My students need 15 chess sets for a before school and during lunch chess club. My students also need access to the book entitled "Chess Rumble" by G. Neri and "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess" by Murray Chandler.
$380 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.
When you are born into the circumstances that many of my students live in, it is understandable why many of them do not think beyond surviving the present day. I teach 5th grade in a high-need, high-poverty zip code. It is an large, urban public school.
The challenges of poverty can make it difficult for the average 5th grader to think about much beyond what will or will not be on the dinner table at night. The realities of the neighborhood present daily challenges to my students and their families. Gangs have clearly and prominently marked their territory - each graffiti covered stop sign reminds me of the influences my incredible students face every day outside of the classroom walls. The dangers and challenges make it very difficult for the students to think ahead and to think for themselves. The school day is filled with necessary lessons in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. But when I mentioned to them that I would like to teach them chess, more than 20 hands volunteered to come in before school and during a few recesses to learn.
To do this meaningfully, I would like to require the students to read the unique novel, "Chess Rumble" by G. Neri. By reading and analyzing the text students would understand the difficulties and benefits of learning to play chess well. I would also like to have access to multiple chess boards so that as many students can join as possible. Finally, the text "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess", would provide my classroom with a well-written instructional text on how to play the game. I will then supplement their learning with my own teaching and some engaging websites.
Chess teaches you to think for yourself. It teaches you to think ahead and plan for the future. It teaches patience and problem solving skills. A chess club will teach students to work together, to win and lose humbly, and to learn how to set and achieve goals.
By learning to play chess, I hope to provide my students with a few more skills they need in order to dream beyond today. Skills that will help them in school and in life.
Thank you for partnering with me in my efforts to empower and encourage these amazing students.
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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 Mr. Pumphrey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
