My students need 10 cloth bags, various math manipulatives from shapes to clocks to thermometers, ink and index cards to create problem solving activities to assist us this year and for students in years to come.
My co-teacher and I teach 3rd grade in rural North Carolina. In addition to having a high military population, our classroom is inclusive of children with exceptional needs. Third grade is known as a gateway year in our school and this can pose a particular challenge to exceptional learners.
This year we received a new curriculum--Math Investigations and we are eager to teach and learn with a new problem solving approach. New textbooks alone, however, will not get us where we strive to be. We need additional hands on materials to integrate what we are learning. Given our unique classroom makeup, with students who frequently move in and out of the district due to military moves and students with exceptional learning needs, these materials cannot simply be ordered! Instead we need to design this practice ourselves so ALL students can be challenged and receive necessary remediation.
We need 10 bags to align with each math unit. We also need materials to fill these bags including math manipulatives ranging from coins to thermometers, shapes, and fraction tiles. Index cards and ink will help us create our own problem solving activities that are meaningful to us--ones that include scenarios we face in our community and that align to where we need the most practice. Given the durability of the selected materials we will use these throughout the year and in the coming years as well.
We are eager to get our students excited about math and learning. By creating their own activities rather than purchasing them, they will have greater pride in their work and an eagerness to learn with the materials. This, in turn, will help them see connections in their daily lives and effectively create empowered thinkers and leaders!
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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 Ms. Kellermann and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
