Math learners in need of basic classroom supplies!
My classroom is full of second-chance kids. I teach algebra I and II, geometry, and pre-calculus to juniors and seniors at an alternative high school. We cater to a population of students who stopped attending their previous school because of pregnancy, drugs, gang involvement, or an otherwise unsafe environment. However, my students are not “bad kids.” They have passed rigorous admissions standards, chosen to uphold the school’s high expectations, and would like to change their lives for the better. We keep the classrooms small (a maximum of 15 students, typically 11-12) and provide each student with the personalized attention they need to succeed, and hopefully go on to college.
These students lack a classroom equipped with math supplies that offer hands-on experiences. With only lined paper and pencils, limited progress is possible for learners who rely on interactive lessons to stay engaged and grasp abstract content. While our school has done an outstanding job of making do with available funding, there are essential classroom materials that we just do not have. Unfortunately, we cannot afford basic materials.
Rulers, protractors, graph paper, drawing compasses, geometry pattern blocks, and algebra tiles will provide students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of difficult material. With these materials I can teach geometry in the way it is meant to be taught— as an interactive, hands-on learning experience. Students will be able to draw the shapes they are learning about and better yet, manipulate the shapes using pattern blocks as a guide. Algebra classes will also benefit from these materials, as algebra tiles add a kinesthetic component to learning difficult problems, such as quadratic functions. Students will also be able to draw graphs of functions and make the math come alive. From the very first day they arrive, these materials will be integrated into the curriculum and relied upon heavily to augment student learning.
By donating even a tiny amount to this project, you are facilitating a better learning environment for my second-chance students. They can have positive and effective learning experiences in the math classroom, but they need the tools to succeed. Your contribution can provide those materials. My students need your support!
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 Ms. Patey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.