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
Imagine sitting in your high school writing class, ready to learn, but you do not understand the language your teacher is using? Picture yourself picking up a book from a scant classroom library, and realizing once you open it that, though you are in the 10th grade, you cannot read a word.
My students are beautiful, brilliant, intelligent, creative, crafty, humorous, hardworking, invested, but are Level 1 readers.
For many of them, literature is a daunting word, and engaging literature is an even scarier process, not because they do not have the capacity to grasp language, but because they lack some fundamentals necessary to successfully navigate the language. Many of my students come from low-income communities in Miami where the cycle of poverty has yet to end. They come from generations of people who were not given access to a quality education, but who believe in the American dream. They come from generations of people who may be labeled as marginalized or at-risk, but who work their entire lives in hopes that their children and grandchildren are able to pursue happiness fearlessly. My students are my future, and though they are struggling readers, that does not define them. They are leaders, and literature is what they need to unleash their brilliance.
My Project
Knowledge is not only power, it is freedom. As a teacher with limited resources, I am confident that books by Hughes, Danticat, and Sistah Souljah will speak volumes to my kids. The English Language Learner strategies will help me target my ELL students who are geniuses, but lack English proficiency. Through culturally and age relevant texts, my students will be able to explore the world around them learning more about themselves through the lens of someone else. In my Journalism class, students are learning to be ethical journalists and business people by selling and creating marketing plans for the school yearbook. The iPad would be a great asset for the marketing team who canvasses our school community to sell our product. Unfortunately, my classroom does not have computers, so the iPad will be a good tool for my Marketing and Business team to track online sales, communicate with community partners, and build the skill-set of engaging with the latest technology.
Your help will put my students on the trajectory of reaching our class goal which is to be socially proficient, academically sound, and able to effectively communicate and advocate.
By grasping the skill of reading and responding eloquently to literature, and by bolstering positive school culture and spirit, your donation is helping to transform my students into leaders. Why not ensure our safe future by leaving it in the hands of bright minds thirsty for progress?
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 Mr. Scott and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.