"I teach High School (10-12) Special Education English/Language Arts and US History to students who struggle with Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders and ADHD. The students in my class need a lot of hands-on, active, engaging activities to keep them motivated while we read and write our way t...
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"I teach High School (10-12) Special Education English/Language Arts and US History to students who struggle with Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders and ADHD. The students in my class need a lot of hands-on, active, engaging activities to keep them motivated while we read and write our way through their sophomore, junior and senior years. Key words: MOTIVATED & ENGAGED.
My students do fantastic things; for a variety of reasons, homework is not one of them. With that said, we do everything that matters in class. As their teacher, my goal is to make the most of the 275 minutes that I have with students each week. The addition of two flip digital video cameras would be a powerful medium in the classroom. Both would help create an active, social learning environment that would appeal to and inspire the 95% of my students who want to be in front of the camera and the 5% who want to be behind the camera. When students have the opportunity to work with video, they tend to take their reading and comprehension of literature more seriously. Quality of final projects improve. Students also practice & revise, two characteristics of successful learners, yet a challenging habit to encourage and build with struggling readers and writers.
Video is also an excellent tool for student self-assessment. The ability to rehearse and view speeches, debates, presentations, readers’ theatre, and even oral reading assessments would allow students to evaluate specific aspects of their performances - posture, voice tone, body language. Video would also be an effective evaluative tool for large and small group discussions. The addition of video cameras to the classroom would benefit all of my students in one way or another, appealing to many different learning styles and needs, but most importantly, motivating and engaging hard to reach students.
With your support and generosity, students will learn and grow because two tiny little flip cameras allowed them to watch themselves on “The Big Screen.” Thank you in advance. Your generosity will deepen and enrich students’ education, helping to develop both literacy and analytical skills needed for success in and out of school.
My students need 2 Mini-Flip Camcorders, with camera cases, to use in their Special Education English/Language Arts and History classes.
HIDE
Feb 6, 2010
Dear Jennifer, Sarah, John, Bren, Amanda, CHS Rm 465 Students!, Kate, Debbie, Sheryl, 6th Period English, Renee, Chris, julie, Catie, Art Rocks! and Anonymous Donors,
Wow, wow, WOW. I cannot believe how these two little video cameras have affected the overall learning in my classroom. I would have never thought that they would be as powerful as they are.
I first introduced the cameras (we call them Flips) a couple of weeks ago - with the simple instructions that students were going to write a script and act out a scene from our novel study that we are completing. In their assignment, students had to figure out how to show the voice/thoughts of the narrator, who actually does no speaking.
The results were amazing. One group decided to do a voice over with the visual focus on the narrator, while the narrator expressed emotion through facial expression. The other group decided to have the narrator hold the video camera, and shoot the scene through 'her' eyes. She would then whisper her thoughts into camera as the group progressed through their scene.
Those two little Flips, forced the students to really think about what narration meant, from whose perspective the story was being told and how they were going to recreate the words on the page, if they couldn't actually have a character speaking those thoughts. Very powerful learning tool, indeed.
In addition, the students had to work together in a group to decide on how they were going to complete the task. They had to figure out roles, who was going to film, who was going to direct, and how they were going to make their 90second production flawless.
The Flips increased student focus, learning and overall enjoyment of the assigned task. EVERYONE wants to use them again. They especially want to use them to practice their upcoming senior boards and to reflect on what they could do better during those presentations.
I am amazed that students have become motivated to practice and perfect their performances! So many times teachers say, "practice, study, rehearse" to no avail. These cameras have increased student self-awareness in a way that they want to do better than what they previously would have been satisfied with.
The student shift in thinking was very unexpected. Thank you so much for you generous donations and for making such magnificent learning possible in my classroom.
Ms. R. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Nov 30, 2009
Dear Jennifer, Sarah, John, Bren, Amanda, CHS Rm 465 Students!, Kate, Debbie, Sheryl, 6th Period English, Renee, Chris, julie, Catie, Art Rocks! and Anonymous Donors,
First of all, I would like to share my appreciation and gratitude for your unbelievable generosity. I am amazed and humbled by your donations and the gifts that you bring to both students and teachers.
Just this afternoon, my students found out that their 'project-of-choice' had been funded. They are so excited and can hardly believe that someone would want them to have 'fun' in English class! Little do they know that they will be learning valuable lessons and applying multiple levels of analytical skills with these small, electronic tools!
Through your gifts, students will be able to act out scenes from books they are reading, tape themselves practicing speeches and watch themselves interact in small and large group discussions. Technology can enrich the learning environment in so many ways. Not only are students applying English concepts and skills, they will also be learning how to manipulate technology and revise and critique each others' performances.
I am as excited as my students. Your donations will bring hours of learning and active engagement to students who, to learn, need to practice skills in an active, hands-on manner. Thank you so much for your generous donations: they and all of you are truly appreciated. With gratitude,
Ms. R.
Region:
Washington
Where is the classroom located? 
Submitted:
Aug 18, 2009
| Expires:
Jan 24, 2010
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Molly L. (volunteer)
on Aug 18, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested technology and posted this project.
Scott C. (associate)
on Aug 20, 2009
Sarah
from Virginia
gave
on Aug 23, 2009
"Thank-you so much, Sarah!! :) I hope to be able to post some videos taken with these cameras. Students will flip over them. Again, thank-you....... You have no idea how much I (and my students) appreciate it."
The teacher Ms. R.
on Aug 26, 2009
"Donate to our class!!! We are broke!! We are so excited to be able to use video cameras!!! LOVE, 2nd Period Eng. 10"
A donor
gave
on Oct 2, 2009
"Thank-you English 10!!! I can't wait for our cameras either!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 2, 2009
"I gave to this project because you are a wonderful and caring teacher"
Amanda
from Washington
gave
on Oct 7, 2009
"THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, Ms. Amanda!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 7, 2009
"I gave to this project because I like THIS one, too!"
Bren
from Virginia
gave
on Oct 8, 2009
"BREN, you are WONDERFUL!!! :) Thank-you so, so, much! I truly appreciate all the effort you went through to support my classroom!!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 8, 2009
"I gave to this project because this teacher helped us out, and what goes around comes around :) http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=327637&utm_campaign=we-teach&utm_medium=email&utm_source=283078&utm_content=Bates"
Art Rocks!
from Cave City, KY
gave
on Oct 13, 2009
"Thank-you, ART-ROCKS! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 13, 2009
"6th Period is the BEST! BE NICE TO MS. R & MRS. B! Love, ksa, arg, kw, avb, kh, kr, np, hr, lf, jk & aw!! Class o' 2010!!!"
A donor
gave
in honor of 6th Period English
on Oct 23, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Washington."
Chris
from Washington
gave
on Oct 25, 2009
"Thank-you, Chris!!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 25, 2009
"I gave to this project because room 465 rocks!"
Catie
from Washington
gave
on Oct 27, 2009
"I gave to this project because I want to support kids in my local school district!"
"Thank-you, Julie, for supporting local kids!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 27, 2009
"I gave to this project because I could not resist the Devo reference in its title. BET RED!"
"Sheryl - Thank-you SO, SO MUCH!! I was hoping someone would catch that reference. :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Oct 29, 2009
"I donated because the project will bring important learning opportunities to the classroom."
Renee
from Washington
gave
on Oct 30, 2009
"Devo + the 5% behind the camera = a donation that I hope helps inspire the kids as much as much as photography inspired me in high school."
"I gave to this project because I wanted to support your teacher who is my cousins daughter."
John
from Iowa
gave
on Oct 30, 2009
"Renee - THANK YOU so MUCH!"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Nov 1, 2009
"Jennifer - Thank you so much! I too, was the kid behind the camera! Thank you so much for your generosity and commitment to kids! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Nov 1, 2009
"JOHN! Thank you for supporting my classroom projects!! I appreciate it so, so much! Say, hello, to Iowa for me. :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Nov 1, 2009
"Kudos for the work you do!!!"
Kate
from Arizona
gave
on Nov 24, 2009
"I gave to this project because this classroom is GREAT and I am now redeeming my 'giving card'!!"
"I know these kids and they are awesome!! "
"Kate & Debbie! Thank you so much!! :)"
The teacher Ms. R.
on Nov 27, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Washington."
A donor
gave
on Nov 30, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news
on Nov 30, 2009
The teacher Ms. R.
on Nov 30, 2009
Purchased the technology for Ms. R.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member)
on Nov 30, 2009
The teacher Ms. R.
on Jan 16, 2010
The teacher Ms. R.
3 days ago
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