This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Our school serves students in PreK through 5th grade. We are an urban, high poverty school. Many of our students have experienced real hardships in their families. Many are below grade level, especially in reading.
One of my primary motivations as their teacher is to teach them that even if you come from humble beginnings, an education can help you achieve your dreams!
Every year, students learn about leaders like Cesar Chavez, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Wangari Maathai, Helen Keller, and Maya Angelou. We see how education plus determination can change the course of your life. We also talk about how, finding success, these people turn around and help others who are struggling too.
My Project
A strong partnership between parents and teachers helps students be more successful. I have noticed that many times parents are unable to come to school for conferences or Title I nights, due to working multiple jobs, health issues, or lack of transportation. However, they are still very invested in their child's education and want to know how they can support their child's learning at home. I am seeking to solve this problem by using technology to create a stronger home-school connection.
I want to get a reliable new laptop that will enable me to make tutorial videos to share with students and parents to access at home.
We need a computer with the processing speed, memory, and programs to tackle this project. Oftentimes, there are very simple things parents can do at home to help their children, they just need to know what that is! By making instructional videos demonstrating classroom strategies and activities, parents will be better equipped to support their children at home.
One example of such an activity is a game called Hide It that helps children learn the combinations of numbers through 10 fluently. It is a simple and effective game and only requires a set of objects (cheerios, legos, pennies, whatever!). I will have my already proficient students deepen their understanding by creating a tutorial explaining how to play, and then by leading the game with another student. This will engage my kids, make them excited to show their parents, and will motivate them to work hard.
These videos will continue to be helpful in the future as they can be shared with future classes and students, as well as other classes on my grade level, and even rising 2nd grade students are looking to get ahead over the summer.
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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. G. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.