My students enter first grade with much excitement and enthusiasm. Over 75% of them are English language learners from low-income families, and 100% of students receive free and reduced-price lunches. Their parents have the highest expectations for their children to excel in school and encourage them to do well, but many lack the time or skills to personally help them academically. Many students struggle with school because they are also learning to speak English. Others have special needs that make learning more challenging. Because of their backgrounds, many struggle and come to school unprepared.
As their teacher, I must find strategies to motivate them to do their best so they can thrive and succeed.
First grade can be quite challenging as the students must learn concepts from all subject areas including reading, writing, and math. I try my best to ensure each and every one progresses and ultimately masters all first grade concepts while at the same time infusing the curriculum with fun activities!
My Project
One of the highlights each year is the production of the class yearbooks. Throughout the year, I take photos of the students doing various activities: singing, dancing, jumping rope, having fun on a field trip, making ice cream, doing a science lesson, etc. Then students write stories or captions to go with the photos. They write about favorite and worst times, what they want to be when they grow up, their friends, and what is happening in the photos. Photos are a very motivating and convincing tool for writing! When the students see the photos they are eager to write! When all the writing is completed and all the photos are properly placed on each page, a copy of the yearbook is made for each student to take home. Parents have always been very appreciative and happy to receive this special memento of their children’s writing and photo history of first grade. I would like to continue this yearbook tradition but will need a battery charger to power my camera/iPad to take photos on field trips; an external hard drive to hold all my photos; and photo paper to print out the photos and memory books.
Photos are always motivating forces in the classroom.
Children love to look at them, talk about them, write about them, and keep them! With your help, support, and generosity, not only will you enable children to practice their writing skills, but you will ultimately provide each student with a beautiful yearbook. They will read, cherish, and share with friends and family for years to come. This project will build their skills and love of writing!
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB Portable External Hard Drive for Mac USB 3.0 + 2mo Adobe CC Photography (STDS1000100)
• Amazon Business
$54.99
1
$54.99
Hammermill Paper, Color Laser Gloss Poly Wrap, 32lb, 8.5 x 11, Letter, 94 Bright, 2,400 Sheets / 8 Ream Case(163110C), Made in the USA
• Amazon Business
$49.40
1
$49.40
Portable Charger RAVPower 26800 Battery Packs 26800mAh Total 5.5A Output 3-Port Power Bank (2A Input, iSmart 2.0 USB Power Pack) Portable Battery Charger for iPhone, iPad, and other Smart Devices
• Amazon Business
$48.99
1
$48.99
Materials cost
$153.38
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$14.03
3rd party payment processing fee
$2.30
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$199.71
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$35.24
Total project goal
$234.95
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$234.95
1 Donor
-$234.95
Donations toward project cost
-$199.71
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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. Mak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.