Give the Kid a Pencil - Supplies for Psychological Safety
My students need basic supplies. They each need a folder to keep their work in, paper to write on, and sharp pencils, glue sticks and scissors to use in my classroom.
My students work very hard to learn English and get good grades in school. They are positive, respectful, optimistic - they are a joy to teach! It takes more than joy and optimism to be successful in school. My students come to this country with nothing and need our help to be prepared for school!
I teach ESOL, which is English to Speakers of Other Languages.
The US government helps a certain number of families relocate to the US from areas of the world that are very dangerous. For example, during the Iraq War, it was very dangerous for people who helped the US military and many families came to the US to escape the violence and stay safe. Other families have been victims of terror and violence in Africa or South America. My current students speak Nepali, Amharic, French, Spanish, or Arabic at home, but speak English at school.
Moving to a new country when you are a teenager is very difficult, and the biggest challenge to teaching ESOL is setting up a psychologically safe environment. Having the basic supplies that my students need is an important first step to letting them know that they will never have to feel shame for not having a pencil or paper. I recently read blog on tolerance and it increased my resolve to have everything my students need.
My Project
Each one of my 60+ students will receive a basic two-pocket folder with some composition paper and a pencil in it. I always have sharpened pencils available to trade for a dull or used up pencil, or even an empty pen. I also always have loose-leaf composition paper for my students to use to take notes.
I also need a class set of scissors and glue sticks for the school year. It is essential for students learning a new language to be able to do hands-on crafts. We have been borrowing scissors, and my students have been unable to craft for months since we ran out of glue. I'm simply not able to supply 60 students with supplies by myself.
The majority of my students have grown up in refugee camps. Most people don't even know that Baltimore, Maryland is a resettlement hub for international refugees. I hope you agree that no student or parent should ever feel shame or embarrassment for not having these most basic supplies.
As you can see, this is a "no frills" project.
I've chosen the most inexpensive supplies I could because even though my students will get a basic folder instead of a 3-ring binder, they will be very grateful for the gift. It will enable them to feel safer and more comfortable in school, do homework, and learn the English language.
My students start from nothing, some never having been to school before in their lives. Your generous gift would truly make a big difference.
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