"I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn." Albert Einstein
"The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher." Elbert Hubbard
I teach at a low income rural school.
We are not well funded. My current classroom consists of scavenged furniture; some of it was on its way out the door before I grabbed it. Many of the students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and don't have high expectations for themselves. We have strong agricultural and vocational programs at our school. Half of my Algebra 2 students come from those programs, the other half are college bound.
My Project
In my Algebra 2 classroom students collaborate on a daily basis. They do challenging tasks in teams, pair up to assist struggling students, and work in groups that match their level of progress. Tables make all of these scenarios much more feasible. Tables give them elbow room, room to see all their resources at once (textbooks, notebooks, worksheets) and space to create presentations (such as posters) for the rest of the class. You can see in my cover photo that traditional desks are too small for my growing teenage students. Tables and chairs will give them the space to learn collaboration, teamwork, and Algebra 2.
This project, funding tables and chairs for collaborative work in my classroom, will ultimately improve math skills, improve collaboration skills, and increase students feelings of self worth.
Currently they come to class and sit in too small desks, or at cracked tables in chairs with square wheels. Their faces absolutely lit up when I told them about this project on Donors Choose.
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. McDade and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.