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
As my students get settled at the beginning of class, I yell "Tater tots!", they respond by yelling "Chicken Box!" and everyone is quiet. We review our "appetizer" together and discuss our trait of the week (such as empathy, curiosity, and persistence) and get ready to start the day's lesson.
My students are 7th and 8th graders from west Baltimore.
Like most typical middle school students, they are curious, competitive, egocentric, and emotional. Some are extremely motivated to do well in school, while others are much more concerned with their social lives. Their feelings are erratic as they deal with hormones for the first time and try to find their place in the world. Some put on a front of being tough while others are visibly fragile. But they all want to be smart, competent, successful individuals who are accepted by their peers and loved ones. Doing well in school has the potential to help them build their confidence and take advantage of opportunities that will help them to be successful. Though many of them don't know it yet, they have great potential that they can unlock with persistence and self-control. I talk about these traits with my students regularly in hopes that they will be able to apply them to their lives especially as they transition to high school.
My Project
My students will use these notebooks to help them stay organized and take ownership of their learning. So far this year, they have been using one-section graph paper notebooks for warm-ups and notes. While the graph paper is helpful for some activities, it can be difficult to use when writing notes or reflections. Also, warm-ups are mixed in with notes, so students sometimes have difficulty using their notes to study effectively. With 3-subject notebooks, students will be able to keep their notes separate and create glossaries to improve their math vocabulary. The reflection section will also help students practice metacognition by thinking about what they are learning. It will help them develop greater internal motivation as they see their growth and take ownership for their learning when they realize they don't understand something. These journals will help my students develop strong note-taking, studying, and reflection skills that will help them as they transition to high school.
These journals will allow me to help my students develop the study and reflection skills that they will need to be successful in high school and college.
If all of my students have uniform notes, I can give them better instructions on how to study those notes that will also serve as a model when they leave my class. Regularly reflecting on their learning will also help them develop a sense of accountability for their education that will help motivate them throughout high school and college.
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. McGrain and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
