My students need 100 packs of new oil pastels, 100 new watercolor sets, and 10 buckets of model magic clay. In addition, I need 20 large portfolios, one for each class I teach.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Gics's classroom raised $2,141
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I have been an art teacher for the past 6 years. This year I am excited to be working with elementary students grades K-5 at P.S. 16 in Bronx, NY. I am in charge of teaching art to the entire school, and I see that most of my students are eager to learn after not having a solid art program for years.
My students are from a working-class neighborhood in the Bronx, where many of the parents do not have the money to purchase good quality art supplies. I asked the students to please bring in basic supplies such as pencils, crayons and markers, but some of the parents did not even send these materials in. I want these children to be able to learn and experiment with various artistic media, and feel that with donations from donors choose, this will be possible. Also, because I teach almost the entire school, our arts resources become depleted quickly. Being that I travel from class to class, and find that there is not much space to store each of my class' art work, I requested large portfolios, one for each class that I teach, that I can re-use from year to year.
I want new art supplies because for many of the students at this school, this is their first artistic experience. They are not used to making art and are sometimes scared to experiment with new projects, also, I feel that having new materials is a great way to motivate and introduce them to new art lessons. I would begin by having them experiment with mixing and working with the various artistic media, then I would move into projects such as self portraits done in oil pastels, cityscapes done in watercolors, puppets or sculptures done in model magic, etc. I will also utilize the portfolios as a safe place to store each class' works of art throughout the school year. All of my student’s major lesson plans will be hands-on, and when introducing new types of art to them I use PowerPoint presentations to show slides and examples and to write notes. I received the laptop and projector that I use for my lessons from donors choose and my students appreciate the technology in the classroom. They then discuss, write about, and finally make art inspired by the art that they view from my PowerPoint presentation.
One thing that I find in teaching art is that it is a calming way for children to express themselves creatively. I try to promote good literacy skills through the arts by having them write about, discuss, and name their artwork. I also encourage my students to share their artwork, and to work responsibly as a class to maintain and preserve materials in the best way possible. Some of the children in this school have never had art before, and I notice that many seem scared to even begin a simple abstract artwork with the use of line, with your support I can be able to open them up into a whole new world of art, that they otherwise may have never imagined themselves doing.
My school focuses on test scores and academics, however, what if there is a brilliant artist who has never been discovered, because of lack of materials and inability to have a solid art program? What about the emotionally disturbed children who can release their anxiety therapeutically through art making? How about the children who are struggling with creative writing and can improve by writing poetry about their finished piece of artwork? All of these children will prosper from quality art materials available at their fingertips. Please be a part of their creative endeavors.
Nearly all 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 Ms. Gics and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
