My Students

When I started teaching at this school, science was a "special" class that students attended two or three times a week. It was a wonderful science program and the kids enjoyed attending this class. But last year, due to budget cuts, science was put back into the regular classroom teachers' hands.

I teach 2nd grade in a rural area of FL.

My school has a very high percentage of students who receive free or reduced price lunch. Many of the students' parents do not speak English at home. We are an inclusion school, which means most special education students are fully included in regular ed classrooms. Also, we are a school without walls, which creates its own set of challenges. This year, my students are a group of "transitional" students who did not meet grade level expectations in first grade, but are being "administratively placed" in 2nd grade rather than being held back. They are all below grade level and struggle with reading. It is my challenge to get them on grade level by the end of the year - this means more than one year's growth in one year! I choose to teach these special kids because I love seeing their growth. Please support my students! Science is their favorite subject and something they really get excited about!

My Project

After not teaching science for basically my entire career, last year was a bit of a shock! With an already packed schedule, incorporating science on a daily basis was a challenge. It was also a bit shocking to the kids to have to do science work on a daily basis in our classroom. I tried to steer away from worksheets and textbooks that frustrated my group and instead do as many hands-on activities as possible. When studying magnets last year, I found myself lacking hands-on materials. We watched some video demonstrations using iron filings and magnets to demonstrate N and S poles, and my kids were begging to try it. Unfortunately, I didn't have the resources to let them do so. The various types of magnets, iron filings, and magnetic exploration boards in this proposal, will help me provide hands-on experiences for our magnet unit this year and for years to come.

Your donation will help my students have a richer experience in science this year and for many years to come.

They will be able to gain a better understanding of magnets and energy by using hands-on materials. Thank you for helping my wonderful students become scientists!