I am actually the math teacher at the school. The school is a small charter school which is project, community and art based. The curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature. It is not a continuation/remediation school but we do serve a high-risk student population. Our students face economic as well as academic challenges which the traditional school system can focus on.
Due to budget cuts the following school year will be especially tough for our school as well as the students. We are desperately seeking alternative ways of finding the supplies we need. Our school provides ALL supplies for our students. We have set this up because we know that some of students would not attend school solely because their families cannot afford school supplies. One of our biggest expenses for supplies in the area of art.
Why does a Math teacher need so many art supplies? Our school not only teaches the basic core course we also teach interdisciplinary and art courses. Every teacher teaches within their subject expertise as well as an interdisciplinary course which meets the needs of the goals our students have set for themselves and fit within our school's charter.
My project for the coming school year is to teach an intensive art exploration course where Math, Science, History and English will be incorporated into the visual arts. This requires an expense for art supplies. This year long course will assist my students in preparing for college because the variety of instruction and the familiarization with the arts will give allow them to broaden their perspective on the world. Being artistically aware as well as academically aware gives a student the ability to succeed in the college setting. This course will connect students with a broad range in the community. The ending projecting for the course will connect them to the local college art students for a Gallery show. This will allow our students an opportunity to experience college life as well as showcase them to the college.
Your help will ensure that my students will not only create art and learn new ways of expressing themselves but their lives will be positively impacted by being able to put a voice to who they are and how they see their world. The majority of students that attend our school are visual learners and a course that focuses on self expression/exploration will allow them to make connections with other subject areas that they would not be able to do in any other manner. My course will give them an avenue of learning that is not available to them in any other way. Your donations will go a long way in helping me as their teacher open up new doors and avenues for living their lives.
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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 Ms. Velazquez and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.