Our energetic middle-schoolers battle many obstacles in their quest for math success, from a lack of basic skills in earlier grades to parents working multiple jobs who are unable to help with homework. However, sometimes their biggest daily challenges are their own attention spans!
Did you know that the average person remembers about 10% of what they hear each day? Think about how much information you remember from those lengthy lecture courses in high school and college, in addition to all those meetings you attend at work. Talking to kids will not make them smarter. People learn in all kinds of ways. Some people are auditory learners, some are visual learners but others learn better when they are given hands on tasks. I, like many educators believe that children learn best when they can apply their knowledge and experiment with objects to make meaning out of the world around them. School is no longer about memorizing facts. It's about enhancing critical thinking skills through experimentation and application.
Imagine if the process of learning was done in such a way that children looked forward to math and every day. Their minds would be open, and they would be growing both socially and academically without realizing it. The use of various educational manipulatives, such as play money, are useful tools for the classroom. This often-overlooked tool can provide essential reinforcement for skills taught during more structured and rigorous lessons. Not only do the students use academic skills when playing with the money, they will build social skills such as discussion and compromise, skills that are at times left out of their home environment. It allows students to practice many of the skills they develop during classroom lessons and make important connections between the information they read and real world applications.
These materials will capture my kids' attention as they develop essential skills to become great mathematicians. These materials will allow small groups of children to practice skills in a fun way, while I will be free to meet with struggling students one on one. I would like to purchase several kits for the entire school. These materials will be used by the entire Mathematics Department, benefiting the approximately 300 students who attend our school.
Young children learn through experiences. One of the best ways for them to have new experiences is through manipulating and exploring. It is the first year that students are in middle school, and they come from very diverse social and educational backgrounds. I would like to provide my students with the tools they need to find success throughout their academic lives. By having these manipulatives in my classroom, I will begin the new year with the supplies needed to ensure my students success in exploring mathematic concepts that will build a strong foundation for academic success in the future. Learning through manipulatives will naturally motivate our middle schoolers to learn and achieve, and will set them up for future success. By funding this proposal, you will allow our students to learn and play at the same time using educational games and classroom resources.
Show Me The Money! We need your help to play our way to math success!
Thank you!
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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. R. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.