Can you imagine being asked to bring your own supplies, like your own desk and chair, to work? That's basically what I ask my students to do. My classroom does not have a computer that works and is current. Even the laptop I use everyday is my personal computer, paid for out of my pocket.
I have the most fantastic combination 2nd and 3rd grade class.
Although they're not identified yet, I am assuming 80% of my class is gifted. I have 16 second graders, and 8 third graders. There are 14 girls and 10 boys. Some of my students are on free or reduced meal programs. Many of the students are bilingual. We are a very diverse group who love to learn in a cooperative setting.
My Project
My students need materials, such as access to the Internet, and word processing. We are in the middle of an educational shift in pedagogy. The new emphasis is on real world problem solving.
At our school we are doing this through Project Based Learning. Students get to discover and delve into subjects they want to learn about within the guidelines set by federal and state learning standards. They work cooperatively, and independently, setting goals, solving problems, and learning.
We are currently writing research papers on heroes. Our school library has been closed due to budget cuts. My class does not have an encyclopedia. Our school's computer lab has computers from the late 1990's, and most do not work. A majority of the kids don't have Internet access. Libraries are hard to get to when your parents work full time. I would provide class time to do research if I had the materials.
Unfortunately, due to budget cuts we are greatly under served with even basic resources that most schools take for granted.
We must bridge the educational gap in order to be able to compete locally and globally. I wish all my students had laptops, printers, and Internet connections. But they don't. I wish our school district had not laid off librarians, so our students could use our school's library. Your donation will help us tremendously.
More than half of 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 Ms. Eisenstein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
