My students need a class set of books to dive into women's education and social issues around the world as a foundation and inspiration for their spoken word poetry performances at a local cultural center.
We are a Title I school and we are an equity project. We pull students from every zip code to expose them people and perspectives from every walk of life, cultural background, and socio economic situation. Last year, 50% of our students received Free and Reduced Lunch, and it has been steadily increasing over the past years.
We also believe in a fully inclusive environment.
This means that there are no separate classrooms for students with IEPs or 504s (special education). All of our students are in the same classrooms, drawing on each other’s strengths and supporting each other in each student’s personal growth. To push all students to reach their fullest potential, there are a class set (30) of the young reader's edition, and 10 higher level copies to push the students at a higher level.
We do not believe in textbooks and tests, but focus around deep dialogue and discussion around essential and relevant readings and stories in their lives. Our students not only learn the content, but also focus heavily on their social and emotional growth. Middle school is a difficult time, and being a kind and compassionate citizen is evident in our classrooms, hallways and school.
My Project
In this 9 week project, students will dive into research about injustices around them in their worlds. As a base text, we are hoping to read I Am Malala, which tackles feminist and education issues from Pakistan, told by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17. We plan on diving deeply into her text, both in writing and Socratic Seminars.
To speak out against the injustices in their world, we will read, analyze, and understand poetry for their spoken word performances at a local cultural center.
Students in middle school have a strong sense of right and wrong, and in this project we will dive deeper into some of the social, cultural and economic issues which have caused these injustices.
They will not only write their poems, but critique and revise through self, peer and adult critique. To bring energy to these intense injustices, we plan on performing them in front of the community to speak up against these injustices.
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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 Mr. Philips and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
