My students are from a rural community in the heart of SC.
They are a tight-knit group who look out for each other.
The community is fiercely proud and protective of its little school, and it shows. We continue to encourage students to succeed when they walk through our doors for the last time.
My students come from a variety of backgrounds and have varied access to literary texts. They have many different learning styles, abilities, and preferences, and my goal as a teacher is to meet as many of their needs as possible!
My Project
It's tough to be a teen in today's world. It seems that every day, another technological advance thrusts us further into a virtual existence. While these advances make our lives more convenient, we often miss out on simple (but significant) experiences that are meant to build patience and teach delayed gratification. Often as teachers, we focus solely on the academics and curriculum, but fail to nurture the 'soft skills' and self-awareness that are both vital to long-term success.
Today more than ever, our young people need experiences that will build valuable life skills: compassion, empathy, mindfulness, self-confidence, and a sense of purpose in a overwhelmingly disconnected world.
The Start Where You Are journal "is an interactive journal designed to help readers nurture their creativity, mindfulness, and self-motivation. It helps readers navigate the confusion and chaos of daily life with a simple reminder: that by taking the time to know ourselves and what those dreams are, we can appreciate the world around us and achieve our dreams." What better way to help teens discover themselves and make them more connected to their past, present, and future?
Did you know that the benefits of journaling include stretching your IQ, evoking mindfulness, achieving goals, building emotional intelligence, strengthening self-discipline and communication skills, healing, and sparking creativity? The simple act of self-reflection can transform lives.
By making this self-reflective journaling a part of our regular classroom activity, students will become more self-aware. They will practice setting goals, exploring dreams for their futures, and reflect on the progress they make along the way. In addition, students will build writing and communication skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
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. Burdge and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.