What does this mean for students if we fail to teach them?
"I learned that the way governors projected the numbers of beds they'd need for prison facilities was by examining the reading scores of third graders." ...Wes Moore
I have three classes of "at risk' students.
What does that mean really? It means I have three classes of kids who are wonderful, funny, generous, deserving, struggling, and identified as needing extra support and help to make sure when it's time for their classmates to walk across the stage to get their diplomas, these young people are right up there with them. A high school diploma is mandatory for today's student. Right now, we have 70 percent of these students with Fs but we are working together to pull those grades up. I wish you could see how they help and support each other in class, when someone is lost on something the others chip in to try to help, I am trying to build a team spirit and praise and reward. It's hard, we don't have a department or a budget to support our needs. Thankfully there is you and DonorsChoose.org.
My Project
Many of our kids are failing English because they didn't get the summer reading book and don't have a love of reading. We will read Wes Moore and a few other motivational books too. As a student once told me, she didn't think she had ever read a book about someone that looked like her as the main character. I want to provide some of those books for reading days and when classwork is caught up. Having some colored copy paper would allow me to make copies for the students on subject coordinated paper for tests (orange for history, green for math, and so on) Students have vocabulary in almost all subjects so having the colored index cards and markers would let us organize their vocab. Finally, I want to make sure all the students are using a planner to help be successful so " Munchies Mondays" encourage them to use their planners. A honey-bun motivates even the most adamant "I hate to write things down" teenager. Using their planners will help them manage their time and assignments.
When one student leaves high school without graduating it is a loss not only for their potential, but for all of us.
You can make a difference in my class and help us make sure these students have the resources they need to have a great, successful year. Thank you for being someone who cares what happens in the classroom because you know later those same children leave the school, either with or without what they need for success and I want to make sure they have what they need to graduate.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Teacher Ryder Duffey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.