Every day, my students make me proud to teach in this urban, diverse community! Lowell High School is a large school with over 3,000 students. Our population is extremely diverse; as many as 52 languages are spoken in our hallways! We love to celebrate our diversity and it is one of the unique things about Lowell High that makes teaching here dynamic and motivating.
My students are the reason I come back year after year, and they are the reason that after 20 years of teaching Spanish, I still feel lucky to have my job.
However, sometimes my students need me to be more than just a teacher. Many of my students have difficult situations at home that may involve financial insecurity, health issues or any number of destabilizing factors. I would like my classroom to be a welcoming place where all students feel comfortable and open to new learning experiences. I want to be a positive role model for my students and to provide them with the resources they need to get a quality education in my classroom.
My Project
As a foreign language teacher, I encourage my students to read independently, especially in Spanish! But, I don't have any books in my classroom aside from text books. My students need a comfortable reading area to see how fun it can be to read in Spanish! So, I am creating a reading corner in my classroom to encourage students to explore some new books. I plan to include bilingual picture books about Spanish-speaking cultures, some fiction books in Spanish that students are familiar with, like Harry Potter, and some books that are set in Spanish-speaking countries, such as Hemingway's The Sun also Rises.
My cozy reading nook will give my students a chance to relax with a book as a reward for finishing their classwork.
But, the corner is poorly lit and is in desperate need of additional lighting. I am hoping to get a floor lamp to brighten up the space. I want to include comfy seating to invite students to sit for a while in the corner and explore the books. So, I am requesting an arm chair for my cozy corner. It's going to be a relaxing, beautiful space for all of my students to read, learn and enjoy!
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. Smith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.