Ms. Trader do you have a writing device? Paper - What paper? I don't have a notebook. Homework complete? I put it in my pocket yesterday, but then I changed my pants today. How can we expect students to be successful when they are lacking basic supplies?
My students are high school students in an urban setting.
We are a middle/high school with grades 6-12. When people hear I teach in an urban setting, I often get the question "How are the kids?" or the comment "You must be brave." I work with wonderful students. They have rough lives outside the school, but at school they are trying to leave the stress behind and concentrate on reaching their goals of being productive citizens. We all know they should be able to come to school prepared and have paper and pencils with them, but the reality is they don't and they are not getting help at home. We, as teachers, are supplying them daily and our supplies are running very low. We need HELP!
My Project
PAPER, PENCILS and POCKET FOLDERS PLEASE!!! My students need the basics of #2 pencils, notebooks, and folders so that they can take notes and keep track of their assignments. I joke that my students utilize the pocket system and it is failing miserably. Day after day I watch them fold their homework into eighths and stuff them in their pockets only to lose them before returning the next day. I have students running in from the hallway between passing periods - "Ms. Trader, it's an emergency, can I borrow a pencil?" Of course, I never see it again. The students need to understand that they are responsible for procuring their own supplies, but it's not the most important battle to fight. I am much more concerned with my students being able to focus on the lesson I am giving and the content they need to learn to be able to have a productive future. I'm choosing my battles! PAPER, PENCILS, and POCKET FOLDERS PLEASE!
My students are lacking basic supplies.
What message does this truly send? If the adults in their lives can't make sure they have what they need to be successful, what is the point of trying? I want my students to learn responsibility, but I'm not willing to sacrifice their education for paper, pencils, and pocket folders just to teach them a lesson in being prepared. Please help my students to be successful.
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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