Both science and math are classes where students learn best by doing. When students actively use materials and have real life problems to solve, their motivation and learning both increase. My students need to have the tools to graph and present these problems.
I work with about 75 students, teaching both math and science.
My students attend a large urban middle school and come from very diverse backgrounds. Close to two thirds of my students are economically disadvantaged, and a quarter have limited English proficiency. Despite the fact that some of the student achievement indicators for my school are below the state average, the amount of growth our students are making each year is above the state average in math, putting them on track to catch up with their peers. This is because these students want to learn and the staff here puts significant effort into ensuring that they do learn. We are a multi-age school, teaching mixed groups of sixth through eighth graders in all subjects except for math, where we separate by grade level. The multi-age format develops community and allows all students to be leaders at times while learning from others at other times, both of which are necessary roles in society.
My Project
I believe I was born to teach, and my passion is helping students discover their capabilities, especially those who do not see themselves as strong. I require my students to actively engage in the science and math they are learning, so that they can demonstrate their understanding. Unfortunately, because of the high poverty level within the student body, many students are unable to provide the very basic supplies we request they bring. To level the playing field so that ALL students are prepared with what they need, I provide materials where they are lacking. The supplies I am requesting here will allow students to have pencil and paper to record and graph data, present solutions to problems, and be active learners in class. They will allow students (and me!) to focus on the learning rather than the lack of adequate materials.
For students who are often worried about money for the things they need, having supplies available for those that do not have them can make a huge difference in their readiness to learn.
These supplies will allow me to create a community that is centered around learning, rather than who has what they need to be a learner and show what they are learning.
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