Help me give my students each their own hardcover sketchbook and a class set of colored pencils so that they can take sketchnotes to deepen their processing and comprehension of information.
My students come from a variety of school districts and are here to explore technical trades as well as expand their academic abilities. If I could describe my students in one word, it would be “diverse.” Although their abilities and interest levels vary greatly, they are all bright, witty, and genuine teenagers. I am lucky enough to see my students year-round, even when they are spending time learning their trades. It is truly amazing to see the engagement and excitement that they have when they are working hands-on in the bustling environments of their shops. That being said, sometimes it is difficult for them to transition to academics and maintain that engagement and excitement.
I want my students to have fun, use their critical thinking skills, develop their creativity, and increase their comprehension in Language Arts!
My Project
Imagine how a typical 9th grader spends their time in English class. I'm sure you're seeing books, pencils, notebooks, maybe even some cool technology. You may also be seeing distractions (BING! Snapchat notification!) or worse...boredom and disengagement. When their world is so fast paced, it's no surprise that students are often struggling to engage in a traditional classroom setting.
Today's teens live in a dynamic world, so we need to have dynamic classrooms to engage them!
The best books, cool technology, and fun educational websites help, for sure, but every so often we need to throw away the script and breakout of the routine. That's why I'm requesting materials for my students to create sketchnotes to help them process new information! They will use the sketchbooks and colored pencils during class when they need to read, view, or listen in order to attain understanding! This will allow them to more deeply process information by using visuals and text together, a strategy well-supported by research. The best part is that all learning styles will be engaged: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This creates a personalized learning experience which allows students to build relationships capitalizing on their strengths. The ability to work hands-on will not only engage students in the English curriculum, but build skills that will translate to their shops and prepare them for the working world.
Students will make their thinking visible, allowing them to easily track their thoughts. They'll be fully engaged with their thinking, exploring their prior knowledge and how new information relates to it. They will be reading, listening, thinking critically, having fun, and most importantly: ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN LEARNING.
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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. Pelletier and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.