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
Kindergarten is the year when some of the most foundational skills are taught. Expression and reading comprehension through art is generally the precursor to reading and writing. My students, especially the English Language Learners, rely heavily on art to convey their thoughts and show comprehension.
About 97% of our students receive free or reduced priced lunch.
My students come from diverse immigrant communities in Georgia. Learning English is paramount for not only the students but also their parents. Our English language learners begin acquiring English in kindergarten, making that year especially critical.
These students require more visual support and cues from posters, bulletin boards and pocket charts, yet it is not just my ELL students who benefit from visual and hands-on learning. All of my kindergarteners require numerous visuals and art supplies to enhance their learning. Kindergarten sets the tone and foundation for the relationship my students and their parents will have with our school. Our school strives to provide the best education possible for ALL of our students making as many accommodations for ELL and special needs students.
My Project
For my kindergarteners, basic art materials are indispensable. Being able to express themselves through art is key for them to eventually transition into writing. At the beginning of the school year, I will be unable to assess their cognitive skills through writing and must therefore rely on their drawings in order to gage their understanding of the material covered for the day. Furthermore, my students need to develop fine motor skills. Art helps my students practice these skills in a way that reinforces learning and ensures I can assess their comprehension of the objectives covered during lessons. I plan to do daily guided reading and to have my kids summarize the stories we've read through a combination of drawing and writing. Over the course of the year, my students will transition from drawing to writing full sentences to express their thoughts and ideas. Please help provide my students with the requested art materials like paint, crayons, paint brushes, craft sticks, pocket charts, and paper to start the new school year.
As a new teacher in a low income school, I face many challenges that could affect my students ability to learn.
I firmly believe that it is my responsibility to create a welcoming environment fit for rigorous academic learning and that's why I'm applying for a grant through Donors Choose. Many of my students will come to my class without being able to hold a pencil or even speak English. Learning to express concepts and ideas through art enables ALL of my students to demonstrate objective mastery.
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 Ms. GB and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.