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
The entire student population of my school receives a free or reduced-price lunch. Most do not have money for simple things like basic school supplies, book bags and clothes. If we're being honest, as a whole, urban public school children are largely overlooked, dismissed and underestimated.
Despite these obstacles, most of my students are admirably college-bound.
It is my goal to get a hundred percent of my students to college, but without preparation, which they achieve through completion of my projects and assignments, they will be ill-equipped for the expectations and stipulations of college coursework.
With that said, I try and provide my students with literature, resources, opportunities and technology that mirror those given to more affluent school districts. As a lot of my teaching style relies on positive reinforcement and the realization and strengthening of personal strengths and integrity, I strive to show my students that their worth is not dependent upon what school district or zip code they grew up in.
My Project
This school year (2019-20) I am teaching my first Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition class.
However, gathering the materials I need to support my curriculum is entirely my responsibility.
This year my students will consume literature that will engage them and elevate and expand their sense of culture, art, and analytical thinking. In order for them to absorb all of this information and analytical energy, they need supplies (in this case, pocket notebooks).
Given that teachers in my district have only received the most minimal of raises of the past ten years, I am unable to suffer the cost of all these materials myself.
See, each night my students are assigned pages and pages of reading, after which they are required to summarized what they read, jot down questions and notes of contributions they would like to make to class discussion. Most of my students are unable to afford basic school supplies (though, thanks to DonorsChoose.org, I've managed to supply them with most of what they need!). With these notebooks I will be making their jobs (as students) that much easier and giving them the tools they so desperately need to succeed.
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 Mr. Harshman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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