My students need furniture for their classroom including 2 bean bag chairs, a World Explorer Rug, 2 organizer caddies, a tall swivel stool, and a World History Time line for our walls.
Have you ever walked into a classroom and it felt warm and inviting? So have I. I want to create a learning environment where students feel welcomed and want to hang out during lunch and after school.
After 2 years of teaching in the Republic of Georgia (bordering Russia), I know how to make great use of limited supplies. My students in Colorado, USA are immigrants and at-risk from varied backgrounds that face tough decisions daily. Many of these students have previously dropped out of other schools and are returning to try school once more, and some already have small children that they must also care for.
These kids face an uphill climb to receive an education, as English is still a new language to most of them. They are all trying very hard to stay on a path that will lead them to a better life; they have seen the problems and desperation that often occur when this path of education is not followed or is not available.
I teach History at our unique school that was opened in order to meet the needs of immigrants and their families. Our students have a natural curiosity and openness for new experiences. The diversity of the neighborhood, just outside of downtown, is enhanced by the influx of recent immigrants. The school was designed to give new immigrants to the area a chance to make something of themselves by learning English and attaining an excellent American education. Unfortunately, the school faces many challenges to achieving educational success.
In order for my students to find success and proceed to college, I need to provide them with a safe and supportive environment in order for them to learn more efficiently and inevitably, prepare them for college.
My students need furniture for their classroom including 2 bean bag chairs, a World Explorer Rug, 2 organizer caddies, a tall swivel stool, and a World History Time line for our walls. I want to start the school year with a fresh looking classroom that gets the students motivated to stay in school.
There is nothing better than reading on a bean bag, or making a presentation on a tall stool in the front of the classroom. Students love staying organized and they love it when the classroom has things like Time lines on the wall to make it look exciting and welcoming.
Since the average student at our school reads two years below grade level, and many students are prior drop-outs, it is difficult to focus only on teaching History content. I must also focus on building important literacy and life skills that are critically important to their success. My mission is even more challenging since I am expected to teach without any social studies supplies. My classroom has 1 map, few globes, no workbooks, no fancy displays, and no full set of textbooks. When these students look around our classroom, they do not see the supplies, the investment into their learning that would give them an awareness of how amazing and special they are!
It is my job as a teacher to create student centered learning so that students will be able to work together to create projects to prepare them for the same situations in college.
Having the furniture will give them the opportunity to experience what children in more affluent areas have in their schools--an encouraging environment filled with resources that ask students to "stay a while" rather than "go". Giving my students these supplies will give them access to knowledge and skills that will help them actively participate in literature, democracy and civic education.
After my 2 years with the Peace Corps, where I traveled to Georgia (bordering Russia) to teach students in a classroom that had no electricity, I know I can use these basic supplies to inspire learning and enthusiastic participation in my classroom.
Please help me provide for the neediest students. Your gift will help my students’ curiosity grow and their world views expand. This is not only an investment in a child's future; it's an investment in your own future. The future of our country's immigrant population will have a direct effect on tomorrow's economy, stability, and health. Please help my classroom succeed and my student's thrive on their path to college.
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 Mrs. Longworth and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.