Let's Hear It for the Boys

My Students: I am a pre-K teacher in a Title 1 school in Brooklyn. My students are young but very inquisitive and they want to show everyone what they can do.

The majority of my studen...

My Project: When parents and students are told to be creative, they automatically think "Draw a picture". I would love to expose my students, especially the boys, to a world where creativ... more»

My Students: I am a pre-K teacher in a Title 1 school in Brooklyn. My students are young but very inquisitive and they want to show everyone what they can do.

The majority of my students come from working families. Sometimes they do not even see their families too often because they are trying to provide the best that they can for their children. Often they see their child care providers more often than their parents. During this time, these children keep themselves amused and entertained with the computer or television. Very seldom do my students have the opportunity to express their creativity or use their imagination (outside of the technology world).

My Project: When parents and students are told to be creative, they automatically think "Draw a picture". I would love to expose my students, especially the boys, to a world where creativity doesn't mean doing only girl related activities, such as drawing pictures and painting. I want to bring back toys where they can create and use their imagination. Little boys have been and it seems will always be attracted to matchbox cars. Why not use that to our advantage and provide additional materials for them to create any community and city of their choice by have items that they see in a community combining structures such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations and parking garages around homes to make a community work. These buildings have places for cars to enter and exit. These products would help to get the thought processes moving in my students, but most importantly it would foster creativity with each new final product.

Your help will ensure that my students will develop and foster their creativity as they grow through each year of school. They will also learn to feel confident in what they have to say and express to others. The fire station, police station, parking garage and hospital will be a great addition to the houses that we have in the classroom. It gives a three dimensional feel to their cities and towns, whether they include people, animals or dinosaurs. hide»