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
I teach at a model school that incorporates performing arts, visual arts, coding, computer science, and STEM (STEAM) within the curriculum. Our urban school receives federal funding for programs that provide free breakfast and lunch for every student, and Title I services to economically disadvantaged boys and girls.
It's a new school year and my students want to be more active and healthy 180/60.
We are a class which includes military families, gifted/talented students, ESL/ELL students, inclusion/special education students, and the tech savvy.
My students are energetic and very busy within the classroom. Even with parental support, I would love to say that my students have everything that they need to be successful. But they don't. We are preparing students for college, the workforce, and the world beyond, so they can have a better life.
My Project
Every day, my students and I come together on the carpet for instruction. During our group time, I write on the chalkboard. But we have students who stay at their seats because of the chalk dust. When we had our "Family Meeting", a female student said that ,"she doesn't feel like she is learning or a part of the class." Another student agreed because "the chalkboard makes them cough or their eyes water." A male student asked, " Mrs. R, can we get rid of the chalk and chalkboard because it makes my friends sick." The entire class agreed.
Everyone should be able to learn without coughing and having difficulty breathing.
Several of their classmates can't sit through group time or learn at the chalkboard because the chalk dust affects their allergies or asthma. My students would love to have a new whiteboard to replace the current chalkboard in their classroom. The whiteboard would allow their peers to write on the board without breathing in chalk dust or coughing during the day because I erased the board. I feel that more of my students would volunteer without fear of getting sick to raise their hands to demonstration math problems or even clean the board.
My students are requesting a healthy, clean, learning environment for their peers. They don't want their friends sitting so far away from the board that they don't feel like they are a part of the class or can't see or learn because of fear that they will get sick. Replacing the chalkboard is something that will bring my entire class together.
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. Richardson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
