My students are kind, curious, helpful, and hopeful. They come a variety of backgrounds, yet all students share an inspirational and contagious sense of curiosity. Four years ago, I remember after my first full week teaching my students, I honestly thought, "I can't believe how nice these kids are." As that first year progressed, the adjective "nice" just did not do my students justice, and I realized I had the incredible opportunity of teaching students who were inspiring, grateful, silly, serious, thoughtful, and hard working.
My students come from a community that in recent decades has begun to struggle economically.
The community does have its challenges, however, the amazing students are the future and strength of the city. Inside the four walls of my geography classroom, I see students faces light up with joy as they view photographs of land forms, architecture, animals, and people from across the globe. Their spirit of inquiry inspires me daily, and their genuine fascination with people and places far from their home is motivational.
My Project
In geography class, we explore the entire globe throughout our 180 day journey of the school year. My students are enthusiastic about the places we study, and every student leaves my classroom with at least one place in mind they want to explore themselves in the future. Seeing their genuine excitement as we explore the world is my daily inspiration to create engaging, thought provoking, rigorous, and interesting lessons.
We need these passports and passport stamps which will allow my students time at the end of each week to reflect in writing on their explorations in our classroom.
Students will be asked to evaluate the various locations we have studied, and determine if these are places they want to visit in the future. These hands on materials will engage and motivate every learner.
At the end of the year, my students will be allowed to take these passports with them as they progress on in their educational career, and use these passport booklets to fuel future explorations. During the school year, students will be allowed to see their progress and both evaluative and writing skills, as they will have the opportunity to look back and view previous reflections from early in the year. Stamps will be used after each reflection is written, to provide students with the knowledge and feeling of achievement that they have successfully "visited" a new place in our world that week.
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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. Nieman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
