My students need supplies for calligraphy including pen holders, calligraphy nibs and ink.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Pastora's classroom raised $689
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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
Many times my students have told me that my class just seems to fly by. I take that as a compliment. I have 187 students and we often have to share materials, especially consumables like color pencils, graphite pencils, and pastels. Having an art education requires access to many different media.
My students are great.
They work hard when pushed and inspired. Having limited supplies makes them feel very inadequate. My students do not have a strong art background. For many this will be their first and last experience with art. Most students qualify for the free lunch program. This means that my students do not have access to the arts as other, more affluent communities do. My students are also exposed to artwork by famous artists in my class and are so removed from the art experience. This is why I work so hard to have the best art program I can, because I am the only art advocate they have.
My school has only 2 drawing teachers and our classes are crowded. This shows the how the school culture does not allow for precious individuality in the arts. I'm a leader at my school and without the proper support, we become less than what we need to be. For a lot of my students, I'm their first and their last art teacher they will have. I'm trying to change that mindset.
My Project
My students will be using tools designed for the making of calligraphy. They will be using ink, pen holders and nibs. My students will learn how to read a ruler better and to apply proportions (math). In the larger scope of things they will be learning and practicing chancery cursive, which is a common style of calligraphy. This learning will build confidence in their art making ability. It will also develop what scientist call "functional specialization" which helps with cognitive development. This is when the brain integrates sensation, movement, control, and thinking. Brain imaging has shown that multiple parts of the brain is co-activated when learning cursive writing compared to typing. Students will use the supplies needed to develop fine motor skills to create letters and will produce more neural activity than typing. We live in an age when digital is king. There was a time when handmade was best. We need to go back and engage in handmade activities to stimulate the mind.
First, these supplies will create the first ever calligraphy class that I have ever been part of.
I've been given the freedom to teach it for one of my periods. This allows for the trial run and see if it is successful to open it for more classes. I believe it will be successful because students want to feel important and unique. Calligraphy does that for them. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and boosts your confidence. It has a learning curve that will be frustrating, but it disappears.
More than three‑quarters of 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
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. Pastora and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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