Our Goals: Understanding and Encouraging Diversity, Living Tolerance
My students need 2 copies of the books Freedom in Congo Square, The Potato Chip Champ, What Elephants Know, Stamp Collector and other books to encourage diversity, tolerance and positive relationships.
Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Students need to be involved in their learning so that they can take ownership of what they are doing. Students need to get their hands "dirty" by using them to research, create, and make learning meaningful. I will teach about 22 eager, energetic 3rd grade students in my classroom this year. We are a Title I school with 100% participation in the reduced-price/free lunch program. Many of our students have never left the community or experienced anything outside of the area.
All of our students are eager to learn and need experiences that they do not get at home.
We do not have much parental involvement at our school and we are looking to change that. We want parents to associate school with love, learning, and caring. We would like to change parents' points-of-view from the negative experiences they may have had as children, to be able to see the positive experiences we provide their children through rich literature and unforgettable activities.
My Project
My students have truly enjoyed reading picture books that have a wholehearted message and a deeper meaning. Some of their favorites this year include 14 Cows for America, Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story and Baseball Saved Us.
My students truly enjoy learning about the past and I continually stress to them to learn from it.
We are always discussing the differences between right and wrong, and how it is not always easy to stand up for what you believe in. We are beginning our journey to develop an understanding of others, to understand that there is more to a person than what you see.
Most of the requested books we have chosen to read this year can be found on the Notable Books for a Global Society or another reputable award winners list. I want to provide my students with amazing, meaningful and quality texts, such as Freedom in Congo Square and The Stamp Collector. It is important for students to know that building positive relationships with one another can help change the outlook of tomorrow, or can take us away from our reality, if only for a moment. When reading The Cheshire Cheese Cat and The Potato Chip Champ, students will learn friendships can come from the most unlikely places or when we least expect it. Students will learn while reading The Elephant Knows and Hands Around the Library that things that are important to you are worth fighting for. Help us continue our journey of diversity and tolerance throughout the year!
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 Mrs. Williams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
