My students need materials such as toy vehicles, pretend purses, blocks, doctor and tool kits and pretend traffic signs to enrich the dramatic play and block centers.
Kindergarten is a place to grow both academically and socially. With all of the new emphasis on the common core, all of the materials that are purchased for the classroom are books, workbooks and math manipulatives. Each day we have a period for centers to foster imagination and creativity.
My students are from low income households, some on public assistance from a major city.
They do not all attend preschool, so this is often their first experience in school. Outside of their family members, there isn't often much socialization, such as play dates and after school activities, so the socialization they do in school is sometimes the only contact they have with peers their own age.
My Project
Each day, we end with a period called centers. Students can choose which area they would like to work in such as art, blocks, dramatic play, science or computers. It is important that they have materials that are age appropriate for them to use, that can promote language, creativity, sharing and collaboration. All of the emphasis in purchasing materials recently has been on common core related items, but in the world of a 5-year-old, these items that help socialization are equally as important.
My students need materials such as toy vehicles, pretend purses, blocks, doctor and tool kits and pretend traffic signs to enrich the dramatic play and block centers.
This project will improve my classroom by creating a time for students that is not only educational but also FUN!
In the push to make our 5-year-olds "college ready", we often lose sight of the fact that students learn best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. And when you are 5, and your foundation for learning is being molded, would having fun be such a bad thing??
More than a third of 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 Ms. Winderman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.