My third graders live in three small, rural communities that come together in one great district. We are a farming community, but live close enough to a larger metropolitan area that our options are plentiful. This group of kids are a tight knit group; most have known each other long before they started school. They are hard working, eager to please, and a pleasure to teach.
As with most smaller districts, our teachers need to stretch, share, and be creative when it comes to finding necessary resources.
If the students notice that we are scraping by, they certainly don't mention it! In fact, the few things I have been able to accumulate have been openly appreciated by all.
My Project
The tools that I am requesting will help my students develop a deeper understanding of the patterns and relationships present in our number system. One of the most important concepts that 3rd graders are expected to develop is an understanding of fractions as numbers. Trying to picture a numerator and denominator is such an abstract concept that even adults struggle to compare fractions. With the Cuisenaire rods, fraction tiles, and fraction circles that I'm requesting, comparing fractions will be clearly visible to students. If students can see and touch the differences in sizes of fractions in 3rd grade, they will be better able to conceptually understand them later. In addition to fractions, multiplication, measurement, and time have a heavy emphasis in our 3rd grade curriculum. With the measurement and elapsed time tools I'm requesting, students won't be learning how to measure and compare measurements by looking at a picture of a gallon or clock in a workbook. They'll be able to fill up a gallon and compare it to liters, quarts, pints, and cups. They'll be able to move the hands on the clock as they track elapsed time.
By donating to our project, you'll help us acquire the tools necessary to explore these important math concepts that are used by adults on a daily basis.
As a teacher new to my district and new to this grade level, I am hoping to build up my classroom instructional tools and give students a love and understanding of math concepts. Though I joined a great district, the resources that I inherited when I moved into the classroom weren't so great! These students deserve the opportunity to build a strong foundation in math skills. With your help and my perseverance, we'll get there!
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 Mrs. Perkins and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
