Past projects 4
Connecting Current Events to the Classroom!
Funded Sep 5, 2016I just wanted to thank you again for your generous donation to my classroom.
The school year got off to a great start, and already 3 months in, the magazines have become and integral part of the classroom. My students genuinely are interested in the world around them and I feel like the articles help focus their attention and energy.
With this being an election year, the students were very eager to discuss current events. The issues that came out during the start of the year all dealt with issues of the election. The magazines become an incredibly valuable resource as students tried to understand the "lingo" of the election process and how the Electoral College works. Now with the election over, I know my students will look forward to reading the current issues to keep up with the transition and what is happening around the new administration.
Each magazine also comes with a debate topic. So every two weeks the students read the new debate topic and we discuss and debate both sides of the issue. My students are already getting better at presenting and defending an argument in front of the class using evidence to support their ideas. This excitement goes with them when they leave class as well. I have heard students discussing the topics during lunch and while passing through the halls.
Thanks to your donation and these magazines, students are talking about current events inside and outside of the classroom”
With gratitude,
Mr. Peters
Music for Everyone! - Traditional African Drumming
Funded Jul 9, 2015It has been almost 6 months since you all donated to my project. I would like to take a moment and share the impact your donation has had on my class during that time period.
When the school year started, it took a few weeks to get the program up and running. Logistics of where to store the instruments and fit all the students had to be ironed out. I had told my students we would be learning African music, but they were not exactly sure what that would entail. Finally, we were all set to begin. My school found a room that I could keep the drums set up in permanently. (That is the room you see in the pictures I posted.) When we first walked into the room, their jaws dropped. Some of the comments I overheard were, "Wow!!!! This is so cool!!!" " Look at all these drums!" "Are these real?" "Is this real animal skin?" Their excitement could not be contained. I explained how I had applied for a Donors Choose grant and that the instruments had come from individual donors who wanted to help out. They couldn't wait to begin. I could even see excitement in the eyes of the students who are generally more reserved.
My students have drumming class twice a week. We start each class with a warm up activity that involves call and response. I play a rhythm and they copy. In addition to learning rhythm patterns, this activity teaches and reinforces focusing skills. The first month or so we started with basic technique. How to hit the drum, different types of sounds, etc. Then we began learning two different dance pieces.
I teach the students the same way I was taught and the same way children in Ghana are taught - nothing is written down. I play, they copy, and we all watch each other. It is incredible how serious and focused the students are, yet when they wrote their thank you letters, and spoke about their experience, almost all of them mentioned that music class was a time for them to relax and unwind. They are learning without even realizing it.
Class time is not only about playing music though. I also take the opportunity to share with students my experience studying the music, my time spent in Ghana, and the cultural background from where this music comes from. Lessons about patience and acceptance and history are embedded into these stories.
We are now focused on getting ready for a show my school is producing in May. As a preview, a few students and myself accompanied the chorus teacher during our annual holiday show using the drums and some of the rhythms that I had taught my class. This show in May will be the first time the full group will perform for the school. We will be performing two traditional drum/dance pieces and one other piece that will give every student a chance to improvise.
They are all very excited and for some, this will be their first time performing anything in front of a live audience. They have told me that in the past they have had stage fright, but they can't wait for the concert.
My goal is to continue to build this African music program. It will take time. However, next year, the students will have a year of playing under their belts and when we bring in new students, they will pick up the music faster from observing and playing with those more experienced students.
Ultimately, I would love to add xylophones (gyils) to the ensemble, and purchase gourd instruments called "adenkum." I see the group moving beyond just drumming with singing and other melodic instruments. This also teaches students that African music is more than just drums.
Thank you again for your support. Because of your generous donation, we are providing these students in NYC with a once in a lifetime opportunity that will hopefully teach them to embrace the differences amongst cultures. I like to think of it as teaching tolerance and diversity through music.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Peters
Keeping Up with Current Events!
Funded Feb 15, 2015I just wanted to thank you again for your generous donation to my classroom. The students were incredibly grateful.
When I told them that our project had been funded, they were so excited! They kept asking me every week if our magazines had arrived yet.
A sample magazine was sent by scholastic first, which I used to have a current events discussion with my class, but the real excitement came when our class set arrived. The next day a group of students came up during their lunch period so that they could read the magazines and have a discussion about current events. My students genuinely are interested in the world around them and I feel like the articles help focus their attention and energy.
This magazine subscription helps students continue the dialogue outside the classroom and I feel like the magazines help support my goal of getting students to think and talk about the world around them. I look forward to seeing their excitement when the next batch of magazines arrive.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Peters
Get Creative! Art in the Classroom
Funded Sep 14, 2010I just wanted to thank you again for your generous donation to my classroom. The students were incredibly grateful.
The art supplies that you donated have been used almost every week since they have arrived. We used the supplies for our "Create an Ideal Community Project." Students had to plan and create their ideal community, and then create posters that advertised their communities to the class. We also used them to design and decorate personal timelines that placed students within the context of world and family events.
Like most schools today, our school is suffering from the financial crisis. So without your help, my students would not have had these resources that enrich their educational experience”
With gratitude,
Mr. Peters