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
My students are amazing. They work hard and give their best every day. I love watching them get excited about learning as their confidence in their ability grows. They believe in themselves so much that if you were to ask them, "Who is the best 5th grade class ever?" the will yell, "We are!"
I teach at a Title I Focus school in Kansas City, Missouri where 100 percent of our students receive free breakfast and lunch, and only 4 of the students in my class can solve grade level math problems.
Of the 24 students in my class, 11 are at a 4th grade level in math, 8 are at a 3rd grade level or below. Still, with the exception of our recent flu outbreak, each student's attendance is at 90% or above because they have developed a love for learning and a newfound confidence in their ability to succeed. Now, they need the tools to help them be successful.
My Project
Math manipulatives and practice problems will be used daily during math instruction, and Monday-Thursday during 2-hour after school tutoring sessions. I am not paid to provide tutoring 4 days per week, but do it because my students need it. Base 10 cubes and fraction towers have been proven to increase math fluency for students who have struggled with memorization of basic facts.
By donating to Manipulating Math, you are not simply investing in my students' education, but in their self-perception and confidence, as well.
Generally, schools stop teaching basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts to students in the 4th grade and begin to rely on fact fluency for learning. Because my students are in the 5th grade, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to acquire basic math skills. Math manipulatives and practice problems on task cards will help my students increase their fact fluency and build a foundation that will enable them to meet grade-level expectations now and in the future. My students may not have received what they needed in the past, but I am determined to do all I can to ensure that they receive what they need to be successful going forward.
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. Kendrix and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
