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.
The students in my school still live in FEMA trailers and sub-standard housing as their parents rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I teach a third grade, self-contained class in an area that was devastated by Katrina. We serve a low income group of students with approximately 90% receiving free and reduced lunch and breakfast. In addition, we serve our county's Youth Court Shelter and a large subsidized apartment complex. My district's budget has been severely cut for the upcoming year as we continue our recovery.
The class that I am getting for the upcoming school year is extremely low in math, as noted by district-wide testing held this year. Our state's MCT test indicates that students across our district are particularly low in measurement skills. In order to increase student understanding and automaticity, they need hands-on practice and exploration, while building on various math skills.
In order to fully prepare my students for a mathematical world, I have selected materials that support state frameworks allowing for independent practice when I am working with small groups. I use centers to reach those students needing more reinforcement with certain skills. These activities will enhance the centers thus meeting the needs of these children. They need a Hands-On Measurement Center that will provide concrete understanding of estimating and comparing measurements (standard/metric) such as length, perimeter, volume, weight, and capacity. We need an Instant Math Games Library that will allow exploration of various skills, including place value, fractions, measurement, multiplication, division, and algebraic concepts. This set of activities will allow for independent practice in small groups while I am teaching another group. I need a set of fraction circles to allow students to compare fractions. Equivalent fractions are difficult for this age group. The last thing my students need is a set of Wrap Around Math Games. This activity promotes listening skills, an understanding of multiplication, division, place value, geometric vocabulary, and fractions.
This project will be an integral part of my math program. It will ensure my students have ample materials to reinforce the skills that I will be teaching. They need sufficient practice with each concept in order to "own" that skill. By funding this project, you will be helping my students build a love for math. Together we can provide these third graders with a firm math foundation on which to build in the years to come. I thank you, in advance, for considering my proposal. These students have been through so much. Working together we can help them climb the Math Mountain to Success.
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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. Hack and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.