Completed:What is Space Like from a Woman's Perspective?
"In this corner of the world are inner city girls who would love a chance to explore careers that have traditionally belonged to men. Future engineers, astronauts, and scientists are hidden within the walls of My Southeastern Michigan School. As their science teacher, it is my job to pull that hidden...
"
MORE
"In this corner of the world are inner city girls who would love a chance to explore careers that have traditionally belonged to men. Future engineers, astronauts, and scientists are hidden within the walls of My Southeastern Michigan School. As their science teacher, it is my job to pull that hidden treasure out where it can be seen by the rest of the world. I love the thrill of discovery but find it hard sometimes when there are no resources that can be used to inspire my girls to reach for the stars, or the bridges or skyscrapers or anything out of the ordinary.
We are a school without a library or computers that can actually get on the Internet. Using the ‘real thing’ is the next best way to reach this goal! I want to provide books written for children about real people who have done things out of the ordinary and who give them ideas about how they can also try for this unusual careers. Once the girls can see that there are others who have entered these career fields, they can be inspired and challenged to look for their own spot in the world. My purpose is to show them there are many opportunities in today’s world for women.
Having books inside my classroom that can be used for reading pleasure, research and inspiration will develop skills for career studies, improve reading skills and hopefully plant a desire within their hearts to make a difference and perhaps become the next female ‘first’ in another career path. Each student will benefit from having these books available to them. Someone inspired these women to become the first in their field, to follow their dreams and become a woman of legend. I want to be the one who unlocks these dreams in my students.
You can help me do that for the girls of Southeastern Michigan. Would you consider helping us reach this goal? You never know, by the time we are able to reach Mars, one of the girls you helped by funding this project might be the one who pilots the ship and guides the astronauts to safety. Your next doctor might be among my girls!
My students need books as resources and inspiration for career choices, especially since we are a school without a library.
Ms. A. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Oct 9, 2009
Dear Diana, Hope, Alena, Stephanie, AmyG, Roseanne Wincek, Linda, Anna, Emily, Kate, Amber, Sound it Out Records, HP and Anonymous Donors,
Thank you so very much for making this a possibility! I am so excited to see the looks on these kids' faces when they see the books they can use. For those of us who do not have a library or access to the Internet, books are the most important things I can place in the hands of tomorrow's future. y grateful and humbled to find so many wonderful people out tin the future of education and the children who will make tomorrow's dreams a reality.
With gratitude, Ms. A.
On Nov 20, 2009, Ms. A. followed this note with student letters sent via mail to the donor who completed this project, and to donors who gave $100 or more.
"Thanks so much! I can't wait for them so discover that females do have a place in science!"
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 2, 2009
"I gave to this project because I was raised by educators and was lucky enough to have access to these kinds of resources. I believe in the power of an education. Best of luck to all of you!"
"I gave to this project because books and reading are so important to me. Some of the books I read as a child/young woman had a huge impact on me and the way I see the world and my place in it. I don't want any girls to be denied that opportunity."
Sound it Out Records
from Traverse City, MI
gave
in support of Gawker Media's Giving Page
on Oct 5, 2009
"I gave to this project because I was once a public school student, and remember what it's like to need more."
"thank you to all who gave! This is going to be so exciting for my students! We do not have a working library so any books that remain could be counted among the ancient books of our day. thank you for making this a possibility. We are grateful!"
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 5, 2009
"Thanks so much for your generosity! this is such a need since we have no library. I am excited to see what they will find in these books. Maybe a future astronaut or engineer is in these children."
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 5, 2009
"thanks for helping us reach toward this goal! I really want to inspire my students and your help makes the goal that much closer! Who knows? You might someday watch one of them on tv as they walk on Mars."
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 6, 2009
"Every young girl should be able to follow inspirational role models, strong women who have blazed trails through male dominated careers. All students need to know they can be anything they want to be."
"thank you so much! It is inspiring to know there ae others out there who believe in our kids! I can't wait for them to open the boxes when they come. I am very grateful!"
"I gave to this project because I want more women to feel inspired to pursue science, and I know how much the stories of Sally Ride and Marie Curie inspired me when I was a kid."
"I gave to this project because reading opens the door to every kind of learning! Everyone reads: doctors, congress-people and presidents, astronauts, and of course, teachers. Showing girls the impact women have made in science will be a strong reminder to these girls that they can do anything!"
"Thank you so much! I know they are going to be thrilled when they see these wonderful stories about people just like them who made a difference!"
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 8, 2009
"I gave to this project because I was always fascinated by space as a young girl, thanks to inspirational teachers who taught us about the space program."
"When I had the opportunity to meet Sally Ride and Barbara Morgan, I knew my girls just had to have a chance to be of the next generation of astronauts! Thank you so much on behalf of my kids!"
"`thank you1 They will be so excited when these materials come. What a difference you have made!"
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 8, 2009
"I gave to this project because I'm a, well, space geek, and books from my childhood were what turned me on to what has now become a lifelong passion. Granted, I turned out to be an editor by profession. But I left a little piece of my heart at Mission Control! :) And if other little girls get tuned into space and what-could-be's like I did, well, that's a gift not just for them but for the world."
"So did you want to be the cap comm position at Mission COntrol? My next goal for thse kids is to take them to space camp!
Thank you for helping them reach lift off!"
The teacher Ms. A.
on Oct 8, 2009
"HP is pleased to contribute to the Social Media Challenge and support teachers and students."
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Neeta N. (staff member)
on Sep 10, 2009
