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Ms. Anders' Classroom

  • Chicago Vocational Career Academy
  • Chicago, IL
  • More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Support Ms. Anders' classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

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We'll charge your card today and send Ms. Anders a DonorsChoose gift card she can use on her classroom projects. Starting next month, we'll charge your card and send her a DonorsChoose gift card on the 17th of every month.

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Gift Ms. Anders' classroom the essentials

$19.06 bandages

for Ms. Anders in
Chicago, IL

Current requests

Read, Rest, Recharge

Help me give my students spacious, comfortable seating to reduce stress and promote relaxation, helping students focus on reading, studying, and collaborating. Soft, flexible options make the library welcoming, boosting engagement, resource use, and wellness-driven learning.
Ms. Anders
Chicago Vocational Career Academy
Chicago, IL
  • $418 still needed
  • Be the first to support this project

Threads of Imagination

Help me give my students the materials needs to let their STEAM dreams flourish in imaginative and creative ways.
Ms. Anders
Chicago Vocational Career Academy
Chicago, IL
  • $404 still needed
  • Be the first to support this project
show projects from all time

Past projects 15

  • Building Brilliance, One Brick at a Time

    Funded Sep 10, 2025

    Thank you so much for supporting our LEGO project. Your generosity is giving our students the tools to dream, design, and build in ways that inspire both creativity and critical thinking. With LEGOs in our makerspace, students will be able to bring their ideas to life—whether that means exploring engineering concepts, prototyping solutions, or simply discovering the joy of building together.

    Your gift is more than just bricks—it’s building confidence, teamwork, and innovation in our students. Because of you, they’ll have the chance to learn through play, stretch their imaginations, and see themselves as creators and problem-solvers. We are truly grateful for your support and belief in our vision.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and one other donor.
  • A Window to the Wild

    Funded Sep 10, 2025

    On behalf of our students, I want to sincerely thank you for supporting our bird watching project. Your generosity is opening a window to the natural world for young people who don’t always have easy access to it. With the bird feeder camera, our students will be able to observe, record, and learn from the wildlife right outside our doors—sparking curiosity, wonder, and new opportunities for scientific exploration.

    Your gift means more than equipment—it means giving our students the chance to connect with nature, to see beauty in unexpected places, and to learn in ways that will stay with them for years to come. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and belief in our vision.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and one other donor.
  • Seeing the World in Color

    Funded Dec 6, 2024

    On behalf of our students and staff, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of a color printer for our makerspace. Before receiving this incredible gift, our students lacked access to high-quality printing for their projects, which limited their ability to bring their ideas to life. Now, thanks to your support, they can fully realize their creativity and take their work to the next level.

    Technology in education isn't just about convenience—it's about providing students with the tools to express themselves, solve problems, and prepare for the future. The color printer has already made a significant impact in our makerspace by allowing students to create vibrant game boards for a service-learning project, enhancing the experience for those they are helping. It has also been a game-changer for students preparing for a recent job fair, as they were able to design and print professional business cards, giving them a sense of confidence and pride in their presentation.

    The most exciting thing for our students is the ability to see their ideas come to life in full color. Whether they're designing posters, creating visual prototypes, or refining presentations, having access to professional-quality printing makes their work feel more polished and meaningful. They take greater ownership of their projects, knowing they can produce something that looks as impressive as their effort deserves.

    Some students have especially embraced the new technology, including one who had never designed anything digitally before but was inspired to create a board game from scratch, knowing they could print it in high quality. Another student, who was nervous about networking at the job fair, felt a boost of confidence after designing and printing their own business cards—something they never thought they'd have access to before.

    Your generosity has not only provided a tool for learning but has also created opportunities for students to build skills, confidence, and pride in their work. We are incredibly grateful for your support and the difference you've made in our classroom.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

  • Fund Our Esports Team!

    Funded Oct 5, 2024

    I want to personally thank you on behalf of myself and my students for your generous donation of a video game system to our Esports team. Your support has made a significant impact on our students, providing them with an opportunity they wouldn't have had otherwise.

    Technology plays a huge role in education today, and for our esports team, it's more than just playing games—it's about teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving. The video game system you provided has allowed our students to practice in a competitive environment, develop critical thinking skills, and build camaraderie in a way that wasn't possible before.

    One of the most exciting aspects for our students is finally having access to equipment that allows them to compete! They are thrilled to have a setup that is beginning to mirror what they see in professional esports, and it's inspiring them to take their gameplay and teamwork to new heights.

    We've seen some incredible moments already. One student, who was hesitant to join at first due to a lack of experience, has grown into a key team player thanks to the opportunity to practice with the new system. Another student, who previously struggled with confidence, has taken on a leadership role in strategizing for matches. The impact goes beyond gaming—it's helping them develop real-world skills like communication, perseverance, and collaboration.

    Your generosity has not only provided equipment but also opened doors for students who might not have otherwise found a place where they truly belong. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for believing in them and supporting their growth.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 4 other donors.
  • Transdisciplinary Co-Designed PBL

    Funded Apr 2, 2024

    Being able to provide teachers who are new to Project-Based Learning (PBL) a comprehensive guide will have a significant impact on both their teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. For teachers unfamiliar with PBL, the concept of facilitating open-ended projects can feel overwhelming. The guide you donated offers clear instructions on how to design, manage, and assess projects, which will boost their confidence. It will help them understand the pedagogy behind PBL, ensuring they can implement it with purpose, rather than trial and error.

    We will use this guide as the key tenet of a PBL professional learning community this year. The collaborative planning we will engage in will allow teachers to share insights, troubleshoot challenges, and brainstorm ideas for cross-curricular projects, enhancing the overall learning experience for students. We have had our first meeting, and it was so nice to be able to give teachers a resource right off the bat. Our second meeting is scheduled for the end of September, and I can't wait to see what kinds of projects the teachers have come up with.

    When teachers are well-prepared to implement PBL effectively, students benefit from engaging, meaningful learning experiences. In Project Based Learning, teachers design projects that resonate with students, tying them to community issues or current events. By working on real-world problems, students can see the relevance of their studies, which increases their motivation and participation.

    Your donation has helped to ensure a smoother transition to this instructional model, reduce teacher anxiety, and ultimately improve student engagement and achievement. It equips us with the tools and strategies we need to succeed in fostering a collaborative, inquiry-driven classroom, aligning with 21st-century educational goals. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by LOFT.
  • iPads for STEM Technology Integration

    Funded Jun 8, 2024

    First of all, thank you! This is an amazing donation and it will truly be appreciated on a daily basis. Students will be allowed to check out an IPAD to learn coding and robotics, along with Green Screen technology, stop motion animation, and Drone piloting. None of those things would be possible without the IPads as they simply don't work on the Chromebooks available to students. Moreover, my students come from disadvantaged families and do not have their own devices, so school is the only place they have to build digital skills.

    I know you didn't ask for thank you letters, but some of the students wrote them anyway. Ka'Myrah says, "Thank you so much for donating the iPads. We will take care of them, especially since our school hasn't had any. We really appreciate it and are thankful you spent your hard money getting us it."

    Jalisa says, " Dear IPad Sender: I'm a student from Chicago Vocational Career Academy. I just wanted to say thank you, and I want you to know that we will put it to good use in our makerspace. I myself have already used one to make a stop-motion video which was really fun. I would not have been able to make that video without your Ipad."

    Once again, thank you for your generosity. We are truly grateful for your support and are thrilled to have donors like you who are willing to invest in the future of students.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by Michael Jordan and The Jordan Brand and one other donor.
  • Dynamic Remote Learning

    Funded Dec 1, 2020

    Once again I want to profusely thank you for your kind and thoughtful donation. Teaching during the pandemic has been one of the most challenging things I have faced in my career.

    Having an updated computer meant that I was able to communicate with my students without reverb, or breaks, or going in and out. It meant that I was able to stream video without any issue at all, allowing me to share my screen so students could see my face and my expressions. This enabled my students to connect better to me and helped the overall cadence of my lessons. I was also able to stream videos from YouTube, allowing my lessons to have multimedia components.

    My new updated computer allowed me greater creativity in creating lessons because I wasn't limited by the scope of my technology. I was able to design with the students in mind and I am confident that we all had a more fruitful year because of it. Your donation was a bright spot in a dark year and I truly appreciate it.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

    This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 2 other donors.
  • After School STEM

    Funded Nov 21, 2019

    Thank you so much for gifting these resources to my school and my students. Before the school shut-down, I was able to use the robots with a group of students and the legos in a staff meeting. Having this kind of equipment on hand really makes the differences in what instruction can look like, and it helps us to better move towards Experiential learning, and important aspect of a STEM education.

    When my students first saw the Cozmos, they were obviously delighted. One student said "I've seen these on TV!" They could not wait to start investigating! I gave them time to just explore freely and figure out how they work, and then we used them to play an academic game. The students were completely engaged; they could not wait to take their turn at the controls.

    I am very excited to fully implement the Cozmos and the Legos as part of our brand new maker space once schools are open again. Based on the experience I have had piloting the Cozmos with students, and utilizing the legos in a STEM challenge with staff, I know that this equipment will go a long way towards making sure our students have hands-on STEM experiences. Thank you for your support - the students would not have the same access to materials without you.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Anders

I teach 11th grade English, which in my district is the study of British Literature (think Chaucer, Shakespeare, Swift, Milton). Needless to say this is a challenge, as the sentence structure and vocabulary of these texts are not familiar or easy for my students. However, these are great pieces of literature, with enduring themes, and it is frustrating to watch the students turn away from these works simply because they don't understand or become frustrated with the syntax.

About my class

I teach 11th grade English, which in my district is the study of British Literature (think Chaucer, Shakespeare, Swift, Milton). Needless to say this is a challenge, as the sentence structure and vocabulary of these texts are not familiar or easy for my students. However, these are great pieces of literature, with enduring themes, and it is frustrating to watch the students turn away from these works simply because they don't understand or become frustrated with the syntax.

About my class

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