My students and I have reached a point in the school year where we are pushing the limits of our creative thinking skills to the brink, brainstorming alternatives for basics supplies they need to work. Unfortunately, there is no replacing certain supplies-- and that's where you come in!
Everyday, my students face challenges that I only ever read about in high school.
Incredibly, however, I often find myself forgetting about the poverty with which they and their families struggle because of the joy and the enthusiasm they bring to their work in my class. Although they are generally unable to bring any material resources into my room, they come each day with bottomless creativity and passion. As long as they continue to approach art with excitement and joy, they deserve to have access to the same kinds of physical materials as individuals born into different socioeconomic circumstances (such as myself).
My Project
It's a terrible feeling in the world to have to tell a student, "no" and reject a wonderful idea because of material restrictions. Unfortunately, though my students are all so eager to express themselves, I have a finite budget (restricted even from last year) and can only provide them with so much in terms of resources.
This year, the area where an issue of supply-vs-demand is most pressing is with painting materials. Materials which have been almost completed depleted include watercolor paints and the quality paper with which to use them. Renewed access to watercolor paints and materials would enhance my students' experiences in my classroom more than I can possibly say.
Although the materials I've requested might seem basic, their impact in my classroom and on my students as artists will be nothing short of extraordinary.
A donation to this project will not only allow me to keep the momentum in my classroom alive, but it will enable me to push my students to take the lessons of my instruction and, without material restrictions, pursue their own interests and artistic vision.
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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. McCormick and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.