Completed:If You Give a Kindergartner a Great Book...
"I teach full-day kindergarten in a high-poverty elementary school in Oregon. My classroom has 29 students, over half of which speak English as a second language (or not at all!).
I teach in a high-poverty community where many of my students' families were unable to pay the $35 supply fee to cover ...
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"I teach full-day kindergarten in a high-poverty elementary school in Oregon. My classroom has 29 students, over half of which speak English as a second language (or not at all!).
I teach in a high-poverty community where many of my students' families were unable to pay the $35 supply fee to cover their child's supplies and snacks for the school year. As a result, our class account is already very low and I usually find myself dipping into my own wallet to purchase the things we need.
As a new (2nd year) teacher, my salary is not flexible enough to allow me to purchase much more, especially the new children's books I would love to purchase. Picture books are necessary for the education of our students, but also can be very spendy. The books I have requested will be used to help teach writing to my students.
I was lucky enough to attend a fantastic conference recently on improving young children's literacy and writing skills. The books I have requested came highly recommended by the presenter as tools for teaching the writing process to beginning writers. The books cover a wide range of writing-related topics - from how to write letters, how to create lists, and how to use punctuation - in a fun, picture-book format.
I have also thrown in a few of my class's favorite books, such as the Skippyjon Jones books, which they just adore. :)
Your donation will be very much appreciated by my class - they LOVE to look at books. They would be especially excited to see new Skippyjon Jones books! It would also be greatly appreciated by me, as I cannot afford to purchase any more items for my class.
My students need 44 great books to inspire their inner author, including Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems and Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett.
See Ms. J.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Apr 12, 2009
Dear Cash4Books.net, Kieron, Jane from kivafriends.org, Joe, Gammy & Pappa, Heather, Amanda and The Thorn Family,
My class of twenty-nine kindergartners and I would like to thank you for your generous contribution to our classroom library. This was the second time we've had a project funded through Donors Choose and we were so excited to get that big box of books in the mail!
When I first posted my grants on Donors Choose, I didn't know if it would be successful. As a new teacher just starting out with so many children, it was really getting impossible to acquire all of the things I wanted and needed for my classroom. Our classroom supply money ran out long ago just buying the basic supplies.
As a new teacher, I try to attend as many professional development seminars and workshops as I can, to learn new tips and ideas. In November I attended a workshop hosted by a veteran kindergarten teacher from California. The workshop was focused on early literacy skills and the teacher had the greatest ideas. She demonstrated fun lesson ideas and recommended several books that were good for lessons on various aspects of writing.
I left the workshop feeling really inspired and immediately implemented some of her ideas into my own classroom. There were some supplies I wanted to really get her ideas in motion, and so I posted two grant proposals on DonorsChoose. One was for the materials for a writing station, the second was for all of the wonderful books the teacher had recommended, as well as a few classroom favorites, such as Skippyjon Jones.
In December, we got our writing station and the kids have been using it and enjoying it ever since. Now that the second grant has been funded, we have all the parts together!
When I informed the children that we got another shipment of goodies for our room from DonorsChoose, the kids were excited. One said, "Who are these people? They are so nice!"
After the books arrived in the mail, I gave the kids a "book talk." This is when I preview new books with my students to get them interested. I give them a short summary, show them a few illustrations, and tell them how great and exciting the book is. When I showed them the new SkippyJon Jones books, the kids actually cheered!
After this, the kids were all abuzz over the new books - which ones would they look at first, which looked the best, which sounded really exciting?
I then spread all of the books out on a table and it was a feeding frenzy! The kids rushed to choose their favorites and take them to a good reading spot. They were so enthused about the new books, they were totally engrossed in them for half an hour - no easy feat!
Now that a few weeks have passed and all the books have been examined carefully, the books have been divided: books for me to teach with, and books for the kids to look at daily. The kids still go to the new books every day to pore over them again, and I have been reading a few aloud every week. In May, I plan on starting up the writing lessons using the new books.
It was wonderful to receive these lovely new books. You are to be commended for your generosity. Thank you again for your thoughtful donation to our classroom, you can know that my students are enjoying the results of your contribution every day.
With gratitude, Ms. J.
Ms. J. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Mar 22, 2009
Dear Cash4Books.net, Kieron, Jane from kivafriends.org, Joe, Gammy & Pappa, Heather, Amanda and The Thorn Family,
I would like to take this time to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to my classroom library. I am always so inspired and filled with awe that people who do not know my students or myself would so generously give so that we may have the new supplies we need.
I chose this array of books based on a wonderful workshop I attended in January. The workshop was hosted by an inspiring first grade teacher who had all sorts of great ideas for teaching children to love reading and writing. I loved her ideas so much I wanted to try them right away with my kindergartners!
This teacher gave us a list of quality books she had personally used and recommended for mini-lessons on writing. She also demonstrated a few of the lessons for us. I thought they were brilliant and really wanted to incorporate these ideas into my own classroom. I had just been thinking how to turn my non-writers into kids who loved to experiment with letters and sounds, and this workshop gave me so many ideas.
I started my new writing project out by submitted two wishlists to DonorsChoose. The first project was funded a few months ago, and allowed me to get a writing station, a writing supplies organizer, and personal organizers for all of my students. The kids were so excited by their new goodies. We talked about how to write letters, what kinds of things you should write, etc. I also used some of my own money to purchase a large cardboard mailbox to make the project more realistic.
Since that start to our project, my kids have been writing letters every morning to their friends. I have seen students who did not seem to have many friends receive an armful of letters in just one morning! The kids also love to play mail carrier and deliver the letters. All of this writing to friends and delivering letters has had the added benefit of the children being able to read and write everyone's name now - a great side effect.
I have also been working to make books exciting to my children and always excitedly share with them my favorite or newest books, giving "book talks" on all my new additions, in turn making them eager to read them right away. The kids will be very excited when I tell them about all of these new books coming! Now I will be able to further supplement the writing process and give them more ideas through the use of these books.
I also added in a few of my students' favorite books - Jan Brett and SkippyJon Jones books - which they will be thrilled to see.
So thank you again so much for your generous donation to my class library. You can know that your donation is being very much appreciated, especially in these tough economic times.
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Nancy S. (volunteer)
on Dec 4, 2008
Verified the cost of the requested books and posted this project.
Meghan R. (staff member)
on Dec 5, 2008
"I gave to this project because..we are also from Oregon and realize how important an education is."
The Thorn Family
gave
on Dec 25, 2008
The Thorn Family
gave
on Dec 25, 2008
"I gave to this project because...reading is the most important thing for the development of children's minds, in my opinion. We read to our son every night and I see firsthand what it does for his brain and his way of relating to the world."
Kieron
gave
on Jan 1, 2009
"I gave to this project because I have 2 young children and I know how important books, books, and more books are to children. Enjoy!"
Julie
gave
in honor of Gammy & Pappa
on Jan 3, 2009
"These teachers are not wasting money. So many others could get printers and carpet for close to zero dollars. I should know, I am a teacher who got a gift card from my sister. Picture books with lessons, Feed ( Novel ) and Chief Joe are awesome reasons to fund schools."
Joe
gave
on Jan 30, 2009
"I gave to this project because...I think inspiring a child to read will benefit them during their whole life."
Heather
from Oregon
gave
on Feb 9, 2009
Cash4Books.net
from Beaverton, OR
gave
on Mar 21, 2009
Amanda
gave
on Mar 21, 2009
"I gave to this project because reading is the key that unlocks all the doors to other opportunities."
Jane from kivafriends.org
from Appleton, WI
gave
on Mar 21, 2009
Packaged the thank-you letters written by Ms. J.'s students and sent them on to the eligible donor(s).
Kamil S. (staff member)
on Apr 20, 2009
"Dear Ms. J and students, Thank you for the wonderful cards! They are all beautiful and I will treasure them always! I hope you have many wonderful hours with the new books. Jane"
Jane from kivafriends.org
from Appleton, WI
on May 3, 2009
"Cash4Books.net is proud to be a continuous contributor to the many DonorsChoose.org projects that help students get the resources they need for their education. In doing so, we hope their lives are not only enriched by the knowledge acquired through books, but also that they develop a love for both reading and learning. It is a privilege to think we might somehow be making an impact on those who will one day be the leaders of tomorrow."
Cash4Books.net
from Beaverton, OR
on May 21, 2009
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Nancy S. (volunteer)
on Dec 4, 2008
