This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
I teach 7th grade students in South Los Angeles. Many of them are English language learners, and they have aspirations of being the first in their families to go to college. In the AVID program, they’re learning what steps they must take in order to be successful in the global market. With your help and support, we can close the achievement gap by giving these kids opportunities and resources they couldn’t necessarily get on their own. Let’s do this together!
My Project
Last year, because of generous donors, my students were able to jump "head first", as it were, into the literature, writing, and academic vocabulary as we incorporated learning through art. Students demonstrated, rather adeptly, the connections between the core content in their artwork. Their writing also improved, as they could express themselves artistically and thus articulate their critical analyses and interpretations of a text.
The students studied Picasso and the Blue Period, the Harlem Renaissance, and created projects that expressed the respective styles and periods.
I looped with two groups of students, and I would like to build on what they had learned the previous school year. As we have quite a few students who have joined their cohorts, I feel that their knowledge of mixed media, in addition to the varied styles of artists, will accelerate the learning and enthusiasm of those who may be new to the art world, in general. As they create and interact with each other, the new students in particular will realize that they have a safe and encouraging environment in which can express themselves in multiple ways.
In a time when they are expected to be mature, but still remain children, I believe art provides a respite from the social expectations that often obfuscate whom they should be. Many of my students who wrote 'thank-you' letters mentioned that the art history discussions and the creation of their own art pieces offered them a much-needed break from the stress of school work, home life, and everyday "drama".
Let's give them a drying rack, construction paper, and paint as an outlet for creativity with learning at the center of their artistic expression.
Nearly all 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. Suyehara and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
