This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
I want my kids to KNOW that they have an individual magic all their own that can change the world.
It is safe to say that the interests, personalities, and daily lives of my students vary from A to Z.
I have a few students with Autism, a few that come from high-poverty neighborhoods, a few with only one, solid parent, some that have traveled and seen parts of the world that I have yet to venture to, and some that have never eaten out at a restaurant. Despite these differences, they all manage to support and care for one another. I strongly believe that teaching cannot take place if trust, respect, and a sense of community isn't present within a classroom. They are loving, they are kind, and they are loud. When you get them all engaged it turns into a room of shouting and a severe sense of neglect towards the "raise your hand to speak" rule. And I love it. "Talk amongst yourselves" has never been something I have had to TELL my children to do. They all have a creative light that shines brighter every day because of the collaboration and sharing that is constantly taking place.
My Project
I like students to have the confidence to stand up and share. Usually it's just an idea, or a chant, maybe a piece of writing that I ask students to grace us all with. For this project, I want students to individually read a "Who Was" book of their choice. While they read, they will fill in graphic organizers and take notes on the iconic life of the person they are reading about. Upon finishing, they will make a timeline of their life explaining each major event and overall how the person managed to change the world we live in. With my help, I am hoping the children will get to dress up like their influential figure, stand in front of the class, and share their life story. By the end of it all, they will have heard over 20 life timelines of powerful individuals. I am hoping they will be encouraged by these stories and engaged throughout this project. All the while, they will have not only improved their literacy skills, but also met various social studies standards.
I have chosen books about the lives of people in sports, politics, history, and just the world in general.
Some of the stories have struggle, but they all tell a tale of progress in the end. Not only will my children learn multiple lessons in history, they will also be inspired by great people. I hope that the stories of these people from all different walks of life will open their minds up to realms of the huge world around them that they didn't even know existed outside of their own.
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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. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.