Our school is unique because it is located on a Native American reservation. The unique mix of backgrounds creates diversity and allows students to share their heritage and cultures in a way that they wouldn't elsewhere.
Sadly, our area is also incredibly impoverished.
The vast majority of our students come from homes of low socioeconomic status. As with many lower income areas, alcohol and drug use, mental illness and suicide continue to be community problems.
Despite dealing with so much hardship, our students are some of the warmest, most welcoming children that I have had the privilege to work with. I have never worked with kids who are so open about their lives. They are slow to take in newcomers at first, but once they let you in, you become family for life. I love working here because watching my students graduate and move on to have successful lives and careers is incredibly rewarding, especially knowing how hard many of them have had to work to overcome difficulties in their lives in order to get there.
My Project
Currently our classroom has 4 very large, old tables that are not easily moved and are in very poor shape, on top of about a dozen desks. Because of the large size of some of my classes, I have to put up to 7 students at one table, which is distracting, and not good for learning. This is why I am asking for tables.
The tables are heavy and very difficult to move, which leaves me unable to re-configure the classroom to make a better seating arrangement during class discussions and debates.
This means that not all students have a view of the front of the room and those who do not have a more difficult time participating and following along.
I have already received some money for new furniture and gotten the majority of the chairs that we will need to change the structure of the classroom. I also have 2 smaller tables coming from a grant I received that will replace one of the large tables. This is not a short term project. I know I will have to replace these a few at a time as I am able to get funding before I can hope to have all of the furniture in the room replaced, but it is worth it, because in the end, students will all have a good view of the front of the room and will be able to focus and participate in class!
Please consider helping us to give this classroom a much needed makeover, and help my students to have a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.
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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 Mrs. Scherr and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
