Thinking Classroom and Interactive Notebook Supplies for High School Math
Help me give my students supplies, such as dry erase markers, highlighters, tape, and color paper, that they need to be successful in their mathematics career.
I teach Algebra to ninth-twelvth graders in a high-poverty neighborhood. The school where I teach is a diverse public high school: 23% of students are African American, 19% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 2% Native American, and 36% Caucasian. Many of my students are from Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Vietnam, Mexico, Guatemala, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Micronesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other places around the world.
Over 70% of our students are below the poverty line.
Many struggle with issues outside of their schools lives. Many students are in the foster care system or are homeless. Many are recent immigrants learning English as a second language. I have amazing students who use their diversity and life experiences to their advantage.
This year I teach second year algebra, which is the final required math class for students to graduate. For some, this is the culmination of hard work ending in an advanced class, and for others, this is jumping off point for more challenging college-level courses to add depth to their STEAM knowledge base.
My Project
My students are insightful, creative, passionate kids who work hard to make a difference. We will use the highlighters, colored paper and glue/tape to add color, art, and drawings to our interactive notebook work.
At MHS, we implement AVID strategies and a "Thinking Classroom" philosophy into our work to optimize student learning.
Creating organized and interesting notes helps my students retain information at deeper levels, which will aid in their success. The whiteboard markers are essential in a thinking classroom model, where students are actively engage in activities, where creative thinking as a team is essential to solve a novel and rich problem.
Our school and parents cannot afford to provide these necessary supplies, including highlighters, tape, and color paper, that my students deserve. I may not be able to control their home lives, but I can certainly control their experience during the school day. By doing this in a creative and positive way, I am hoping to inspire even our earliest learners to continue on a path of academic excellence.
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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. Ackron and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
