This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My co-teacher and I teach social studies and nonfiction reading and writing to sixty plus third graders in the South Bronx. My students love to read, write, and learn about the world. However, we often lack the appropriate materials that allow them access to the various topics we study.
Our school is located in the public housing projects of the South Bronx.
Our principal, the teachers, and the entire school community, have turned it from a failing school into a school on the rise. The adults and students' hard work has turned our school into a "showcase school" for many of our neighboring schools. From third to fifth grade, our students rotate classes and see three teachers each day. This allows our kids to get two doses of literacy instead of just one. Many students come from incredibly challenging homes, and some are far behind where they should be academically. However, despite challenges, our kids love to learn and love to be at school with their teachers and one another.
My Project
There is something I have learned about third graders over the years...they LOVE animals! This year I am trying to give the kids more choice when it comes to our nonfiction research projects. Adding books about animals to our classroom will truly give them a thrill. As you may know from my other DonorsChoose projects, our social studies units engage students in learning about our world. We typically take a serious look at China, the United States, and Africa. If we have more books on animals from all different continents, it will fit perfectly with our overall curriculum.
Choice is key when it comes to encouraging kids to read, research, and write!
Students are much more motivated when they are able to learn about topics that they are curious about and enjoy! My hope is that adding a variety of animal books to our classroom library (at different reading levels) will get ALL students excited to learn!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
