Most of all, they love to be welcomed into an environment where they feel at home. I am blessed to have students who inspire me and only hope I do the same in return. My students are the apple of my eye!

I have 18 wonderful second grade students who come to school each day with a smile on their face, eager to learn! However, my school is a Title I school in a high poverty area. 100% of students receive free lunch. It is my job as their teacher to take on many roles to ensure they receive a quality education and are cared for and loved on a daily basis.

Have you ever read the book, The Rainbow Fish? This book is a wonderful tool for teaching young children that everyone is unique and has something special to offer! It also focuses on sharing and teaches a lesson on the joy that comes from giving. The Rainbow Fish is an excellent book to use for teaching tolerance. Next year, our school-wide theme is "Under the Sea". I want to work on building a positive classroom community that incorporates sea life!

In this project, I am requesting the book, The Rainbow Fish, and other marine supplies that will help to set a positive atmosphere for the remainder of the school year.

To apply what my students learned from the book, I am requesting a classroom aquarium with colorful guppy fish. These fish will represent our "rainbow fish" and will also tie in to the school-wide theme.

I plan to teach my students responsibility by means of having the live fish in our classroom. Students will be responsible for feeding, measuring the water temperature, and helping to change the water in the tank. These tasks will help to foster a caring classroom community as students must work together to accomplish each task.

As my students work together to care for their classroom fish, they will also be reminded of the beauty of friendship, sharing, and being unique, just like in The Rainbow Fish!