Teaching young children has always been my passion. Their curiosity and sense of wonder about the world makes my job fun! Our school district serves close to 8000 students while my individual classroom serves 30 students ages 3-5 years old with a wide range of abilities.
The classroom demographics consist of students considered to be "at-risk," students with identified disabilities, as well as students whose native language is something other than English.
Many of the students I work with and their families are living at or below the poverty line. I also have many students and families who are new to the United States and have very little. We are living in a state that cannot pass a budget to fully fund schools, which in turn impacts my students. I spend what I can out of my own pocket to provide my students with valuable learning opportunities, but I can only do so much before it starts to impact my own family.
My Project
Imagine yourself walking into a building for the first time and not hearing people speak your native language. The people you see around you might look different than you. How do you feel? Maybe a little timid, frightened, uneasy? Now imagine this same scenario as a young child. This is how many of our students feel about coming to school on a daily basis.
I want all children to truly feel welcome and a part of a community when they enter through the doors each day.
To make this possible, my students need materials that represent people that look like them. My students need puzzles that depict families similar to their own, music sung in their native language, and books that teach diversity and cultural awareness.
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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 Mrs. Overstreet and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
