My Students

Do you remember walking into your new class wondering if the teacher was going to be nice, which kids would be in your class, and some kids were even strangers? I want to turn next year's class into a group of good friends through art and reading discussions about culture and differences.

This year I have 24 second graders.

Two students are of South America descent and one student is from China. I also have 2 students who know Italian and 2 others who know Spanish. Add that to the many backgrounds they come from and each child is truly different and they need to learn it's their differences that makes them wonderful and who they are. I truly believe bullying comes from not understanding each others' cultures - either home, religious, or otherwise. When we don't understand something, we tend to not get to know that person. My students are the same. They do try to get to know one another, but when there is a language or social barrier, it becomes hard. I've noticed art erases those lines where all students can learn and grow through each other. The non-verbal ESL student will glow as another student tells her how much she loves her art work. The next recess they each now have a new friend.

My Project

I am requesting a set of multicultural crayons for each student. I also requested a set of people craft activities. I will have each student create their own person that tells us a little bit about who they are. I want to make a class quilt using the foam picture frames. I requested a set of multicultural books for my students to read to appreciate other cultures. My class is called the ocean and one of my most favorite stories is Rainbow Fish. I want to teach my students how to share their talents and after reading the book, I want each student to represent themselves and I want them to write or draw their talents on it. My students love to work around the room and the clipboards will provide them the opportunity to work while talking with any student in the class. Last, I'm requesting a crayon sharpener. My students love to have sharp crayons to work with during art and it helps them keep in the lines much better.

I truly believe students are more likely to become friends and be more patient with classmates they know more about.

This project is aimed to do this. I would like to be able to do these projects at the beginning of the year as a way to talk about our similarities and differences. I want each student to feel safe and loved in my class, no matter where they came from or what they look like. Art doesn't need words so all my students will be able to participate.