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
In order to write, we need the time to write, the place to write, and the tools to write. As a teacher, I can provide the time & place, but I lack the tools. For long-term success, students need support in writing. As English Dept. Chair, I am just the person to help, before, during, & after school.
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." -- FDR.
Students in this urban public high school with special Arts programming (in Theater, Dance, Music, Art, & Creative Writing) are remarkably creative, ambitious, and disciplined, yet many live in situations where access to technology is severely limited. Many of them struggle to find a place to write. If they have a paper to write for a class, they cannot count on having access to a computer, much less a printer and the supplies needed to support writing. The environment required to focus and think -- prerequisites for writing -- may be hard to come by. With limited resources, our school does not afford students easy access to a writing lab, and so students often scramble to complete assignments. It's hard to overstate the negative impact this may have on their long-term academic success.
My Project
Two work stations in my classroom will provide a remedy for this lack of access to technology. A long table at the rear of the room will provide just the nook needed to set up a couple of laptops and a printer. To one side is a locked cabinet where I'll store the supplies of paper, ink, and all the rest; on the other side, a bookshelf where crates can organize materials. The two office chairs, portable laptop stand, and ergonomic chair allow for flexibility. All of this will draw kids in to what I'll call a "Writing Suite." ( One more priceless perk: they will have me there to assist them.)
I included a couple of classroom upgrades such as a boombox (to improve the audio from my digital projector) and dry-erase wallpaper (to place over a worn-out white board). You might wonder, "Why all the colored paper?" Well, when assignments are printed on colored paper, it adds a little cheer and helps students easily distinguish assignments. Lastly, why Kleenex? Because there's never enough.
This project will provide my classroom with a major upgrade in writing functionality.
When students walk in, I want them to know this English classroom supports writing. They will see that there is a place to turn when there's writing to be done -- no longer frustrated by an inaccessible/inadequate lab. For some, it will mean no excuses, for others it will be a godsend. I'm excited to think of all the teachable moments this project will provide.
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. Katter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
