My students need individual chalkboards, chipboard weaving looms, and a People Long Ago Resource Box.
$258 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I consider myself lucky in today's current economic climate to not only have a steady job, but one I love. I have taught in the public school system at my current school district for the past nine years, with the last seven of those spent teaching third grade. The city in which I teach has a population of approximately 3000 people. The primary businesses have an agricultural base and our school is impacted with high poverty as well as a high number of students speaking a second language. Many of the parents of the children I teach not only do not speak English, but they also are illiterate. They are unable to help their children with school work, but they want their children to succeed. Unfortunately, in today's current economic system, there is rampant unemployment as well.
In order to increase parent involvement, as well as to bring the California Social Studies Standards to life, I created a third grade pioneer unit while studying to get my Masters degree in Education. During this unit, third grade students travel back in time to experience life in 1849. They get a new pioneer identity, have to buy their supplies, and travel west in a covered wagon on their way to California. Through this unit, they learn how life in California changed dramatically during this time period. Each year, the unit has grown to incorporate more students and adult volunteers. As much as possible, parents are invited into the classroom to participate along with their children.
The pioneer unit survives on the support of local donations year to year. This year donations are scarce. I would like for each student in my class to have access to a chalkboard in order to experience completing daily homework on a "slate". I would also like the students to experience the craft of weaving. Weaving was done by both pioneers and Native American groups. Weaving boards would enable each student to create a small weaving project. The resource kit offers age-appropriate reading activities about the pioneers that I could use during reading groups. I have struggled to find reading materials that include the content I need, but at an easier readability. The wagon and clothing replicas included in the kit will help me teach the vocabulary through show and tell.
I have found the students I have benefit more from activities where they can experience the learning by doing. In addition, it is these activities that enable the parents of all backgrounds to participate with their children. Your help will offer more hands on activities to my students as they learn about the lives of the pioneers.
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 Mrs. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
