My 18 energetic second graders are filled with enthusiasm for learning about the world around them. Together, we spend our days experimenting with magnets, adventuring with our four classroom pets, and reading anything we can get our eyes on. Our elementary school is a high poverty, Title I school where all students receive free breakfast and lunch every day as well as fruit and vegetable snacks 3 days a week.
Despite their circumstances, my students never stop striving to reach new heights in all aspects of their lives!
My students come from different backgrounds and face different changes but still come to school every day eager to learn more and to discover more about the world around them! They amaze and astound me every day, and I am continually blown away by how lucky I am to have a class like mine.
Their love of learning and desire for more knowledge encourages me to be a better educator.
My Project
I strive to create a classroom environment that promotes tolerance and acceptance for all inhabitants of the earth. Books allow me to do just this. For students, books can become windows, mirrors, and doors. Books become windows because they allow students to look into other people's lives. These books can also be used as mirrors. When books are mirrors they reflect our students' lives and allow them to see that they are not alone in the world and that others share similar experiences to them. Lastly, books can be doors that open up new words and experiences. I plan on using these books to do all three of these things.
Through these books my students will be able to see themselves as well as become opened up to new experiences and ways of living.
I have created a collection of books and stories about different genders, races, socioeconomic statuses, gender identities, and family structures in the hopes that my students will be able to use them as windows, mirrors, and doors. By doing so, my students will be exposed to all different types of people and will be able to raise awareness of tolerance and acceptance among our classroom, our school, our community, and the world.
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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 Ms. Schmalbeck and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
