The students in my class are sixth, seventh and eighth graders who attend a public middle school in a large, urban school district. The students come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and the majority of the students are from low-income households.
The students have all been identified as having special learning needs such as auditory processing deficits and attention deficits, which can make it difficult for them to find success in a traditional classroom setting.
In other ways, they are like all students. They are funny, insightful, smart, and interested. They always rise above expectations when given enough time and support.
My Project
As a result of budget cuts over the past decade, arts and humanities have largely been eliminated. Many of the students in our middle school have never had a music class or even held an instrument. Some of these students may be gifted musicians who have just never had the opportunity to tap into that talent.
The link between music and math is well established.
Learning music can greatly improve a student's math skills. But music is more than that. It is a worthy pursuit in its own right. It gives students a way to express themselves and to create. Music is an important part of our history and our culture and it should be embedded in our curriculum.
Many of my students have learning disabilities and it can be hard for them to see the growth they are making. These drum sets will give them immediate feedback as their playing improves, and will allow them to see their growth, hopefully giving them the confidence to persist in learning things that take longer to show progress. We are also asking for a book to teach us some basic beats and techniques.
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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. Vibbert and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
