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.
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams," reads the stencil on wall in my classroom. The challenge most of my students face is their home life. Instability and poverty isn't helping them envision plans for what our community at large would consider their successful futures. I'm here to help.
Engrossed with the multi-media culture and all of the gadgets that go along with it, my students are young teenagers, 6-8 graders.
Their heritage is 98% Hispanic.
They take pictures for social networking, but don't realize the impact of images.
Many don't realize how they present themselves now will effect their future in high school and beyond.
The physical, mental, social and emotional changes they are experiencing during these growth years can be very distracting and overwhelming for them. Students, more than ever, want to be entertained before giving their attention to learning. Hands-on experience is the best way for them to entertain themselves while expanding their knowledge. When the students are engaged with cameras and computers, they a very helpful to each other creating a rich, sharing learning environment.
My Project
Imagination is what made American workers superior during the building of our great country. Today's future workforce is being brainwashed by media to think life is one big summer vacation. Let's use multi-media tools to help students regain their own "Brain Power" by creatively leading students to see the world in a up close and personal way.
Using cameras to keep students engaged, they practice art and video skills. Parallel lessons will lead them to create a 6-8 year plan to accomplish their education and career goals. An introductory activity has students exploring the basic use of the camera by photographing hands and feet. Before students use the cameras, they research "mouth artists" to see how people make a living at art without hands. Students research photos of hands and feet to get ideas on artistic ways to pose those parts. Teams of 4-5 students rotate through several responsibilities until all use the cameras, and are talented. Learning to plan is vital.
Confident, clear communication is the number one skill employers seek.
Working with cameras builds multiple communication and employability skills. The better a student can communicate, the more the student will succeed personally and professionally. Engagement is essential to learning. The brain must be stimulated so that curiosity and self-motivation develops. Inspired by camera use, students can then create a personalized plan for the next critical 4-6 years, centered on future employers' needs.
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 Ms. Jones and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
