Colleges these days are looking for students who are well-rounded. My students have limited access to diverse opportunities that enrich and broaden their lives.
I work at a middle school school in a low-income neighborhood where many cultures and languages intersect.
As I walk into the lunch room, I hear students chatting in Uzbek, Spanish, or Arabic. I see students of different skin colors linked arm in arm. It's a beautiful display of unity within diversity that is not frequently found in schools across the country. The school is relatively small and located in a bustling metropolis.
Many of my students, though, don't seem to have ventured far beyond the boundaries of their neighborhood. Most students come from families with limited finances and hard-working, overburdened parents.
My Project
My weekly Craft Club is a great opportunity for students to engage their creative side, and we have had a blast this year. So much so that I've already run through my planned list of crafts! Every week my students eagerly ask, "What are we making NEXT?" So I'm tacking on a few more projects to finish out the year. In the next five weeks we plan to make tie-dye shirts, decorate glass jars and vases, and make bracelets from recycled shirts and colorful cord. Thanks to your generous support, my students will have access to vibrant spray paint, puffy paint, and a drop cloth for keeping our delightful mess contained.
Outside of making a product each week, we simply enjoy being and creating together.
While we craft, conversation flows. At the middle school age, having a trusted space to take risks, challenge yourself, and engage with others is central to meaningful development and maturity. These students have started out life with so many factors against them, so to have this opportunity to express themselves and take pride in their handiwork fosters the confidence needed to face the challenges of life.
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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 Mrs. Mackin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
