This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
One thing that all students have in common is their love of storytelling. They love to listen to stories, and more importantly, they love to tell their own stories. They are expressive and passionate, and only need to be provided with enough opportunities to share their stories with the world.
My students are extremely bright and motivated.
They care for each other, they love to laugh, and they ask lots of questions! Many of them struggle with a lack of material resources and a lack of support at home, but all of them want to succeed and are willing to work as hard as is necessary in order to reach their goals. The community where I teach is a rural town just outside a large city in Georgia. Socioeconomic status varies greatly, but most families are low to moderate income. Over 90% of our students receive free or reduced lunch. The school has a significant transient population, which can be a challenge to creating school unity and close community ties. Parent support varies as well, but in my experience, all we need to do is reach out and parents are willing to contribute whatever they can to their children's education.
My Project
In fourth grade, our Social Studies curriculum focuses on early American history (starting with Native American culture and ending with Westward Expansion). In my classroom, I integrate the Reading and Social Studies curricula by following a year-long theme of "Positive Communities." We study American and international figures who have contributed to their communities in positive ways. I would like my students to create a digital storytelling project about their own communities and the small steps they can take to improve them.
I want to teach my students that no matter what their background, each of them has a meaningful life story that is worth telling, and that their stories are just as important as those of the historical figures we study. Using flip cameras to document their experiences, express their thoughts and feelings in their own words, and publish their projects online will definitely inspire them.
My students do not have access to much material wealth.
They stay optimistic and motivated while dealing with situations that would intimidate most adults. They deserve to have access to the same resources that are available at wealthier schools, and I would cherish the chance to provide them with this great opportunity. A project like this, one that shows what's important to the students and what matters most to them, will be something that they will treasure throughout their lives.
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 Ms. G. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.