Would you be inspired to write without the proper tools? I cannot count the number of times I see my students writing with completely flat pencils scratching on the paper. Others attempt to write in crayon because the only pencil sharpener available is their friend's across the room.
We are a large elementary school in a high poverty neighborhood in a city in Massachusetts.
Most of my students live below the poverty level. Their parents do what they can by sending in tissues and hand sanitizer when they can. My second graders come ready to learn and often love to tell stories in writing. They love to be authors and illustrators.
My Project
Sharpening a pencil sounds so easy it is ridiculous, right? Not when the only sharpener you have is a $0.50 handheld sharpener shared by 27 children! The old-fashioned, wall-mounted, crank pencil sharpeners that my school provides make so much noise, required so much energy, and in the end didn't even sharpen the pencil! I feel horrible that I cannot afford to go buy yet another electric sharpener for these students.
These three new sharpeners that work quickly and quietly would relieve the frustration we all feel. They would allow for the students to write freely, not in fear that their pencils will break. I even tried erasable pens last year. You know why they are hard to find in stores? Because they don't work very well!
By fulfilling this request you will greatly reduce the stress level in my second grade class.
Seven year old children should be able to write freely without worrying about what to do if they wear their pencil down during writing time. How will they do their math or spelling later?
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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. Fahey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.