Who would want a basketball hoop in their classroom?? Me!
We need sport equipment to use outside during student's choice time, and a basketball hoop for inside the classroom to participate in engaging culturally responsive review games!
When people ask me what grade I teach, and I say 7th, the response is, "oh my god, that's the worst!" That couldn't be further from the truth. My students are the reason I love my job. Their boisterous personalities light up my classroom with an energy that is unparalleled in any other grade level, and they challenge me to be the best version of myself. However, when it comes to academics a large proportion of my students are disengaged.
In my own classroom, 18% of my students are not passing.
Out of 109 students, 10 have a D and 10 have an F. Additionally, 13.8% are in danger of dropping from a C to a D. As of December 12th, 17.6% of students have been absent 5 or more times, with 12.1% absent 8 to 12 times. 28.9% of students are missing 6-12 out of the 17 assignments.
Rippowam has more than 700 students enrolled and is Stamford’s largest middle school. The school community at Rippowam is a reflection of Stamford’s diverse population both ethnically and socio-economically. A predominant percentage of students come from low – mid income families as 60% of the student population is on free/reduced lunch.
With the equipment provided in this project students will be able to review vocabulary and content in an engaging and culturally responsive fashion. The expo markers will allow them to write on the dry-erase boards that I have during the review games. They will also be able to enjoy their time outside during homeroom by playing engaging sports that promote an active and healthy lifestyle. This also promotes social emotional skills such as teamwork and engages students so they enjoy coming to school.
The students that worked on this project contributed by brainstorming and identifying what they believe would make students enjoy school more. I asked them what would make class more fun? They responded with a basketball hoop, so I looked up review games using one and they loved the idea. Additionally, they told me that kids would be less likely to skip and/or be tardy to homeroom if they knew they could go outside and play sports.
In Their Own Words
We want to raise money for this equipment so that kids will care more about studying. We really like to play review games, like scavenger hunts, and playing a game with basketball will make more kids interested than before. We also will be able to get more kids to go outside during homeroom and get active by playing sports with the equipment.
As a leader I would spread the word to other kids to get them excited!
I would also help plan a review game with the basketball hoop to help us study for our tests. We could also select certain students to be in charge of the equipment so they can have responsibility and be leaders as well.
The basketball hoop inside the classroom can make students more eager to learn. I personally like studying, but I know most of my friends don't. It's fun to study for a class that you know is going to be fun anyways, like Ms. Moavero's if she gets the basketball hoop. We would study before the review games so that our team wins.
Most kids during choice time, even when they go outside, go on their phones. Having soccer balls and other equipment to play with will give them more options to play together and look forward to their choice time everyday. We only have one ball now, and the kids who are good at sports hog it. If we have more then we would be able to share it around with students who want to play sports but are less aggressive about getting into the main game going on outside.
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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. M. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.