At the beginning of the school year, the students (without input from me) create a bulletin board, entitled "Our Classroom Culture." This bulletin board reminds us that we have purpose: to work hard each day, respect each other, and contribute to the learning environment by sharing thoughts/ideas.
School data shows that reading is an area of concern.
Therefore, teachers continue to receive professional development training in reading along with quality teaching resources that align with the Common Core Curriculum. We believe that all children can learn to read proficiently if given quality instruction using quality instructional materials, like the novel, "Out of My Mind."
My Project
Your donation will allow us to purchase a class set (25) of the novel, "Out of My Mind" by Sharon Draper. From this novel, we will develop a better understanding of the challenges that individuals with disabilities face. We will join the fight to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities by showing the value that they bring to our lives. As a culminating activity, students will work in teams to conduct research about various impairments. Then, create Google Docs newsletters to distribute throughout the school and community. Your donation will not only support good reading, writing, and technology skills, but you will be investing in the next generation of individuals who possess the knowledge and skill set to advocate for those who learn differently.
Upon completion of this novel, students will understand that "one can not judge a book by its cover." Rather, we must put forth a concerted effort to spend time together in order to gain an appreciation for our differences.
We also hope that students who have felt rejected because of their disabilities will now have a voice in our school community. This novel will help us to recognize our own prejudices/bias and then create environments that are truly inclusive for students with disabilities.
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. Elrod and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.