Many of my students do not have the means to purchase a graphing calculator. They share calculators during class, which although not ideal, is able to work. However, for the Regents exam, students need their own calculator. It is helpful to be familiar with the technology used during the exam.
My school is a suburban school with approximately 1200 students in the high school.
Our district is in transition, with a large percentage of free and reduced families. Many of the kids get their only meals at school and they struggle with basic necessities. Graphing calculators are not high on the priority list for families that are struggling to feed and clothe their kids.
My Project
Students in my physics class use calculators every day. Physics is a very quantitative subject that requires multiple calculations in addition to a deep understanding of concepts. Currently, the students are sharing calculators. If they have a calculator that they can use daily, they will be familiar with it and won't need to learn how to use different calculators in addition to learning challenging content.
The unemployment rate in the US is very high, but at the same time, there are a multitude of jobs that can't be filled because the unemployed do not possess the necessary skills.
Students that prepare themselves in high school by successfully completing challenging subjects will be ready to expand their knowledge and skills in college. These students will then be able to fill those positions to decrease our unemployment rate and increase the productivity of our country.
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. Daugherty and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.