We are a Title 1 School. The majority of our students are on the free or reduced lunch plan. Many of them cannot afford to purchase supplies for everyday classroom use. Many times I have to purchase supplies for students and the classroom out of my pocket. In general, quality classroom materials, are expensive. Our class has a great need for learning and teaching materials. We would love to have more manipulatives, especially for the Mathematics and Language Arts/ Reading curricula. Students learn more efficiently when they are able to visualize and/ or touch the subject matter being taught.

Additional funding will help impact my class in several ways. First, I will be able to provide supplies to those students who cannot afford it. Secondly, I will be able to purchase arts and crafts supplies for fun hands-on activities. Most importantly, I will be able to infuse technology into my classroom with the purchase computer programs and accessories to help create a learning environment where students will enjoy learning.

My classroom is inquiry-based, which means we do several of hands-on activities. In addition, we utilize an interactive science notebook throughout the year. Some supplies that I frequently use (and therefore need) are paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, anttbacterial wipes, baby wipes, colored pencils, and general lab equipment. Additional funding will allow for more hands-on learning opportunites for smaller groups and it will also allow me to develop my outdoor classroom. Any assistance is greatly appreciated by me and my 5th grade science classes. Thank you!

Our students are super smart and need only to have others believe in their ability. Our community is one of low socioeconomics, but big dreams. We very much would like to be able to focus on educating our future teachers, law makers, doctors, lawyers, and so on. Donations will help our students succeed because we believe in a hands on approach to learning.

I have 36 kindergarten students. This is a co-teaching classroom. I have five ESOL 1 students. Any donation will be welcomed, as this is a large class. Students are short of supplies, library books, classroom supplies, copy paper and toner for our printer, manipulative for our math, reading, and writing centers. Anything is an asset for our kindergarten students.

We are in need of school supplies, incentive items (example: age-appropriate items that the children can redeem their tickets, given to encourage academic achievement and good behavior), and a class photocopier or access to one. The children in this school are primarily from low socioeconomic areas and often have a pervasive expectation of failure. The reward tickets given in class are to motivate them to excel academically and to improve behavior. We need to have fresh supplies of items to replenish our `ticket store`.

Student come from many cultural backgrounds. Mosty low income families. Students are in need of school materials, uniforms, shoes and books to read at home. Some students ride a school bus home only to reach an empty house. There is a lack of parental involvement and lack of communication with the teachers at school. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The students are eager to learn and please.

The students I teach are little sponges ready to adquire new knowledge and be provided with the educational tools that will make them love school for the rest of their lives. The challenge is huge because they come from poor families that cant provide them with the materials and experiences they need to reach their potential. They are in need of school supplies, books, Time for kids magazine, any used computer or laptop(to take home), gardening tools, uniforms and any educational adventure to Metro Zoo, Acuarium, Science Museum ... Any contribution will put a smile on their faces. Jump in the wagon with me and lets make it possible!!!! Thank you, Ms. Morales Kindergarten Teacher

Innovative Parent Engagement Strategies Parental Involvement is a necessity for student academic achievement. I design and conduct various workshops, meetings and training programs to address the need for participation. With these programs, we offer parents and guardians the opportunity to voice concerns and offer ideas. Training for parents, as well as for teachers, is very important in discovering effective ways in which to work with families and increase the success of students. A major objective of these methods would be to defeat barriers between parents and the school. When I plan meetings, I accommodate different elements in the proceedings, including schedules, interpreters, and babysitting for younger children to maintain and preserve parents’ involvement. I utilize several avenues to inform parents of these events, including website updates, phone calls, flyers, emails, Connet Ed, and home visits. Usually after meetings, parents approach me with an interest for more information.

I am privileged to work at Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center, where our students are our first priority. We are a Title 1 school, with students from many cultural and economic backgrounds. Donations to our classroom will help the students achieve academic success and empowerment. As a teacher I provide as much as I can, but at times my means are not as much as I wish they were. With your help, the students will be able to develop a life long love of learning.