My students need 12 copies of the "Theory of Knowledge" textbook for the International Baccalaureate diploma program.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Yacenda's classroom raised $467
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
Riddle me this…
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Some say yes, others say no. Some argue yes, because there is always sound, whether or not we can hear it. While others say no, because there is no one around to actually hear the tree make a sound. Does the tree itself even exist when there is no one around to experience it? There is no “right” or “wrong” answer. This is just an example of how my students learn to think outside the box…
Welcome to my classroom…where students are encouraged to question everything, trained to think critically but cautiously, and expected to justify and verify any claim to knowledge. The name of the game is Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the goal is to constantly ask ourselves, how do we know? How do we know what we know? Welcome to my classroom…where oddly enough, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers.
I teach in a low income, high risk community at a high school that now offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program to otherwise underprivileged students. The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course is both a requirement and an essential feature of an IB education.
The course curriculum offers an interdisciplinary perspective of different subjects, including the arts, human and natural sciences, math, language, and ethics. Students learn to find and make connections between content areas using our different ways of knowing.
The curriculum demands profound thought and relentless introspection from my students. My students spend vast amounts of time and energy grappling with knowledge issues and justifying knowledge claims. The trouble is I have limited time in the classroom with my IB students. The bell at the end of our 45-minute period has frequently and abruptly ended many thoughtful conversations and heated debates.
My students leave class wanting and needing to find a way to continue the intellectual dialogue and to satisfy a thirst for knowledge. My students need outside resources in order to do so, but unfortunately, neither my students nor my school can afford to purchase the necessary textbooks to make that possible.
My students need greater access to the textbook, Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma Program by Richard van de Lagemaat. The trouble is I only have one copy for the entire class. I have 12 students, however, who would undoubtedly benefit from having individual copies at their disposal to continue reading outside the classroom. The limited time we do have in the classroom could then be used to discuss and analyze the material. The value of teaching the curriculum lies in enabling and encouraging an open dialogue, thereby opening minds, and hopefully helping my 12th grade students prepare for college and beyond.
Your donation will help change the lives and shape the minds of the future leaders of our country. A donation of a mere $30 will allow at least one of my students to continue thinking outside the box while outside the classroom.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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