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My summer internship here is expanding my imagination in areas I’ve never thought of before. A couple weeks ago, I learned too many mustache jokes while working on a project for Mustaches for Kids. This week, I discovered, read, and loved many of the creative projects listed on DonorsChoose. Check out my top five favorite projects, which are awaiting funding in the Atlantic Region…

“Dem Bones Dem Bones” (Washington, DC)

Ms. L states that “At the beginning of the year, this is what most of my fourth graders believe: two long leg bones, two long arm bones, one long back/neck bone, and a skull.” To help the kids understand their bodies better, it would understandably help them if they could see and physically feel the different bones and joints. To accomplish that, Ms. L requests miniature models to enhance their learning in an interesting and intuitive fashion.

“Thomas Jefferson’s Think Tank” (Falls Church, VA)

Across the country, there are stories of the nation’s gifted children not receiving the education they deserve as they’re passed over for funding. This fun project would help right this imbalance by providing strategy games that test, teach and involve these kids. Just because they’re intelligent does not mean they are any less needful of an appropriate education.

“Library Transformation” (Coraopolis, PA)

Often, in this Pennsylvanian school library, students want to sit quietly and lose themselves in a book, but have no place to sit and read. This Pennsylvanian librarian, Ms. K, bemoans the students not having “a place to sit and read comfortably.” With beanbag chairs, dozens of kids will be able to enjoy their books in a cozy chair.

“Exposure to Differences for Preschoolers” (Burgaw, NC)

It’s unfortunate, but true that some of our earliest memories are of getting bullied. The special needs students in this preschool sadly face animosity from their classmates just because they’re different. Equally as harmful are the bullying tendencies that are reinforced because of their ignorance about what is right. Aware of this, Ms. R would like a few dolls with handicap equipment to help promote and show the correct and caring way to accept those different from us, a lesson we all probably could be reminded of more often.

“Panther Pocket Books” (Greenville, SC)

This project is not just for the kids (though they’re a major part) or just for the teacher (though she would love it), it’s also for the hard working parents who do not always have the right activity to spend time on with their children. With this project, every night, the parents would be able to read a new book to their kindergartener, which is a great way to keep parents involved in classroom learning.

If you help fund any of these, I’ll be, as one memorable 4^th grader put it, “internally grateful!”

Adam Aronow

Washington DC Intern

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“To remember him is to feel both gratitude for the gift of his friendship and grief over its brevity. In his honor, we would like to plant a garden in the courtyard in the center of our school, a courtyard that so many of our classes look out upon, as a way of honoring his spirit and his cherished, but too short life.”

These words were written by a Brooklyn teacher who suffered the loss of a first grade student in 2006. Many donors chose to give to this project commemorating his life: first in the Spring of 2007, “Andry’s Garden,” and again this year for the project “Renewing Andry’s Garden;” both projects were so moving and inspiring that we just had to see it for ourselves.

Andry’s Garden was such an oasis on the hot, brilliantly sunny day when we visited Brooklyn. Bordered on all sides by the school’s corridors and classrooms, it housed several flowering plants, a water garden, and herbs that the younger children had picked clean for their cooking classes!

The space that now holds Andry’s Garden was never used until this project came alive. It is now a place where classes are held, teachers and students can eat their lunch, and parents and members of the community can come and enjoy. Andry’s mother frequently visits this garden that was created in honor of her son. DonorsChoose.org is not only helping classrooms with their needs but also getting parents and the community involved with their local school.

Ms. R., along with her gardening club, have sent multiple thank-you packages to allow donors see how this project came to life: from the beginning stages when the children were planning the garden, to when the plants were actually planted. One of the thank-you packages was made at our visit there! Being able to experience the children thinking of what to write and getting excited about their letters to the donors was truly amazing.

The Operations team spends so much time interacting with teachers by email and phone – it was wonderful to meet the students we serve personally, to share pizza, a beautiful space, and to hear their thoughtful questions. Thanks, Gardening Club!

- Divya, Elaine, & Meghan

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After a great but unfortunately quick stint at DonorsChoose.org, today is my last day. Working for DonorsChoose.org has been an inspirational and eye-opening experience. From the incredible people who work here to the generous donors to the teachers who recognize and address their students needs, every part of the process here is addressed with compassion and dedication.

As I was browsing projects today trying to decide what I would write about for this post, a number of projects struck me for their originality. While DonorsChoose.org comprises thousands of wonderful and worthwhile projects, below are three of the ones I found most innovative. Each shows how nonconventional methods of teaching can be used to enrich learning and ultimately benefit students.

“Rebound,” El Paso, Texas
Rebound is a program designed to help underprivileged students find success outside of the classroom. Mr. V knows that “students who do not always excel in the classroom often times excel in some other form.” Often times this success will begin to manifest itself in the classroom. The school is lucky to have dedicated volunteers, but needs equipment to run a successful program.

“Hearing the Words,” Trenton, New Jersey
Ms. W hopes to continue her 9^th and 10^th grade students’ vocabulary development through hip-hop music. “Flocabulary,” as she calls it, will allow students to learn from the music they enjoy. The project requires 10 CD players, a relatively small price to pay for the hours of education they will provide.

“Math in a Shoe!,” Texas
These third graders from a high-poverty area of Texas didn’t become interested in math word problems until Ms. O introduced “Shoe Box Math.” By allowing the students to take a hands-on approach to the problems, Ms. O’s students learned independence alongside math skills. Now, Ms. O needs new and more durable supplies to continue her successful program.

All of these projects still need funding, so please browse through them to learn more and consider donating.

Signing off,

Max Kirsch

Washington DC Intern

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At Principals’ Center Collaborative in San Francisco, teenagers with a troubled past are given a chance to redeem themselves. “Burglary, robbery, (and) assault,” are just some of the crimes committed by students, according to school Principal Kevin Kerr. In Mr. Enguidanos’ biology classroom, these same kids have discovered an extraordinary passion for science.

“When we give (students) really exciting, stimulating learning experiences, then they forget all the drama in their lives” said Mr. Enguidanos. This creative teacher says that units on dissection (using materials provided by DonorsChoose.org) has sparked students’ interest in science. Now Mr. Enguidanos wants them to expand their curiosity by focusing on pond biology. With the help of nets, guides, and other equipment, Mr. Enguidanos’s students will explore plants, insects, arthropods, and spiders.

San Francisco television reporter Lyanne Melendez ran a story about this unique biology class recently, as part of her award-winning series on DonorsChoose.org. Before the newscast was over, the project was fully funded! These resources will be waiting for Mr. Enguidanos’s students when school reconvenes in late summer. You can view the video of Mr. Enguidanos and his classroom here.

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In the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. Kidder is third grade teacher who’s not only growing a garden, but a village. His students at Palma Ceia Elementary school love learning about the environment, but they lack the resources they need to grow a successful garden.

Mr. Kidder has a deep passion for environmental education, and his students are fascinated by gardening. This gifted teacher says, “I want my students to be able to understand that by eating plants means that they need to respect the plants — how they grow, what goes into the ground, what is in the air that the plants are taking in and converting through photosynthesis to provide us with oxygen.” To further bring the message of the importance of a garden home, Mr. Kidder has invited some of his students’ parents, who are themselves gardeners and landscapers, to help with garden planting and maintenance. In this way, the third-graders gain a deeper appreciation for the work their parents are doing and the interconnectedness of their “village.” DonorsChoose.org is proud to have helped by bringing Mr. Kidder’s vision to the attention of citizen philanthropists, who provided plants and nonfiction books about plant life-cycles.

San Francisco television reporter Lyanne Melendez ran a story about Mr. Kidder’s garden recently, as part of her award-winning series on DonorsChoose.org. You can view the video of Mr. Kidder and his classroom, here .

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