Third grade teacher Kyle Schwartz wanted to better understand her students' lives, so she asked them directly. In her Doull Elementary class in Denver, CO, she had students write down what they wish Schwartz knew, and they openly shared pieces of their home and school life.
"As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my students' lives and how to best support them," Schwartz told ABC News, explaining that many of her students come from underprivileged homes.
Schwartz shared her students' notes on Twitter, using the hashtag #IWishMyTeacherKnew. Soon, teachers and students around the country began sharing their own thoughts on what they wish teachers knew.
Here are notes from Schwartz's classroom:
Notes from other classrooms and teachers:
#IWishMyTeacherKnew that I still carry her words with me in my purse for luck #thankyouforbelieving @kylemschwartz pic.twitter.com/DHOuiTHexT
— Caroline (@Caralaralara) April 16, 2015
Check out Schwartz's campaign on DonorsChoose to give to the classroom. In particular, Schwartz is looking for donations to purchase books for children on disabilities, fables and folklore, and strong female characters.