I teach 4th grade at a Title I (low income) school where most of the students are minorities. My students include all ability levels, including special education children (mentally retarded, learning disabled and emotionally disturbed) and highly gifted students. Their reading levels range from kindergarten to 8th grade.
Photography is a great equalizer. Not all of my children have the ability (yet!) to write an essay explaining the bill of rights. However, all of them can show me a picture of something that represents the freedom of speech.
My lowest students can do a photographic essay, and my highest students can use photography to enhance their writings. This is a technique that can be used for all subjects and is exciting and hands on. The students love it.
The problem is, the district doesn't have cameras for them to use. Teachers have access to cameras, but we aren't allowed to put them in the hands of the students.
We need a set of digital cameras that the students are allowed to use. I have sent my personal camera out with them, and I have been very impressed with the respect they show the equipment.
I thought it would be a fun thing to do with an assignment once. I was blown away by the projects they created. Everyone was able to complete the assignment, from the student with the lowest ability to the student with the highest. Their unique perspective on the world really shined through in their projects, and they demonstrated that they really understood the concept we were studying.
However, as there was only one camera, it took a very long time to complete the projects. Providing classroom cameras will allow me to expand the number of projects we can do, and really allow the knowledge and creativity of these kids to shine.
I can't tell you how many times I hear statements like, "Kids these days have no imagination." You can make it possible for these kids to develop their imaginations and their creativity, all while they are learning the content they need to learn.
You can help them learn to communicate their thoughts and to see the world in a new way.
Through your generosity, my students will have the opportunity to develop new skills, new views and a new understanding of the world around them.
Half 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
Never Before Funded23 students impacted
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