still working from home. I know how much my students enjoy any Mo Willems book so this gives us all something exciting to look forward to and help us regain our connection to work and each other.
Thank you for your generosity that makes this possible and provides each child with a home library!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
Butterfly DéBut
Funded Oct 21, 2019Words can not express the delight my students had in watching the development of our larva into butterflies. As a first-grade teacher I try to have this introduction into metamorphoses yearly. This, however, was such a great ice breaker for me and my students. Every morning the students arrived early just to get a look at how the caterpillars were developing. They talked among themselves about the progress and what to expect next. We watched videos and wrote about what they were learning.
You see we started school online and are continuing distant learning. Students were shy and very quiet when school started. The introduction of our science project brought excitement and wonder to a scary situation.
Your donation made it possible for my students to overcome the fear of online instruction. They were so excited to have the computer leave the classroom so they could watch the release of our butterflies. I would never have moved the computer but now see the benefit of giving the students a new view to keep them focused.
Many students wrote about seeing our butterflies at their house after the release. Even though they have flown away the lessons set by such a simple process helped us grow in many ways! Not just my students but myself also! Thank You!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 3 other donors.Basic Beginnings!
Funded Jun 26, 2020My heart is filled with joy as I see the excitement in the eyes of my students as they hold up the classroom basics their parents picked up from you, our donors! We used the crayons immediately to color pictures that matched their writing. On Fridays we have a drawing lesson where they again were able to use their newly acquired crayons.
Every Monday we look for the phonics focus in their reading. Today they were able to use highlighters to highlight the short /i/ in words. Pencils are an everyday item we use for each subject. The expo markers allow them to give quick drawings and play fun dice math games using markers that can be erased and quickly restarted. Thank you for your help during this challenging time in history. May the students always remember the generosity of those who supported their needs! Thank You!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
Turn First Graders Onto Reading Toon Books
Funded Apr 28, 2020It has been an exciting and historic first few weeks of school. Our district has started the school year using distance learning. The students and myself are learning technology skills while addressing first grade standards. The Toon Book Collection you generously provided for these beginning readers has provided many read alouds as well as deep discussions about content, author purpose, and sentence structure. The selection includes a variety of reading levels that allowed me to sort and set aside books for each individual student based on their phonological mastery.
The students were so excited to know they would soon own these books. They could not wait to begin their own home library. Our first ten days children had only books they could read online. They are thrilled to have a book in hand as they learn to read. We all agree the feel of a book, its smell, and just the activity of turning pages makes reading much more thrilling! The ability to send a book from school they have seen me read has built a connection between us that is hard to develop with online teaching. Students are encouraged to read their books in our classroom blog, which provides students the opportunity to get to know each other. I cannot thank you enough for your part in helping to bond our group together. Thank You!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by TOON Books and 5 other donors.Build A Home Library
Funded May 21, 2020Words cannot express my thankfulness at delivering books to my first graders. I could not afford to provide such a luxury to my budding readers. My students have been listening and reading books online but beginning readers need a book in hand. Their pride and ownership in receiving a handful of books create such joy, evident in their happy dances and holding the books tightly to their chests! Parents waited with their students in anticipation of creating a Home Library and making reading tangible. Your choice to support first grade families with books has made an important academic opportunity for them to read independently at their own grade level! Thank You!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 5 other donors.Families Play To Learn
Funded May 21, 2020My heart is filled with joy and my eyes tears as I return from making deliveries to my students! We have only seen each other on google meets calls, when all students compete for attention. Thank you for the Families Play To Learn materials. My students were so excited to spend some one on one time with me and express their fears, sadness, and happy times during this pandemic. They loved the games and wanted to read the directions right away. Parents expressed their gratitude for fun games to use as a teaching strategy. These games will keep their minds working and learning all summer long and provide hours of entertainment for families. Thank you for supporting the academic future of each child and helping to prepare them for second grade!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Provenzano
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 5 other donors.