My students need quality Drama/Theater Arts books in order to practice and perform age-appropriate scenes in class.
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. West's classroom raised $1,067
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Imagine learning how to ride a bicycle from a lecture instead of actually getting on a bike. Right now, my students are trying to learn about drama and theater arts without any books of scenes or monologues!
My 8th grade students come from a low-income area in southern California.
Our school (part of a series of charter schools that focus on college-readiness) is comprised of mostly Hispanic and African-American students. The majority of my students are either first-generation Americans or have recently come to this country with their families. For many of my students, English is not their first language. This is their very first Drama/Theater Arts class and they are just devouring it! I am hoping to be able to give my students the gifts of understanding classic plays and finding a healthy outlet to express their feelings/emotions.
Because our school is in such a low-income area, I must find gracious and generous people (like you!) to help give my students the same opportunities that children from other, more affluent communities receive (like having multiple text books, going on field trips, and putting on a play). Thank you so much for your generosity.
My Project
The books I am ordering are, in short, full of scenes and monologues (from both classic and modern plays) that are geared toward teenage themes. I plan on using these books to strengthen my students' reading comprehension and performance skills. These books will enable my students to take classically written plays and individual scenes and break them down into moments they can truly connect to. My goal for my students is for them to understand what makes great theater. I also want to strengthen their self-exploration, cultural reflection, and empathy skills. Moreover, having the proper materials in this class (ie: these books) will give my students the opportunity to express their emotions through out-of-the box situations that are unrelated to gang violence, drug use, or any other unhealthy outlets that are constantly presenting themselves in their lives.
Many of my students have never seen a play let alone been involved in a Drama/Theater Arts class where they would be given the chance to perform in one!
I am hoping that this experience will challenge my students to seek out other things that they never knew existed or would never normally participate in. My students might not want to become actors, but the experience of performing in a play may just inspire them to find other talents that they have hidden within!
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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