Focusing on STEM and Problem-Based Learning in my class allows me to place the responsibility of learning in the students' hands, empowering the at-risk students in my classroom.
At my Title I school, over 90 percent of the students receive free or reduced-price lunch.
Many speak English as a second language and are recent migrants to the US, or are first generation US citizens. My students are charismatic, hard-working teenagers, who are struggling to overcome the restraints that growing up in poverty has placed on them. While attending my school, each student receives vocational training. This prepares them for careers after high school.
However, for many of the students in my class, post-secondary education is what will provide them with the necessary skills to move out of that lowest 20% income bracket. Between the cost of maintaining a 40-year-old school and deep budget cuts for public schools, my extremely supportive administrative team can only approve the bare essentials for our classroom. I know that the students in my class would benefit from having up-to-date technology that allows them to learn about our world and to develop solutions to 21st-century problems.
My Project
With access to spray paint, students will be able to create the team banner for our science and engineering competition. The theme of this year's team banner is "STEM Force: The Brain Awakens" and the students have planned an incredible galaxy themed banner. The spray paint will be used for the backdrop and the students are sketching and painting in the lettering and detailed drawings.
These students have committed hours planning the design of this banner and learning about technical drawing.
The students working on this banner are all members of our STEM club and are all freshman taking AP level courses.
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 Mrs. Hess Shamdasani and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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