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
As a teacher in a low-income/high poverty school district, my students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to keep things fun and simple. I want to provide my students with creative and meaningful musical learning experiences.
My students are creative, talented and very eager to learn.
They like to play instruments, they love to sing and love lots of positive attention. Many of them are being raised in single-parent households and receive a free lunch based on their socioeconomic status. These things may prevent them from getting ahead early in life and may not provide them with the life experiences many of us see as "typical". From the minute they walk in the door of my classroom, I focus on their potential and growth while they are with me. I may not be able to control their home lives; however, I can certainly control their experience during the school day. By doing this in a creative and positive way, I am hopeful to inspire even our earliest learners to continue on a path of musical excellence.
My Project
This project will allow for us to purchase matching t-shirts for my musical theater students! Every year, we perform at a the Jr. Musical Theater Celebration where we gather with other schools from the community. Each musical group wears a t-shirt that represents the show they are performing at their school. We have been unable to purchase matching t-shirts in previous years, so my students go every year wearing standard black and white. Every year they comment that they feel left out because our group doesn't have a polished look like the other schools do.
Musical Shirts provide a sense of ensemble, a professional presentation, a unity of visual appeal, and show identity.
Due to our lack of budget to purchase uniforms for this group of 5th graders, I typically ask them to wear their own collared white shirts and their "nicest" black pants. However, many of my students struggle financially to be able to pay for nicer clothing. Many also lack a parental presence to take them shopping for this type of clothing. Having a Musical t-shirt would take the financial hardship and guesswork out of having to find something appropriate to wear as well as instill a sense of unity and pride in my singers and actors!
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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. B. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
