My students need a way to express themselves eloquently, intelligently, and most important, respectfully. These visitor workshops will help the students gain effective communication skills.
We are a small school in New York City with a diverse population. Our students come from all parts of the world, and in a lot of cases, English is their second language. As a result, words can sometimes be misunderstood. However, the rich cultural experiences that we share together as a class are priceless.
We are constantly looking for ways to enrich our learning environment creating special projects that embrace all levels of scholastic ability and interests.
We love STEM activities like robotics, computer coding, and 3-D modeling, but in addition, we also enjoy exploring specialty topics, such as the fine arts, foreign languages, and the Debate Club. We try to make every day an exciting learning experience.
My Project
“Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.” ― Winston S. Churchill.
Our 5th grade students have a lot to say but need an effective way to communicate their thoughts to others.
This program is designed to teach students how to communicate responsibly - this is my sixth year running this program.
Our students learn the necessary skills to get their point across without insulting their opponents, and build up their confidence to stand up in front of an audience, be it peers, parents, or lawyers, to state their case. Our students love a challenge, and the Debate Club workshops are designed to do just that.
These communication skills, which encompass the CCSS, allow my students to express themselves, as they learn how to construct counter arguments and play devil's advocate. They learn to become good citizens, and they learn how to stand up for other people's rights. At the end of the 15 week program, they compete at an event overseen by local lawyers and judges. Many students enter this program timid and shy, but they leave it with confidence, – as one former student stated, “this program gave me the confidence to try new clubs in middle school, I never would have spoken out before.” It truly is a life changing experience.
What started off as a club, has grown extensively each year with the entire 5th grade participating. I am happy to say that the skills this program teaches continues on for years – some of our students have even gone onto citywide debate contests in middle school.
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
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. Russell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
