My students are great! Because I teach at a science and technology magnet school, students have had to complete an application process, which already demonstrates motivation on the part of the student and parent. My class is a combined sophomore English and world history class called Humanities that I team teach with a colleague. My students run the gamut of the educational spectrum from those challenged by learning disabilities, to those still developing English literacy skills, to those whose parents forced them to attend our lottery-based school, to those who love learning and excel in school.
My goal as a teacher, and indeed the mission of our school, is to make sure that all my students develop the skills necessary to be creative, critical, analytical and lifelong learners.
Being a Title I school, which buses in students from another part of our district, as well as having a majority of students whose primary language is other than English, we create a place where students are excited about learning and feel safe about taking risks.
My Project
For nearly 20 years my co-teacher and I have required our students to conduct oral history interviews. We have ten audio recorders we allow students to check out to do these interviews, as not all of our students have smartphones to record the interviews. Each year we have students who ask to borrow a recording device, but we run out of devices to loan. Obtaining four more of these recorders will allow us to supply all of our students who ask with a recording device. My journalism students often utilize these digital recorders, so having four more of these recorders will ensure that these students also will have necessary access for their work as well.
Oral histories are by far one of the most unique and lasting learning experiences for our students, so making this experience viable for all of our students is of tantamount importance.
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