My students require lots of hands on and focus material to meet their special needs. Providing funding would help make projects possible so my students can learn the way that suits them best. I am looking specifically to acquire listening technology so my students can develop reading skills through the much need repitition that tape players provide. Additionally, hands on projects for social studies will increase not only motivation but student academic gains by focusing on developing reading and writing skills.

At Nathan Hale Middle School, we have students that come from many different economic backgrounds but also may not have the support at home to reach their full potential in education. The majority of our students come from either a single parent family, parents who work multiple jobs and others who are "too busy" to be a part of their child's life. Many of our students fall into the childhood obesity statistics because they do not understand how exercise and healthy eating will benefit their life ahead. It was provided to us that 98% of our students in our district fall into the category of low income and receive free and reduced breakfast and lunch meals. As an educator I want to provide my students with new and exciting ways to be active and how to eat better to improve health. I want exercise to be fun but unfortunately at our school we do not have the funds to buy new equipment and introduce our students to new games/material. Our students can succeed but we need help. The students will be forever grateful if they can learn life lessons about physical activity and health while having fun with their friends! My students are great and it means the world to me to be able to provide them with the materials and knowledge to succeed.

Since I teach in a school of need with over 85% of our students below the poverty line, I am always looking for inexpensive resources to supplement my lessons. I find that it doesn't take much either. Even just the simple act of using bright colored paper for handouts helps engage the students. But, in these hard economic times, colored paper is not high on the priority list. Any donation of any kind would be greatly appreciated from reams of colored paper, to extra pencils, to iPads and/or attachments for the iPad to the projector.

I teach 6th-8th grade math to students with special needs. My students really strive when they are able to work with manipulatives because it enhances their understanding rather than working from a textbook. Unfortunately, I have limited resources in my classroom and do my very best with what I have. If I was provided with more resources, I would be able to create a classroom environment that supports more hands on activities and group cooperation.