Teaching Chemistry to Students from Low Income Families
My students need a class set (35) of scientific calculators to solve chemistry problems that involve math, especially those that need logarithmic functions and scientific notation.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. L.'s classroom raised $896
This project is fully funded
My Students
Teaching Chemistry to students coming from low income families is a big challenge not only to my school site but also to me as a teacher. I cannot rely on all my students to buy a scientific calculator for use in solving math problems involving scientific notation and log in my chemistry class.
I teach 5 classes of chemistry this year.
My students are in 10-12 grades, ages 15-18. Almost 50% of my students in each class are English language learners (ELL), and the majority of them are academically challenged. I teach in an urban high school in Northern California where nine out of every ten students have free lunch.
Teaching chemistry to students who are mostly ELL and academically challenged can be a challenging but rewarding task for me. It is challenging since most of the students perceive chemistry as a difficult subject, and most chemistry concepts are abstract and involve math. However, it could be very rewarding when students learn the concepts and enjoy the lessons, as shown from the results of their test scores and their feedback. Learning lessons that involve chemistry problems require the students to solve problems that involve very high or small numbers, logarithms, or the use of scientific notation like Avogadro's number. Hence, the need for scientific calculators.
My Project
As a teacher, my goal is to make sure that every student learns and understands the concepts well, regardless of the academic and language challenges the students are facing. Although chemistry involves lessons involving math, I would like my students to have access of technology that would help them succeed in my class. A class set of scientific calculators will provide the help my students need whenever they are solving chemistry problems involving math. It will make learning easier and faster for them and, at the same time, teach them how to use the technology to prepare them for college. Learning the units on moles and stoichiometry will be easier for them with the use of these calculators. Other concepts which require the use of these scientific calculators are acids and bases, as well as reaction rates and equilibrium.
Through this project, I will be able to provide my classes with the technology that will make them solve chemistry problems by themselves.
'Learning by doing' provides a great impact on student learning. Learning how to use the technology in solving math problems will not only help them in high school, but it will also prepare them when they go to college. As a teacher, this will make teaching the concepts faster and more comprehensible to students.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Nearly all 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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