I teach art to 6th-8th grade students in one of the largest middle schools in Illinois. Although large, my school lacks the funding it needs. My supply budget is only $200 for roughly 400 kids a year. If you do the math, that does not leave much room for paper, pencils, markers, clay, paint, brushes, ink, or anything beyond. Most of my students come to me with IEP accommodations for various different reasons. Just about all of them excel in my classroom because they are able to learn about concepts that are tangible. We explore math, science, language arts, history, technology, careers, and more personal skills than I could ever list. I have been supplementing the low budget with exploring art through computers, but my students thrive on the hands-on learning. The majority of my students come from low-income and tough homes, so nothing beats the happiness on their faces when they create something they are proud of.
About my class
I teach art to 6th-8th grade students in one of the largest middle schools in Illinois. Although large, my school lacks the funding it needs. My supply budget is only $200 for roughly 400 kids a year. If you do the math, that does not leave much room for paper, pencils, markers, clay, paint, brushes, ink, or anything beyond. Most of my students come to me with IEP accommodations for various different reasons. Just about all of them excel in my classroom because they are able to learn about concepts that are tangible. We explore math, science, language arts, history, technology, careers, and more personal skills than I could ever list. I have been supplementing the low budget with exploring art through computers, but my students thrive on the hands-on learning. The majority of my students come from low-income and tough homes, so nothing beats the happiness on their faces when they create something they are proud of.
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