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Mrs. Valenzuela's Classroom

  • Jefferson Elementary School
  • San Diego, CA
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/4416447 Customize URL

show projects from all time

Past projects 2

  • Going the Distance to Learn!

    Funded Sep 6, 2020

    Because of your generosity and big hearts my students now have the tools they will need to succeed during Distance Learning. My students will be able to feel and be prepared to learn. Thank you for helping me bring equity to the children in my classroom. We sincerely appreciate it.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Valenzuela

    This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 8 other donors.
  • Mirror, Mirror on the Shelf: Books That Reflect Our Identities

    Funded Jul 19, 2020

    It is truly heartwarming, humbling, and amazing to have such wonderful friends and family as yourselves. Because of your generosity, my project was fully funded even before it went “live” on the DonorsChoose website. Thank you for supporting my vision to create a more empathetic, tolerant, and inclusive generation who will stand up for what is right. These books will serve to teach them that respect and kindness is always the way to go even when things differ from your own experience. The world is much bigger than our own myopic existence and we need to look outside ourselves. I am so lucky to have friends and family like yourselves.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Valenzuela

March 13, 2020 was the last day I saw my students. In an instant, miles of distance separated us from each other. Our classroom, our home away from home, had to shutter it's doors and no one knew for how long. We went our separate ways, but kept in touch through Distance Learning, though it wasn't the same. The community we had built was still there, yet just out of reach. The new school year quickly approaches, and the one question in my mind is, "How can I build a caring, empathetic, and trusting community through Distance Learning?" I have been learning a lot about Culturally Relevant Teaching that emphasizes the fact that students learn more, and care more about learning when they feel "seen." When their life experiences, their home languages and traditions, their identities are validated and reflected back at them, they know that they matter. They know they are seen. They know they are truly an integral part of a community that cares for them and about them. This diverse library will help me show my students that even though we cannot be together in a classroom, they still matter. These books will act as mirror artifacts where my students can see themselves being innovators, taking action, and standing up for what is right. These books will help facilitate conversations and understanding that some cultures and beliefs may be different than your own, but they are just as valid. Through these books, we will be able to build a close and caring community, though we may be far apart.

About my class

March 13, 2020 was the last day I saw my students. In an instant, miles of distance separated us from each other. Our classroom, our home away from home, had to shutter it's doors and no one knew for how long. We went our separate ways, but kept in touch through Distance Learning, though it wasn't the same. The community we had built was still there, yet just out of reach. The new school year quickly approaches, and the one question in my mind is, "How can I build a caring, empathetic, and trusting community through Distance Learning?" I have been learning a lot about Culturally Relevant Teaching that emphasizes the fact that students learn more, and care more about learning when they feel "seen." When their life experiences, their home languages and traditions, their identities are validated and reflected back at them, they know that they matter. They know they are seen. They know they are truly an integral part of a community that cares for them and about them. This diverse library will help me show my students that even though we cannot be together in a classroom, they still matter. These books will act as mirror artifacts where my students can see themselves being innovators, taking action, and standing up for what is right. These books will help facilitate conversations and understanding that some cultures and beliefs may be different than your own, but they are just as valid. Through these books, we will be able to build a close and caring community, though we may be far apart.

About my class

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