My students need to learn about how much it costs to live out on their own. They need financial literacy. They need a digital camera, 2 games about housing design, and 4 games about budgeting.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Sperske's classroom raised $694
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students have tried to be good students; to learn in traditional classes. They did not succeed. For some, school is impossible; for others, school is an alternative to jail. They don't connect with how school can benefit them in life. My students lack academic skills but want to succeed.
My students come from a diverse socio-economic background.
Some of my kids have stable home lives and some do not. Some are homeless and others have at least one parent who cares for them. All of my students are at our school because they did not succeed at the big high school in town. They are alternative. They learn differently. They need more attention, with fewer students per class. But one characteristic rings true for each one; they want to graduate from high school. Our school provides them the opportunity to learn, to find success, to find help in school studies and in life problems and an opportunity to graduate from high school.
My Project
Have you ever wanted to show a kid just what is possible in life? Have you ever felt frustrated by what seems like a lack of concern or reality among our youth? Sometimes it takes a little show and tell to shake reality into kids. My kids have no idea what life costs or how they will earn a living. My job is to show them opportunity and provide access. I want them to learn by doing. Some kids learn by doing better than by being told. The games and the camera will allow my kids to learn by doing. Give them a camera. Let them shoot "things" they want. Cars, shoes, whatever. Bring it to class and analyze it. Budget it. Research it. Then devise a plan to attain it. I want my kids to feel like they have a sound idea of what financial literacy means in the real world before they leave high school. My class is geared around teaching the students computer skills, financial skills and job skills. It is a career technical class and it is new to our school. I lack materials but not inspiration.
Too many times, my kids have felt left out of their educational experience.
They are disconnected from it. I want to provide them a richer, more meaningful connection to education by providing experiences that they can use for the rest of their life. I am shocked by the lack of financial knowledge some students have and I feel my class can give them an edge in life. My kids are not dumb. If I can give them the tools to succeed, then they will feel all the more empowered to be productive citizens
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Sperske and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
