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
My students are in the inner city of Richmond, Va. They are bright, vibrant students. Their energy is contagious and boy are they funny. That said, most of the students have experienced trauma in one form or another.
Despite their traumatic home-life, the students want to learn so they can better themselves.
There is always an underlying lust for learning. Even when students misbehave, there's a longing to get something out of the situation. And the misbehavior is usually some sort of reaction to a world that the majority of suburban America only sees in television and movies.
My Project
Many years ago, educators thought fluorescent lighting was the way to go; however, recent research (hyperlink: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lighting-boost-learning-concentration_us_5720cb14e4b0b49df6a9b73e) has debunked these thoughts. These days, fluorescent lighting is known to increase bad behavior in children who already have trouble behaving. And the old fluorescent lights our school uses aren't bright enough to maximize the students' potential.
I want to change the lighting in my classroom so students will behave better and learn better.
The supplies I'm asking for will allow us to use light that isn't florescent; instead, we will use lamps with LED bulbs that produce about 6500K. Studies show that 6500K is best for academic focus. It's closer to natural sunlight. Ultimately, I envision a place where I can maximize learning because students will be more comfortable.
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. Sweeney and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.