"Oh, no! What happened to your voice, Ms. L?" Earlier this year, I took a few days off for minor surgery and unexpectedly returned to the classroom with a paralyzed voice cord and a weak, whispery voice. My students are full of questions about this change.
My urban middle school students, many English Language Learners, begin the year reading well below grade level.
Some are learning to read for the first time, after years of interrupted schooling; others are still mastering English as a new language.
School can be challenging for these students, but they work hard to strengthen their reading and writing skills. Building academic vocabulary is an especially important part of helping my students prepare for high school. My students are curious about the world and enjoy researching new topics together as a class.
My Project
I am asking for a model of the larynx with movable parts. The model will allow me to teach my students how the voice is produced and why I can no longer speak loudly. The movable parts will allow me to communicate clearly with all my students, including those with very limited English.
We will use this model of the larynx, along with a collection of books about sound and the respiratory system, to learn more about the respiratory system and the physics of sound.
My students are doing a wonderful job of adapting to the current limitations of my voice, but the change to our classroom routines has been profound.
The cooperation of my students---along with a voice amplifier!---has made the adjustment much easier for me. I would welcome the chance to reward my students by creating something a little positive out of this mishap.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Livingstone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
