This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
For some of us, reading and relaxing go hand in hand. However, for many of my students, reading induces fear, anxiety, and frustration. Even worse, every subject requires reading: from instructions on math homework to a chapter about volcanoes in a science textbook. How can we expect students to succeed when they are constantly frustrated and nervous about having to read in class?
My students have been diagnosed with a range of emotional disturbances and disabilities, but their eagerness to learn and excitement about new topics never ceases.
While my students have a variety of interests, they often do not get the opportunity to hang out in libraries or browse the internet for articles about current events. My students are often working jobs to provide for their families and face unsafe or constantly changing living conditions. Coming from some of the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, my students qualify for free breakfast and lunch programs and often cannot afford the materials they need for school.
My Project
Students aren't focused when they are hungry. While I used to provide snacks such as chips, cookies, and candy, I found that these unhealthy snacks didn't fill my students up and often they came right back asking for more. In order to get them to focus and stay motivated to finish a full day of school, my students need a hot meal to fill them up.
My students need real foods such as oatmeal, soup, and noodles to curb their hunger and boost their energy.
As growing adults, they need substantive meals and, though a hot lunch is served daily, many students choose not to eat it. In order to get my students engaged in reading articles and plays or writing essays, they can't be worrying about the fact that they didn't get to eat breakfast or asking me "how much longer until lunch?" With these microwavable meals, we will be able to help students focus on becoming the best readers and writers they can be and alleviate some of the stress of figuring out where their next meal is coming from.
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. Sander and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.