This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
In the hallways of the south city neighborhood middle school where I teach, you will hear my students' voices. Some are speaking Spanish as they stand at their lockers getting their books for their next class. Others call to each other in Arabic, making after school plans to play soccer in the neighborhood park. Still others whisper in Swahili or Somali as they hold hands on the way to lunch, their colorful skirts flowing out behind them. Over the din of students talking, you will also hear English. English is the language spoken by the students from the neighborhood whose whole families grew up in St. Louis. English is also the language that connects us all and makes all our international friendships possible.
Our school is truly a gem because we have so many students from all over the world and many who were born here in Saint Louis all learning together and building relationships.
Our students come to our school for a variety of reasons and from many different places, but all of them share a desire to succeed.
My Project
For the past few years, I have ended the school year by creating projects in which I request Black Warrior pencils and pencil sharpeners. They always arrive at the beginning of the following year and I get to greet the kids on the first day of school with fancy new pencils and new sharpeners. I extol the virtues of the Black Warrior pencil: The Best Pencils in the World, and describe them in hushed tones reserved for the most sacred of things. My students really get into it and in the days to come, frequently come up to whisper, "Can I have a Black Warrior pencil?"
My students often do not come to school with the basic supplies they need to learn.
This is just not something they have and I refuse to let something so small as a pencil stop them from learning each day.
When I tell them that people who don't know them bought these pencils and sharpener for them to help them learn, I see the change in them almost immediately. They are gentle with the new sharpener and more respectful of each other while using them. They are more thoughtful about what they write and I see them sitting and looking up, deep in thought, their Black Warrior pencil poised to add another brilliant thought to their paper.
Daily writing practice is essential for my students. They must practice their language every day in order to progress and grow their English proficiency. These pencils make them want to write, rather than dread writing. They truly are magical.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Wallace and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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