Viewing and Creating the World Around Us!

At our school, students are naturally curious, especially in their new homes in the United States. The diversity of the neighborhood, the influx of recent immigrants, and the fast pace of the city combine to make my high school students are interested in their world and their country. Unfortunately, the school faces many challenges to achieving educational success. As a teacher in a school where the average student reads two years below grade level, it is difficult to only focus on teaching Geography content, but this is critically important to give them so they can become educated Americans and world citizens. This is complicated by the fact that teachers are expected to teach with no social studies supplies. My classroom has few maps, no globe, few workbooks, no fancy displays, and no special supplies to show them how amazing they are. A solution to this struggle would be providing students with high interest materials so they can really experience geography and the world around them. Recent studies show that the environment that students are in is crucial to their learning experience. If a classroom has materials, students feel a sense of self worth. Inner city classrooms are typically under-resourced, and my classroom is no exception. My students know less then half of the fifty states, fewer then 25% of the state capitols, and many could not name label the 7 continents before being in my class. Having more supplies, like a comparative World Atlas, a National Geographic Atlas, 30 student Notebook World Atlas, a Geography Coloring Book, a Geography Bee instruction book, Geography Spark Notes, a "Let's Review Global History" book, the AP human geography, Cultures of the World Theme Box, the Landmark and Symbols of America Poster Pack, a Traveler's Globe, The Bean Bag Master Zoo, Clay Cutters, and the Hand Punch Assortment, would give them the opportunity to experience what children in more affluent areas have in their schools, supplies and resources for learning. Giving my students these supplies would allow them to have access to knowledge and skills that would allow them greater access to active participation in literature and global education. It would also keep many of them in school, since this is a last chance school for a majority of the students. Please help me provide for the neediest students. Your gift will help my students’ curiosity grow and their world views expand.