Imagine not knowing if there will be food when you get home or if you will have heat this winter. This is the reality for many of my students. I am a teacher at a Title One middle school where many of our students deal with poverty, homelessness, and hunger on a daily basis.
If you're hungry and thirsty, why would you care about where a comma goes?
Learning is significantly impacted when students are in need of the basic essentials. Our school has done a wonderful job putting together a clothes closet and food bank, but there are still more needs to be met.
My Project
Our school is housed in the oldest building in the district, which means things don't always work the way they should. One essential need that we have limited access to is a working water fountain.
According to Erica Kenney of Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health, even mild dehydration can affect children's fatigue levels, mood and possibly their ability to learn.
Kenney went on to say that in a 2009-2012 study of dehydration in schools, more than half of the students examined were at least mildly dehydrated.
To provide constant access to cold, clean drinking water during the school day, I am requesting a five gallon water cooler. In addition, I need pitchers to transport ice from the cafeteria and paper, recyclable cups for the students to use. Having these items in the classroom will increase the efficiency of my class tremendously. Not only will kids be hydrated, but they will spend more time in class rather than roaming the halls looking for a working fountain.
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 Ms. Moore and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
