"EL" stands for "English Learner". ELs are students with a limited understanding of English. Some ELs have recently immigrated here, while others have been here all of their lives. Through their coursework, ELs must strive to learn the English language so that they may access higher levels of learning in other classes. Classes like mine.
I teach Biology to ELs, 9th-12th grade. They range widely in their mastery of the English language. While some kids can hold conversations with me, others still know me only as "Teacher", and interact with more gestures than words. These students are expected to learn the same biology course content dictated by the state as other English-speaking students, along with how to speak, read, and write in English. Separately, these objectives can be definite struggles, but put them together and they make for a supreme challenge, and for our current classroom ambitions.
The language barrier may hinder their interaction with the material and with me, but it certainly does not conceal their potential to succeed. On the very first day of school, their assignment was to write me a short letter explaining what their goals in life are. “College” popped up in nearly every kid’s letter, although sometimes misspelled.
I have a lot of ideas that I want to implement in the class to help them acquire the language and learn biology. I’d like to make fully-colored visual displays, such as pictures of different cells with their parts and functions, to help students better understand what all of their biology vocabulary words mean. As it stands, my black-and-white examples are not as clear as they could –- and should –- be.
These ideas and others would greatly be assisted with the help of a color laser printer. A color laser printer would allow me to make displays and vocabulary activities that are more visually stimulating and memorable, allowing for more efficient learning time in class. Colorful materials would allow my kids a better shot at meeting their lofty goals, and they will need all the help they can get from effective visual displays. And from you.
Please consider helping fund this project so I can provide my students with more effective visuals to help them access and master the language, which they will need to excel as scientists and to express their potential. They deserve nothing less.
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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 Mr. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.