Help me give my students the opportunity to share their voice with the world!
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Barry's classroom raised $1,827
This project is fully funded
My Students
Almost all of the students in our Dual Language classes speak Spanish at home and are perfecting their language skills to become fully biliterate. Others have been in the program since kindergarten or preschool. They speak English, Spanish, Garifuna and Mam at home, and have learned Spanish at school. In our classes, we focus on literacy skills and U.S. history content.
Social justice and approaching history from many perspectives is at the forefront of our discussions, activities and lessons.
In our Dual Language classrooms, we strive to celebrate the diverse identities and backgrounds of all students in our class. At our school, many students are survivors of trauma in their lives. This means that all our instruction comes from a trauma-informed approach. We work hard to push our students to try new things, while doing so within a safe and supportive space.
My Project
Teenagers are incredible fighters for justice in our world. They have seen how racism, poverty, and violence impact individuals and communities. This has been truer than ever during the COVID pandemic. A huge part of teaching middle school, especially in this context, is empowering students to share their voices. They are transitioning into adults and their thoughts, experiences, and wisdom often remain in their brains, hearts, and sometimes on social media.
This project empowers 8th graders by giving them the literary tools, practice, and support to create, revise, record, and publish their poetry in Spanish and English.
Students have worked with a Spanish-speaking poet laureate to write and revise their poems based on topics important to them. After finalizing their poetry, they will work with vocal coaches to practice reading their poems with emotion and clarity. Later, students will virtually visit a professional recording studio to record their poetry. We also will edit and publish an anthology of their poems in Spanish and English. Finally, students will participate in a poetry reading at our final assembly. They will share their poems and we will enjoy music by a local group that is inspired by the words of the poetry from each group of students.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Barry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
