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Mrs. Brucker from Billings, MT is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Philology Technology: Bringing Words to Life

My students need a digital camera with video and microphone capabilities to capture vocabulary in action.

  • $337 goal

This project expired on August 16, 2009.

This project expired on August 16, 2009.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Brucker Ponderosa Elementary School
Billings, MT Grades 3-5

philology - (n.): the study of words and the way they develop technology - (n.): new machines, equipment, and ways of doing things that are based on modern knowledge about science and computers These words are a sample of two days worth of new words studied in my 4th grade classroom. While the definitions may seem imposing, their purpose is promising: technology can motivate students to love words. According to the Framework for 21st Century Learning, all students need experience with information, media and technology skills. I teach in a Title 1 school, in which few students have access computers or technology at home. I feel that it is my responsibility to help prepare them for a world in which there will be an increasing need for its use, and I want to give them every opportunity to access its possibilities.

I recently had the fortune to attend a workshop by Dr. Kevin Feldman, vocabulary guru and co-author of the Read 180 program used in my school district. His message emphasized the need for explicit vocabulary instruction and active student involvement. In his workshop, Dr. Feldman stated that one challenge facing our students is that children from more privileged backgrounds typically enter school with a vocabulary of 4000 words, while children from less fortunate circumstances come prepared with only about 2000 words. After realizing that my students need to be exposed to higher-level vocabulary on a daily basis, I developed a Word of the Day program in which students are actively engaged in and intensely focused on a target word each day. My goal is for them to not only hear and see academic vocabulary words, but to use them and recognize their use in the real world. I have integrated technology into this process by creating a Philology Blog, which has proved to be a dynamic and engaging way to get my students to interact with these words.

Since I would need a camera to take the picture myself, let me paint the picture in your imagination! I select a Word of the Day from the context of its use; it may be a vocabulary word from a content area, or a word that will be used in the discussion of one of the topics we will encounter. I then create a blog post for each word, using images, videos, interactive illustrations, etc. to help the students to see the word "in action." As the words and images are projected onto a screen, students connect them to background knowledge by using the word a journal entry. I have included a revolving photo album on the blog that documents the students finding the words in action. I currently use the staff digital camera that is located down the hall in the library. This works well when there is no spontaneity required, when the camera is not in use by another staff member, or when the batteries are not depleted. Having access to our own camera would give us the opportunity to instantly capture our words in action.

By my calculations, a picture is worth 180 words—one for each day of the school year. My budding philologists already feel bolstered by their ability to use and understand big words. This constant immersion in academic words has elevated the speaking and listening level of my class. Just picture it: With your help, these wordy learners would have the documentation, feedback, and little bit of fame that it would take to make these words come to life.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

Never Before Funded 24 students impacted
Mrs. Brucker Ponderosa Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Billings, MT View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

Never Before Funded 24 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
COOLPIX S550 BLACK DIGITAL CAMERA • Best Buy $229.99 1 $229.99

Materials cost

$229.99

Vendor shipping charges

 $23.00

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.75

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$275.74

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$60.53

Total project goal

$336.27

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Brucker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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