Past projects 2
Poverty: Where My Students Come From
Funded May 23, 2017Attending this conference opened my eyes and my mind to how the brain copes with our environment. Coming from a background of poverty, I felt I could empathize with children who are growing up in poverty. I've had this mindset for seventeen years as a teacher...I no longer have the "I survived, they can too" mentality I once held to be true. I now realize I am the exception to the rule. Few children manage to break the cycle of poverty but it is possible. A child may not realize he has a choice, he may not know what it means to have hope. Perhaps now, I can be the positive influence in a student's life...possibly the only positive he has in his life.
I am fifty-two years old and I believed the brain could not change...it is what you entered the world with. I learned that I, and others, can change our path by focusing on the positive and forcing the brain to build new synopses and in the process, create positive thoughts, goals and attitude. "DNA is not your destiny: genes may be expressed; life experiences change our brains; choose carefully—decisions matter". This was one of many inspirational posters hanging in the conference center...the one quote that affected me most.
The highlight of this conference, if I must choose one, would be the fact the although I felt I could empathize with my students, not every poverty-stricken child experiences the same abuses. Whether it is neglect, emotional abuse, poor living conditions, or any one of the many abuses that are out there, our brains input differently. Our brains cope differently. Our brains protect us differently. I have changed my way of thinking so I can become the positive in my students' lives.
I am back in my classroom and the quality training I received changed my outlook, my heart, my teaching style. I see my students now as people who may never hear positive praise, so I plan to be their positive. I want to be the reason they come to school, because they need to feel valued. When I open that door in their brain, when they understand they are worthy, they will change their brain and in turn, their destiny.
Thank you for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dean
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 2 other donors.When We Hear Good Readers, We Become Good Readers
Funded Nov 27, 2016I want you to know how thankful my students and I are for your generosity. We truly have been blessed by your kindness.
I explained to my students how I started this project and what your organization does for teachers and they couldn't believe their ears! First, they couldn't believe I was trying to get 'us' a listening center and headphones. When they realized, people had donated to our project they cheered loudly and high-fived each other. You would've thought we had just won a state championship!
The day the boxes came in my students did not want to wait until 'later' to open the packages. My lesson for the day was put on the back burner as my kids tore into the boxes and unwrapped our new equipment. I told them I would have things up and running for us to use in class the next day and let me tell you, they told everyone they saw that day that we had received a listening center and headphones!
The biggest impact has been having a station in our room where my students can go and listen to a book. As a classroom teacher with so many demands on what I teach and when I teach it, I rarely have time to share a book with them. Having this station alleviates some of my guilt. I also use the listening station in my after-school tutorials, allowing even more students the opportunity to listen to a story.
The second biggest area of need has been the use of the headphones. I have several students who have never brought the required school supply of earbuds/headphones to school. Now, every Friday when we practice a reading on laptops, every single kid in my class has access to good quality headphones. For that, I am grateful.
My donated equipment will be an addition to my classroom that I will enjoy for years to come. The number of students this project has impacted, I cannot begin to count. From the bottom of my heart and from the excited faces of my students, thank you so much for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Dean