Mrs. Goetz's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 58

• Reading About Someone Like Me

  Funded Dec 10, 2021

  In my reading program, we cycle between whole class novels and then a round of book clubs. The students look forward to book club time when they get to choose the books they read together with other students who want to read the same book. They enjoy discussing the books, and this year our book clubs have been made even richer by the books you so generously provided to us.

  When we do our whole class novels, I model what a rich discussion would sound like. When they read their book club books, they lead the discussions. They are putting into practice everything they have learned about reading beyond the words on the page. It is a joy to hear them talk about books.

  Thank you so much for making this possible with such great books!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

• Exploring Our World Through Scholastic Jr.

  Funded Jun 30, 2021

  The students and I are getting back into somewhat a more normal routine. This past year and a half has been a challenge for teaching and learning to say the least. Seeing the students in person brings back the joy of teaching, and I hope the joy of learning.

  A welcome addition to our class this year is the subscription to Junior Scholastic social studies magazine. My students are curious about the world they live in. They have had a hard lesson about just how interconnected we really are on a global scale. This magazine helps them learn about the world and the social issues facing people today. They see young people like themselves taking a stand for justice and equity.

  Thank you so much for providing the funds to get this magazine for the students!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 5 other donors.

• Art: Gaining a New Perspective

  Funded Dec 1, 2020

  Even though we are working remotely, I am amazed at the fun we have had doing this perspective art project. The kids have thoroughly enjoyed working with the drafting triangles. Once they got the basics of parallel and perpendicular lines down, and they learned about the vanishing point, they were off and running.

  I think the most interesting part of this project is to see how each student takes a basic room and transforms it into their own space by adding decorations and color.

  The students and I are very grateful for your generous donation that made this project possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.

• Take Note: Responding to Reading

  Funded Nov 14, 2019

  In the past, my students have written responses to reading in spiral notebooks. Sometimes they would forget to jot down where the ideas came from in the book which made it difficult to go back to the text for discussions. Also, taking the time to transfer their attention to the notebooks interrupted the flow of their thoughts as they were reading. Having the sticky notes to write on helps my students quickly record thoughts and questions as they read without deterring from the reading experience. They can easily discuss the book because the sticky notes are in the exact places.

  Thank you so much for supplying this resource for our classroom. Your generosity has made a difference!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Quill.com and 2 other donors.

• Books Clubs for Engaged Readers

  Funded Nov 28, 2018

  We have just finished our book clubs, and they were a resounding success! One of my students told me she doesn't normally like to read, but she liked her book. Developing an interest in reading is an important goal in teaching reading. One way to develop this is through choice. Book choice is important to my students. Another way is by sharing the reading experience with a friend.

  The books that you provided to my students enabled them to read with enthusiasm and gather at the back table and discuss the book. In their discussions, my students talked about what the characters did and what motivated the characters. By the end of the book, they could also discuss what the author might have been saying to them: the theme.

  Thank you so much for providing these books to my students. Not only has this year's class benefited from your generosity, but many students for years to come will have the opportunity to read these books.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

• Keeping An Eye On Science

  Funded Mar 9, 2016

  Thank you so much for this wonderful addition to our science program. This microscope provides my students with the opportunity to do hands-on science. They enjoy the books about the microscopic world, but actually using a microscope to see for themselves is so much more meaningful and engaging for my fifth graders.

  I have a unit called "Microscopic Exploration" by GEMS. Having access to a quality microscope makes this unit more successful. The students are excited to do the activities because we now have a tool that really helps us see a greater magnification.

  Thank you again for making such a difference in our science lessons and in the education of my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

• Reaching the Mark with Tenmarks Premium

  Funded Oct 9, 2015

  My class is made up of 27 unique individuals. They have a wide range of interest and skill levels in math. It can be a challenge to identify the varied gaps in their understanding of math concepts. It can also be a challenge to identify and serve the students that are ready for acceleration. This is where the on-line program, Tenmarks, has been a highly valuable resource.

  Tenmarks provides both concept level and skill level practice. The students are evaluated and prescribed what they need in order to be successful in math. The hints and videos support the students as they review concepts and practice skills.

  Your donation has made it possible for my students to have Tenmarks (both in school and at home). Thank you so much for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

• Money Doesn't Grow On Trees

  Funded Sep 26, 2015

  My students were very excited when they found out that they were going to "earn money" by coming to school and working on their "job." In our mock economy, my students not only earned a base pay, but they had the chance to earn extra "money" by doing additional work. That was the exciting part. Then, they learned that they had to pay bills and open a savings account with their money.

  One of the things they had to pay for was rent (desks and chairs) and their Storyworks magazine. The Storyworks magazines that you so generously provided the funds for are a great asset to our reading program. The stories are engaging, and they have scaffolded resources so that all of my students can be successful.

  Thank you again for the opportunity for my students to learn about finances and hone their reading skills.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by Experian and 3 other donors.

• Connecting Students to Science with KNEX

  Funded Apr 4, 2015

  It is wonderful to see my students so engaged in science and teamwork. The KNEX kits provided the opportunity for my students to form teams, to storm through the process of decision making, to norm into a cohesive group that could then perform a task. They looked at their work and found places where they needed to make changes to the plan. They tried different ways until they found a way that worked best. It was interesting to watch their processes and decision making efforts. When we ran out of time in our first session, several teams asked to stay in during their recess to continue the work. Thank you so much for these inspiring simple machines KNEX kits.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by South King County STEM Network and 2 other donors.

• "Celling" Students on Science

  Funded Apr 4, 2015

  Sometimes it can take quite a lot to impress sixth graders in the spring, but the microscope slides sure did the trick. My students were so engaged in looking at the cells. We had done some reading about cells earlier in the year and then again with the wonderful books you provided, but actually looking at cells through a microscope was fascinating to them.

  They used the marked slides to identify characteristics in the cells that they had read about. Then they had an opportunity to use this knowledge to help them categorize unknown slides into either plants, animals, or other. They did a great job.

  Thank you so much for helping us engage our students in science!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Goetz

  This classroom project was brought to life by South King County STEM Network and 2 other donors.