Over the past three years I've taught students on all academic levels from a variety of different backgrounds. While my job is to teach my students, they are all teaching me as well. The passion, motivation, and encouragement they have within themselves is contagious and inspiring.
Every student that I have taught (and really any person I've ever met) all have had something in common: they love to have fun.
When I incorporate a game, a song, or a hands on activity into my lesson, the content that I'm teaching sticks. I have many different goals that I help my diverse group of students reach, but they all have one goal in common. I want them to love learning. The opportunity I have this summer will help me achieve that with my students.
My Project
This summer, I have the opportunity to attend a four-day conference in Dallas, TX where I will enhance my engagement strategies. I will use my new skill sets to challenge my students critical thinking skills, provide them with academic rigor, and join the movement that is changing the game in education. Last May, I was given the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, GA and observe at the Ron Clark Academy. This is a middle school designed by the award winning Ron Clark who, with a team of incredible teachers, teaches underprivileged students through music, dance, real life projects, and room transformations. When I left the school that day, my eyes had been opened to the possibilities of what I could be implementing in my classroom with my students.
Research has shown that engaged students have increased focus, motivation to solve critical thinking problems, and set them up to be prepared for college and the real world.
Since the first day I started as a teacher I always wanted to engage my students and get them excited to come to school every day, I just needed a little bit of help getting ideas. Ron Clark started the spark in me, and now this conference will fully prepare me with proven ideas and strategies that teachers all over the world are using.
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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. Little and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.