My students are special to me because they do not yet know their own greatness. They are rough around the edges, dealing with situations such as poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and immigration. About 80% of my students receive free or reduced lunch. Some of them are first generation Americans; some of them hold down full-time jobs to help care for their families.
They are resilient and resourceful, but sometimes, they do not recognize their own abilities to rise above their current situations.
At every corner they are bombarded with temptation to get off-course, to lose sight of the world beyond their neighborhood. All of them need convincing when I say, "YOU are why I come to school each day!"
My Project
Sketchbooks and unlined paper are a luxury in my school. I am always amazed at what is drawn on humble notebook paper. I intend to use the sketchbooks in this project with my Honors, Advanced Placement, and Cambridge students. Many of the students in my Honors courses have been invited to join not because they show great drawing talent or because they will grow up to earn their living in the arts, but because they show great passion and drive to create- to become their personal best! These sketchbooks will house their Friday Passion Projects: artwork that is student-chosen and that is an idea, theme, or concept that they explore all year.
Art is not a priority when you are hungry, but art is food for the soul.
My goal with this project is to give my students materials that will elevate the quality of their work in an effort to have them see the value in what they create and aspire to. As Vincent Van Gogh said, "What is done in love is done well."
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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. Richter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
