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
The Preschoolers who bound through our classroom doors come from circumstances which put them at risk for school success, mostly due to low income. They do not often have some of the life experiences of their peers in other communities, but that does not mean that they do not still have the same love of learning and eagerness to meet the academic challenges that all children must face in their young lives.
Our Preschoolers often have had little to no experience with books, blocks, balls, paint or even doodling on paper because their families are focused on the essentials of putting a roof over their heads and food in their tummies~not much is left over to feed their bodies and brains.
When they arrive at our door, it is our responsibility to kick-start their learning experiences, focusing on all of the modalities of learning. The best way to do this is through play, especially play that allows them to plan, create and build. This type of play encourages cooperation, critical thinking skills, problem solving and creativity.
My Project
Quality books and the props used to retell these stories open up storytelling in an invaluable way for young students. Stories "come alive" with quality books and puppets or other props that support the storytelling process.
Puppets also allow stories to jump from the covers of a book to the hands, hearts and heads of students, who are not only then empowered to retell the stories, but also able to use these same puppets to create new stories using these same characters.
This a powerful way to give our youngest learners (who are mostly non-readers) a voice to retell stories and create their own stories.
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. Sanders-Bruce and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.