I have the privilege this year of educating the minds of 29 third graders. However, I serve at a school where we are passionately educating 430 amazing kids. Four hundred and thirty students who are eager to learn, excited about reading, mastering language arts, pumped about math, and so enthusiastic about the arts. However, they have come into this grade in the midst of a horrible pandemic. A pandemic that is shining a spotlight on the lack of equity within the school system.
This passionate group of students resides on the Southside of Chicago.
They are tasked with learning in the midst of racial tension, gang violence, and global unrest. However, they brave these issues with a resiliency unknown to me. My goal is to ensure that they have unlimited access to the resources needed despite their zip code.
My Project
For as long as I've been teaching, I've preached the importance of creating a comfortable space for all students to learn. I have always believed that the place where children spend the majority of their waking hours should feel like home. However, the restrictions that Covid-19 brings will limit us back to putting students in rows of desks, 6 feet apart, divided by additional Plexi barriers.
My goal is to purchase round tables that will provide allow us to follow the guidelines provided while still allowing for collaboration.
Two students will sit on opposite ends of the table with plexiglass dividing the pair. However, students will still be to collaborate, discuss, share ideas, etc with their peers. My students have been craving socialization for almost a year. I want to create this for them in a safe manner.
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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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. Watkins and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
