"I teach a room full of wonderful 5th graders in an urban elementary school full of children who begin to learn English when they enter school. Because learning a new language is hard for anyone (even children) many of my students have already had too many negative classroom experiences when they spoke out, but said the wrong thing--or said it in the wrong way.
And yet, in spite of those embarrassing moments, the hardest thing for my students is still trying to NOT speak. Yes, I have many shy students, but I still observe that it is harder for them to hold their tongue when something really gets them excited. Unfortunately, in a typical class there are many more students than teachers and thus most students spend most of the day not being allowed to talk.
I have an answer, but I don’t have the right materials. I already have small whiteboards that students could use at their desk. Even better, I gave all my students 3-ring binders which have a plastic sleeve on the cover—this plastic sleeve is perfect for writing using a dry-erase marker! But I don’t have enough dry-erase markers. What I would like is a collection of dry-erase markers and erasers that my students can have in their pencil boxes and use at their desk.
How are they going to use them? All day long! When I ask a question in math, EVERYONE can answer, on the whiteboard or binder cover, and show me at the same time. When I want a picture of one-half, they can all draw their own picture. When we discuss a book we are reading every student can make his or her own prediction, write it, and then erase it after we discuss them.
All day long I ask many questions of my students and right now, only a few ever get to answer them. Sadly, most don’t bother to even think of the answer because they know that they probably won’t be called on to answer. With you gift I can help all my students to get regular, daily practice at thinking of and putting down (temporarily) their own answer, question, or comment.
Your gift of markers and erasers will help me to help my students "speak out" every day, in every lesson.
My students each need a set of dry-erase markers and a dry-erase eraser.
The cost of this proposal is $427, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment 
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