A typical day in my classroom is never typical! I see 50 students throughout the week, so each day is very different. I like doing project-based units of study with my English Language Learners. With each project, my students are learning and practicing speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
My English Language Learners are exquisite artists, ravenous readers, and imaginative writers!
They are also excellent actors, dancers, set designers, and most recently, entrepreneurs. They love whatever challenge I give them and for some reason, can't wait to come to ESL class. During the long, arduous testing months that ESL teachers must administer tests of all kind, the kids beg to come to ESL again! And believe me, I would much rather teach my students than administer tests and manage paperwork!
My Project
"If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?"
Laurence J. Peter, Formulated the Peter Principle.
"Can I use your computer?" How many times have I heard that? I have been teaching a class of 5th grade English Language Learners who are mini entrepreneurs. They learned how to start a business, make a budget, print fliers, and research products all on my cluttered desk. They feel comfortable sitting at my desk and pulling up a document on the computer and printing it out for our group. My desk is just a table with no drawers or shelves, so everything is on top of the desk. Sometimes the students need to ask me where things are, and even though I know it is under the third pile to the left, it's difficult for my students to find things! A new computer work area will make everything more organized for the students to find the materials they need to print things out for our new businesses.
A desk seems like a simple and unimportant thing, but when you teach in half a classroom, space becomes paramount!
Just like anywhere in New York City, real estate is valuable! Having a new desk with drawers and extra space for the computer that students often use, would make our small ESL room more organized, pleasant looking, and efficient! A new computer work area would really make my room complete and organized for my students when they use my computer for the many projects they have.
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. Patterson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
