Sixth graders are brilliant and talented! My students are energetic, hard-working and ready to learn. They enjoy a variety of STEM-based educational experiences in sixth grade, beginning with an Outdoor School program in our beautiful local forests in fall, a productive school garden, local experts that connect them to the community, basic school supplies, and a class set of Chromebooks with tools that allow for collaborative and creative learning. Many students have families who struggle financially, so our school district and community work endlessly to provide equity.
My students’ enthusiasm about learning is the key to my success as a teacher, and to their success as the innovative and collaborative leaders of our future!
Students in our community come from a variety of backgrounds, many of them facing challenges that interfere with their participation and success in school. However, these students are resilient and determined, and continue to thrive in the opportunities that our staff and community provide. Even with the roadblocks that many of our students face, they can walk into their sixth grade classrooms knowing that they are being supported, and that they are being prepared for a successful future.
My Project
After twenty years of teaching middle school, I know that all students are not going to come to class with all of their required supplies. When we set impossible expectations, then have a system of punishment for students who are unprepared, we are creating a climate of divisiveness and inequity among our students and families. We will not let this happen. In our community, there are a variety of obstacles that students must overcome in order to purchase the required supplies that allow them to fully participate in class. Many of these obstacles are not within the students’ control. Currently, students are required to purchase earbuds as part of their required school supplies. Our experience is that many students come to class without these. When they do, most are low quality and in a short time are not usable.
This class set of headphones will allow all students to come to class with a sense of dignity, inclusiveness and equity, and will allow them to participate fully when using our class set of Chromebooks.
This small purchase will improve school climate, eliminate a management issue, and pull all kids in without the divisiveness and embarrassment that comes from not having adequate materials. The quality of these headphones will give us a product that lasts for years, will be shared among different classrooms, and can be cleaned. It’s a win all around.
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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. Pieper and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
