Saint Augustine said, "The World is a book. Those who do not travel read only a page." Although my students are unable to travel, I want to take them on a journey of the world in another way.
I teach a group of eager students in a special education classroom at a charter school in a high need area.
They learn best through hands-on experiences: manipulating objects, art projects, playing music, dancing, field trips, and projects that teach real-life skills. It is also common to hear "I never knew that! I want to see that!" as I read them stories from unfamiliar places - which tends to be any location outside of their personal experiences. Recently, we've begun talking about holidays and celebrations around the world since they are talking constantly about Halloween. They've loved hearing legends about jack-o'-lanterns and were shocked when I told them Halloween was not celebrated everywhere, or was celebrated differently. Of course, I was asked, "But, why??"
My Project
My students thrive with hands-on learning. While I include as many field trips, food samplings, art projects, and music/dance experiences as possible, my students also LOVE read-alouds. Reading stories from other cultures will continue to pique their interest in books, providing them with the motivation to continue working hard to improve their own reading abilities. Further, the books about celebrations and holidays will allow my students to make connections with children of other cultures and understand why we celebrate a holiday.
Our classroom library is growing and I enjoy seeing my students use it as a location to de-escalate, relax, and learn. I believe that the addition of bean bag seats will make the library an even more comfortable respite in my classroom. I am looking forward to seeing one of my students lounging on a bean bag, reading a book about Kwanzaa, and asking, "Can I just finish this book?"
Your generosity will help a group of students learn how broad the world really is.
In addition, these resources, particularly the pictures of children around the world, will ensure that my students always remember the beauty of different cultures and how we can all learn from one another and celebrate together.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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