2019 Support Colegio F.I. Madero, México
Donation protected
I am so happy to report that I will be going back in June 2019 for the third consecutive year to work at Colegio Francisco Madero. Fco . Madero is a school serving a very low-income community in a rural area outside of Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico.
Before I share with you a little information about the school and my plans for this year, first and foremost I would like to thank all of you who donated last year.
Over the last three years, I have had the privilege of visiting Colegio Francisco Madero while traveling to Mexico with my 5th-grade students from Escondido Elementary. Madero is a three-classroom school (only one classroom is in use) that hosts 26 students in grades 1st- 6th grade. The students have one teacher, who is the only adult in the school. These children live in poverty, but their circumstances do not prevent them from walking 3 km to and from school every day.
In March 2019 I was able once again to visit the school while traveling with my students.
I am happy to report that every 6th grader I worked with last year is now attending seventh grade in a different school. In addition to this, 11 out of the 14 students I worked with last June are reading at grade level. I am delighted to learn that they have continued their independent reading after I'd last worked with them.
Even though I am very proud of their achievements, there is more work to be done.
The now 7th graders are walking to school for over an hour to attend their new schools and they are still in need of support to go to school and stay in school. After discussions with them about their need, I would like to provide them with better shoes (most have a single pair or two that are worn out) and solar powered flashlights for their two-hour daily walk. In addition to this, my main goal is to continue working with the 4th-6th graders at the school, as they need continued support with their reading comprehension, number sense and expose them to art and science activities.
Their joy for learning, their curiosity for new information and their resilience to improve is an inspiration to me.
On my trip in June, I am excited to work with the 4th-6th graders on different projects to help them improve their skills and motivate them to continue on to middle school, including:
1. A Book Club: I will introduce and review with them how a Book Club works and present them with an engaging book, for them to keep, that I have selected based on their interests and everyday life, and provide notebooks, post its and pencils for them to explore and discuss topics they read about.
2. Art and Science projects: the students do not receive science instruction nor art instruction during their school year. I will bring along simple, engaging projects to work on with the children.
3. Math Games: I have designed a project to involve the students and practice math concepts through games. We will play those games in class and the students will keep the materials to take home with them, and play the games at home with their siblings.
The projects mentioned above are a few examples of what I am planning to work on with them. Finally, I am hoping to be able to invite the 7th graders to come and speak with the 6th graders about their personal experience while transitioning to middle school. Unfortunately, very few of these students go on to attend middle school. The reasons for not furthering their education varies. The biggest barrier is that the middle school is far away and transportation and socio-economic limitations result in most of them eventually dropping out of school to help their parents either at home or working along with them in the farms. My goal is to motivate them to attend Middle School and not drop out after completing 6th grade.
The students at Colegio Francisco I. Madero are so happy to learn and to be exposed to new materials. They deserve an opportunity to broaden their education. Your contribution of any size will go along the way to provide the gift of learning to the students of Colegio Francisco I. Madero.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Agustina
Before I share with you a little information about the school and my plans for this year, first and foremost I would like to thank all of you who donated last year.
Over the last three years, I have had the privilege of visiting Colegio Francisco Madero while traveling to Mexico with my 5th-grade students from Escondido Elementary. Madero is a three-classroom school (only one classroom is in use) that hosts 26 students in grades 1st- 6th grade. The students have one teacher, who is the only adult in the school. These children live in poverty, but their circumstances do not prevent them from walking 3 km to and from school every day.
In March 2019 I was able once again to visit the school while traveling with my students.
I am happy to report that every 6th grader I worked with last year is now attending seventh grade in a different school. In addition to this, 11 out of the 14 students I worked with last June are reading at grade level. I am delighted to learn that they have continued their independent reading after I'd last worked with them.
Even though I am very proud of their achievements, there is more work to be done.
The now 7th graders are walking to school for over an hour to attend their new schools and they are still in need of support to go to school and stay in school. After discussions with them about their need, I would like to provide them with better shoes (most have a single pair or two that are worn out) and solar powered flashlights for their two-hour daily walk. In addition to this, my main goal is to continue working with the 4th-6th graders at the school, as they need continued support with their reading comprehension, number sense and expose them to art and science activities.
Their joy for learning, their curiosity for new information and their resilience to improve is an inspiration to me.
On my trip in June, I am excited to work with the 4th-6th graders on different projects to help them improve their skills and motivate them to continue on to middle school, including:
1. A Book Club: I will introduce and review with them how a Book Club works and present them with an engaging book, for them to keep, that I have selected based on their interests and everyday life, and provide notebooks, post its and pencils for them to explore and discuss topics they read about.
2. Art and Science projects: the students do not receive science instruction nor art instruction during their school year. I will bring along simple, engaging projects to work on with the children.
3. Math Games: I have designed a project to involve the students and practice math concepts through games. We will play those games in class and the students will keep the materials to take home with them, and play the games at home with their siblings.
The projects mentioned above are a few examples of what I am planning to work on with them. Finally, I am hoping to be able to invite the 7th graders to come and speak with the 6th graders about their personal experience while transitioning to middle school. Unfortunately, very few of these students go on to attend middle school. The reasons for not furthering their education varies. The biggest barrier is that the middle school is far away and transportation and socio-economic limitations result in most of them eventually dropping out of school to help their parents either at home or working along with them in the farms. My goal is to motivate them to attend Middle School and not drop out after completing 6th grade.
The students at Colegio Francisco I. Madero are so happy to learn and to be exposed to new materials. They deserve an opportunity to broaden their education. Your contribution of any size will go along the way to provide the gift of learning to the students of Colegio Francisco I. Madero.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Agustina
Give $50 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer
Agustina Lodoen
Organizer
