In 2008-2009, my Social Studies stars made significant academic gains!
As a 9th-12th grade Special Education Social Studies teacher, I work hard to make sure my students have the support they need to show how smart they truly are. They work hard to show me that they are committed, and last year they achieved 80% mastery of the content standards set for Social Studies by the state of California. At a school with only a 602 API score in a low-income community which is considered "hard to staff," this was a tremendous achievement by my students.
All of my students have a learning or emotional disability. None of my students will be eligible to attend a four-year college because of the limited options given in the self-contained special education setting. They are frequently hungry, tired, or emotionally drained during class.
None of that matters if they are able to work hard and stay motivated to reach their goals. They can ALL achieve the academic level they need to succeed at community college after graduating and continue on to four-year schools - possibly even as history majors! They deserve more than just passing through high school; I want to engage them deeply as thinkers and historians.
To do this, my students need as many organizational supports as possible. Our first year, we used notebooks to stay organized. Next year, we want binders! A binder for every student will ensure that all their work is in once place, neatly organized, color-coded to help them focus and prioritize their work, and highly structured. As students with disabilities, organization is one of the most foundational skills to building up their academic learning, and will last them throughout their college and career experiences.
The covers will be decorated and personalized for each student to build investment in the class, and the binders themselves can also be recycled for my next generation of kids! This system will have a lasting impact in my classroom and my ability to teach my students.
Your donation will help every single 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade student in self-contained special education at my school. You will make it possible for them to take notes, do homework, and review past work on a daily basis. They will become better and smarter students by having these tools. Thank you for considering our project.
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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. Mar and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.