My students need whiteboards for their group stations. These whiteboards will help to develop their collaboration skills, social skills, and improve academic performance. The students will use these to develop consensus squares and various thinking routines.
The students who attend my school come from a variety of backgrounds and several countries. The students desire success, but have not been successful with school due to the severely low reading levels. Many of our kiddos will be the first to graduate high school in their family. Our reading diagnostic testing last year showed that we have the lowest reading levels within our district of schools. We also had the lowest rate of freshmen passing all of their classes. As a result of these results, I was asked to champion a program for the ninth graders that will facilitate growth with reading and success in all classes. My students do not have the funds to purchase their own school supplies that will help them be successful.
Last year alone, we had 80 students who were homeless.
According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, students need their basic needs met in order to succeed. If students are worried about where they will sleep or get their next meal, they definitely won't be able to purchase the supplies they need in order to stay organized, meet deadlines, and achieve at high levels.
My Project
My students need to learn how to collaborate. I have moved all of my desks into groups. The students will have one whiteboard at each table to assist in their learning. The students will learn the ability to work effectively with others on a common task, taking actions which respect the needs and contributions of others, contributing to and accepting the consensus, negotiating a win-win solution to achieve the objectives of the team. They will use consensus squares and various other learning strategies to develop socially. Consensus is a decision-making process whereby everyone in the group either agrees with or is neutral on a decision. It is more than a 100% vote -- it is a decision that everyone in the group can live with, and the majority of the group feels good about and invested in.
Students learn together so that they can subsequently perform higher as individuals.Cooperative learning has also been observed to enhance achievement of female and African American students (Herreid, 1998 ), members of groups that are underrepresented in various disciplines.
Students in mixed groups (different races, genders, learning styles) tend to have a deeper understanding of the material and remember more than those in homogeneous groups (Wenzel, 2000 ). The purpose of cooperative learning groups is to make each member a stronger individual in his or her right.
Nearly all 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
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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. Glodowski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.