Everyday in my classroom we begin the day with our "why" or our purpose for being in school. Although each one of my students has a different "why" as a class we have the same goal, and that is to make sure each person feels they can be successful at school.
To start, I will quote one of my 5th graders, "People say we come from a 'low-income school' but we are not poor, because our education is rich." My students are some of the most hard-working and resilient people I have ever known.
Our goals are not only academic, but we have set character goals, like showing perseverance and being able to articulate the importance of education. Every single one of my students can tell you their goal, and the way in which they will accomplish it. We have not been deterred by the reputation our school has, but rather we use it as motivation to show what we are capable of achieving. My students keep each other focused and on task because they view each other as a team and as a family. They are deeply invested in their own success and the success of others.
My Project
My classroom is a student-driven classroom. I love to give students the opportunity to work with each other, because of this my students are constantly moving around the room. I wanted to give them an area with a carpet and a place to sit that is comfortable rather than working on the hard tile floors. I also wanted them each to have a clipboard for when we do activities that they need to be up and walking around for. Organization is also a huge plight for my 5th graders so I wanted them each to have a binder with dividers to keep track of all their materials. In the past most students come only with a folder, and with 5 subjects of work, organization is almost impossible. I don't want my kids to feel like they are in an "underprivileged" school when they are in my classroom.
This donations project will help to improve my classroom by helping to make it a place where students want to work in places other than their seats.
I want them to feel comfortable moving around the room and engaging with each other. Learning to work with others is a necessary skill, and I want my students to have a classroom environment that fosters collaboration and teamwork.
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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. Camp and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.