Past projects 13
Data and Differentiation: Using an iPad to Track Student Mastery
Funded Aug 12, 2021Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and students with this gift. I began implementing its use immediately, tracking student data as we worked in the classroom. I was able to provide immediate feedback, identify needs, adjust instruction, and even perform small group interventions in the moment, simply by being able to track and see immediately how my students were approaching. The iPad makes it easy to document what is happening with multiple students, as well as the steps I take to reach them in the moment. The Pencil helps as well, as it allows me to fall back on a quick shorthand, keeping me moving throughout the room at a pace matching my students' energy!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 8 other donors."March" Toward a World Where No One Is "Stamped"
Funded Aug 11, 2020Thank you for supporting our 8th grade class with this project. We have been able to provide our students with much broader perspectives and experiences through these texts. They have opened our rooms to deep conversations and allowed us to address topics that are very much at the forefront of our students' minds and hearts.
In small groups, students elected to read one of five texts, and then participated in discussions within their group and as a class at large about the content of the texts. They connected ideas and events, experiences and perspectives; challenged each other and their own thinking; and grew immeasurably with respect to civil rights, civic duty, fairness, empathy, and equity.
This would not have been possible without your support, and we are so grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.What Do We BelEVV?
Funded May 28, 2020Our students love to show off their work and share their ideas with the group, so when we showed them the new materials they were thrilled! The giant sticky notes allowed for a fun and different way of sharing ideas. Additionally, the extra supplies allowed us to provide plenty of markers and notes for each designated student to have their own while following COVID guidelines and procedures.
The particular project that we first used these supplies for was intended to establish our 8th graders as leaders in the school and the community. We used the markers and giant sticky notes to brainstorm ideas of what our PACERs acronym (Pride, Accountability, Cooperation, Effort, and Respect) looks like, feels like, and sounds like. We then discussed what these words mean in different areas of the school before discussing what they look like in the community. We were able to post the notes onto the walls for students in all classes to see and share ideas.
Going forward, providing as many opportunities for our students to share their thoughts and ideas in a productive manner is a goal of our 8th grade team. These resources help us carry this goal out while giving students a tool to take learning into their own hands. Thank you for your generosity in helping make this happen!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 8 other donors.Stealing Shakespeare - A Cross-Curricular Endeavor
Funded Jul 26, 2019Thank you so much for supporting us in this endeavor! Students will receive the books soon, and teachers have been working hard in their Professional Learning Community teams to create enriching lesson plans which support both English and Social Studies curricula. Not only will students learn about the time period, geography, and social aspects of the Renaissance, they will be given the wonderful opportunity of diving into the era in an imagination-stimulating historical novel.
The book is full of imagery and allusion, and it clarifies the social hierarchy of the time period in a way that a typical explanation simply could not accomplish. Students will be able to connect to the near-age narrator, Widge, as they follow him on his journey through the time period. They will be introduced to Shakespeare as a character, and students will be provided scaffolds to help them understand his works even at this level. This will help shape their understanding for future learning when they dig into Shakespearean texts in high school!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
Anchoring the Basics
Funded Oct 24, 2019The impact of this project is difficult to describe, simply because the value of human kindness is so significant. Given the opportunity to express their gratitude to their peers, teachers, and other staff members, students were truly thoughtful and kind. Their messages ranged from appreciation for help with homework, to expressing their delight at the investment of others, to simple declarations of love and care. "Thanks for being there for me" dominated the board, showing the importance of support and the significance of caring actions.
When they were first asked to take on this project, students were surprised; building awareness of being grateful in our lives is such a small but important action, and so few of them had been introduced to the practice. Studies show that writing down three things for which you are grateful each day can positively impact happiness--what better strategy to teach a middle schooler than how to increase one's own happiness? Once they got started, it was a landslide! Students submitted multiple messages of gratitude, and the board grew beyond its capacity; we had to move it to a large, wall-mounted board outside of the cafeteria.
Even now, it is heartwarming to watch them stop in the hall to look at the board, reading messages to all their peers and teachers--some aren't even looking for messages to themselves, but just to see the love around the building. It has built our community up and started students on a great path toward Social Emotional success! In coming days, we will adjust the board to the seasons, and offer students even more opportunities to grow in their Social Emotional learning. An upcoming goal is to create an interactive RAKtivists (Random Acts of Kindness) board where students can select a suggested Random Act of Kindness to perform.
Thank you so much for your continued support. We couldn't do it without you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 4 other donors.Leading Cross-Curricular Learning with Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Funded Aug 13, 2019Thank you so much for supporting me, my students, Plaza teachers, and this endeavor! We are so excited to be able to bring English and Social Studies content together to increase the rigor and relevance of the work our students accomplish. Teachers have been hard at work in their teams to create enriching plans to help students learn about the time period, geography, and social aspects of the Middle Ages. We are very excited to be able to give students the opportunity to dive into the era in a book full of imagery with a near-age narrator!
Much like other texts we have selected for this cross-curricular endeavor, this novel is rich with imagery and allusion and will help students understand the social order of the time period. Students will be able to relate to the narrator, Crispin, as they become engrossed in his search to discover who he really is, all while navigating the tricky waters of social hierarchy.
Students will experience the text in a variety of ways, from a teacher-led whole-group reading to partner- and class-reading, and including silent reading; it is important for developing readers--even at this age--to hear words read aloud, to practice reading aloud, and to work on building the images from the text in their mind's eye. Students will also complete a variety of projects on this text focusing on topics such as character analysis, voice (tone and mood), the impact of setting, and more. I can't wait to share with you the results of this project!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.Flexible Seating for Focused Learners
Funded May 10, 2018As always, your gracious generosity and loving hearts have had an incredible impact on students. Upon first entering the room, they were stopped in their tracks, staring in awe at the multitude of color, shape, and options before them. Flexible seating has always been a little less prevalent--perhaps a beanbag or a tall stool here and there. This room looked like a comfortable living space, a cooperative coffee shop, a hip caf�. It couldn't be a classroom! Where were the uncomfortable chairs and uneven, unmatched desks?
The moment of realization came quickly enough and students excitedly made their seating selections, opting for spaces that suited their comfort levels and made them feel welcome. Students mixed and mingled into spaces on their own, rather than being sorted by their teacher and made to sit with new people. The social environment of the classroom became a learning space of its own.
In coming weeks, students will use this space to learn cooperatively, collaborating on projects and assignments from seats that make their learning environment feel fun and comfortable. They will get to try different options, rotating through until they find what works best. They will learn, through a process, to evaluate their success in various spaces, to determine what they need and whether a certain spot aids them in their achievement or not--and they will become solution-oriented in order to adjust accordingly.
These flexible seating options have provided them with so much more than mere comfort and safety; they will learn how to manage their focus, how to be reflective and cognizant of their efforts and work, and how to self-regulate in any environment--and it's all thanks to you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 11 other donors.Help Us Stock the Shelves--We Need Books!
Funded Apr 12, 2018Thank you for the donations. For us, reading is fun and helps us learn new things every day. Reading is also healthy for our brains. It gives us a way to learn things on our own, and to enjoy it at the same time.
If you are interested in reading a book we enjoy, we recommend "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. It is mysterious and fun to read. We think it is one of the best books we have ever read, and we believe it would appeal to all people, regardless of age!
Throughout this project, we have learned that we should be grateful. We have a lot of people who care about us and want us to do well. Even complete strangers helped us reach our goals. We also learned that if we set our minds on something, we can achieve it. We felt very empowered writing this grant, like we can do anything! Thank you for supporting us in this project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
Putting It Out There: Middle School Podcasting
Funded Apr 10, 2016Thank you again for funding our project! Students have had a wonderful time developing their projects and learning how to podcast. They love engaging in a real-world method of sharing their thoughts and ideas, and have even used the podcasting station to go beyond mere "reporting"! They have developed interactive shows, produced interviews, and even recorded original prose, poetry, and music. This is helping to develop the speaking and listening skills of our middle school students in a unique way, especially for those who might normally be too shy or hesitant to share their thoughts. They are able to produce their viewpoints, edit them, and then share, feeling confident in what they have created. I have seen growth in their presentation ability, but most importantly, these students are now LISTENING to one another with a critical ear, truly hearing what their peers have to say!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
Promising Projection!
Funded Mar 12, 2016I cannot thank you enough for helping to fund our new classroom projector! The students and I are truly excited to begin using this device to help with teaching, interaction, and student-centered learning.
The projector you helped fund is capable of displaying from a computer or other device such as an iPad/iPhone, etc. However, on its own, the projector is a smart device, which means that it can connect to WiFi and serve as a miniature computer as well! The projector displays onto any solid surface with brilliant quality and definition, and operates via an "Airmouse." However, it can also become interactive with the use of the two stylus pens, effectively turning any surface into a "SMART Board"!
The students are loving the experience in our new, more interactive classroom! Every day, students lead the bell ringer, and this has changed the way they are able to run the classroom. Additionally, for their presentations, our new projector has completely changed how the students share information with their peers. They are able to pull in more interesting items, utilize graphics and videos, and reference sources more easily than before.
We truly appreciate your help in bringing our classroom into the 21st century!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Kelley
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 2 other donors.