My students need access to materials and literature that reflect their culture. My students need books in their home language so that they can be read to at home.
Like most, my Kindergarten students are full of energy, curiosity, and a desire to learn. They crave routines, boundaries, and consistency. They learn best from highly engaging lessons that allow opportunities for exploration, movement, and discovery. But many also live below the poverty level and have had little access to pre-school or other early childhood programs. Some have limited-to-no access to the Internet or computers. And a few have limited transportation that restricts them from discovering the world around them. Additionally, my students come from diverse cultural backgrounds that enhance the learning of all students, but can also affect a student's ability to access a curriculum that is geared towards the majority.
My Project
My classroom is a diverse community made up of many cultures, languages, and experiences. I lack literature and art supplies that allow children to personally connect to the curriculum. Many of my students come from homes in which English is not the primary language. Finding books and materials which reflect their language and culture can be difficult for these families, which is why I am requesting these items.
Having these books and art materials that better reflect my student population will provide my students the opportunity to see themselves in their classroom, the curriculum, the community.
I will be able to read books to my students that reflect many cultures, particularly cultures that are represented in my classroom. I will also be able to put books in the hands of students and families of diverse cultures and/or families who do not read in English, by lending my books, so that they may experience the immense benefits from being read to at home in their language.
Finally, in an effort to ensure that ALL of my students feel included and represented in my classroom, my students will be able to create artwork and develop their writing by having a wide variety of multi-cultural crayons from which to choose in order to fully represent their appearance, rather than just having to choose from apricot, white, or brown from a typical crayon set.
I am dedicated to creating a kindergarten experience in which all of my students can connect to the curriculum by seeing themselves truly represented in it. I appreciate your consideration of my project and hope you will consider donating to help all of my students feel as though they belong in our classroom community!
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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 Mrs. Butler and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
