"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little ´extra´...."
I want my students to be extraordinary, to think outside of the box, and reach any goal they set their minds to.
I set high expectations for my students in order for them to strive to reach that little "extra" in all aspects of their lives.
I teach at a Title I school in which 88% of our low-income families rely on us to provide free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch for their children. We have many families who have come from all over the world, sharing their culture and languages with us. We currently have 17 different languages used by our students—many of whom didn't speak English when beginning the school year. Although many of my students have gone through many difficult times, they are still excited and eager to learn as I greet them outside our classroom door each and every morning.
My Project
Let’s face it, most of my students have a hard time keeping their desks organized. This leads to them losing important papers/materials that they need for their daily work.
As 3rd graders, they have more responsibilities now—one of those being to keep their items organized.
My students have multiple items that they have to hold onto throughout the week and turn in on Fridays. One example are our math and reading “menus”.
While I am working with small groups of students, the remaining students have a menu with various activities they need to complete until it is their small group time with me. On the menu, there is a “must do” column that the students must complete and then there is a “may do” column compiled of activities/review games they may choose to do once they have completed their mandatory items.
Each day they keep the completed “menu” items in a folder labeled with the subject. At the end of the week they get all of the materials stapled together and turn them in for a grade. Some of the students have so many items in their desks, that papers get lost or torn/ruined.
If I am able to supply them with separate caddys and drawers specifically for their important “turn in” items, pencils, and computers while they are not in use, I believe they will be able to keep their important materials safe and in order. This will not only teach them organizational skills but also how to take care of supplies independently.
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. Phillips and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
