My Students

Math is not a popular subject among middle school students. Many students find math difficult and think textbooks and worksheets are boring (can you blame them?). My goal is to help students see the meaning behind the math by creating rich learning opportunities that support diverse learners.

My school is highly diverse.

Students come from all over the city and have many different backgrounds. This diversity creates a rich learning environment that cannot be found in many schools and is one major reason why I love working where I do. My students are very hard workers and have lots of potential! Even though I teach what some people might call "remedial" students, I know that each one of them can learn and be successful. I have worked hard to show them that they can learn anything if they try hard enough and I can see that they now believe it as well. The students I work with are in my class because the traditional methods of math instruction have not worked for them. Each student brings their own strengths into our classroom and I work hard to tap into these individual strengths to help all students learn. I use research projects, hands-on activities, and real-life applications to make math meaningful for my students and help them grow.

My Project

Since most of my students are kinesthetic and visual learners I have requested supplies to further help these students succeed in math. I have asked for balance cushions and stress balls to help those students who need to move stay focused during the times when we are in our seats. I have also asked for whiteboards, markers, and art supplies so my students can create visual representations of problems. Finally, I have asked for a set of math manipulatives which will help my students gain conceptual understanding by allowing students to work with real-life, physical objects instead of two-dimensional drawings. These materials will allow each of my students to tap into their personal learning strengths and further their understanding and appreciations of mathematics.

I believe this project is deserving of funding because it will help my students, who were once apathetic toward math (at best), continue to develop their excitement for and understanding of math concepts.

By creating an environment that meets the needs of each of my students they will be able to focus on learning and reach the level of success I know they are capable of. My students and I would be grateful for any amount you can donate to our project!