"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world." - Maria Montessori
Transforming children is par for the course in the Title I, K to 5 schools where I teach physical education.
We have one of the largest enrollments of English as a New Language Learners in an elementary school in our city. The challenges these kids face are amazing. Many are learning to speak English for the first time, even as they continue to develop and master their native tongues at home.
There are over a dozen languages and dialects represented in our school. This, along with the long hours of school and after-school program enrollments, severely limit the time available for social interactions and the formation of meaningful friendships outside of school.
In every grade, there are students with special needs. All of the children are working hard to meet our newly adopted and rigorous Common Core-based curriculum. What is more amazing than all of this, however, is the dedication these students show day in and day out as they strive to reach all of their personal, social, and academic goals.
My Project
In our school, we strive every day to reach our small goals so we can achieve even bigger ones. We work hard every day to master skills but we work even harder in order to be kind to each other. Ultimately, we want to graduate from college and become independent adults willing and able to give back to our community.
Benevolence and humanitarianism are key attributes for strong character education, and our students don't need to wait to graduate from college to practice these important altruistic efforts.
Each year, our students work to raise money to donate to the American Cancer Society and learn more about how they can affect a positive change in the lives of people battling cancer. This year, we want to have a family night filled with fun activities like picture frame design, photo booth fun, and button making. Students and their families will gather after school, play some games, create some crafts, have some snacks, discuss the importance of health and fitness, and improve their understanding of how their small achievements add up to giant steps in the fight against cancer. With your help, we will have the frames, photo paper, and ink we need to get a little creative and have a fun night for a good cause.
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 Mrs. Monte and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.