Completed:Projecting our Bright Futures to the World
"These Wolverines want to be Tech Savvy and ready to enter post secondary education or the work world! I teach in a high poverty high school in a self-contained special education classroom for students with mild to moderate disabilities ranging from mild mental retardation, emotional disturbance, an...
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"These Wolverines want to be Tech Savvy and ready to enter post secondary education or the work world! I teach in a high poverty high school in a self-contained special education classroom for students with mild to moderate disabilities ranging from mild mental retardation, emotional disturbance, and learning disabled. I teach math, personal finance and new this year, a Careers and Independent Living course. When I first started at this school and in this classroom four years ago as a Teach For America teacher, my students were computing third and fourth grade math equations. Today, four years later, I have moved my students to learning Algebra and Geometry in just those few short years. Now instead of teaching adding and subtracting, I get to teach about integers and angles!
Along with my students' new found success in the classroom, comes a new found confidence in themselves and a desire to go on to a successful job, vocational or trade school, or dare I say it, even college upon graduation from high school. But how can my students possibly succeed without the exposure to and the opportunity to use technology in the classroom? Most of these students do not have the exposure to technology in their own homes. Using technology for career exploration and researching current financial issues is a must for my students. They exhibit a desire to learn and an interest in technology. Why not fuel that fire to learn using the most up-to-date technology such as an LCD projector, so students can present information to the class as a whole?
My students need an LCD Projector. With the 1 lonely computer in the classroom and little access to the 1 computer lab in the entire school, my students need an LCD Projector to present projects on career options and choices, display and discuss current financial issues, and watch clips of the Federal Reserve Chairman discussing our current financial state. With an LCD Projector, students would be excited to present information and would want to learn how this new technology works. The class would no longer have to huddle close to the one computer in the classroom to watch a student's PowerPoint presentation, or squint their eyes to see the 10-year old overhead projector for the notes for their next test.
You can make it possible for these underserved and underprivileged students to have access and exposure to the latest technology for classrooms. The use of technology in the classroom not only prepares students for using technology in post-secondary educational institutions or the workforce, but also engages students in the learning environment. Please help my students go on to be successful community members by contributing to this wonderful cause.
See Mrs. M.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Nov 6, 2009
Dear St. Louis Funders, Tony & Anne, Rita and Scott, Julie, George, Erica, Barbara and A.J. Dwyer-Heidkamp, Ernie, Lucy, Darcy & Mike, Mark, Lauren, Steve and Anonymous Donor,
I want to take a few minutes to tell you how grateful I am for your generosity. It is so very important to me as a teacher to know that there are others that care about my students and their futures just as much as I do. It is a constant struggle to integrate technology in a classroom with just one computer and little to no access to a computer lab. With your help and assistance, my students are gaining confidence in their use of technology, an extremely valuable skill they will need upon entering the workforce. Every student should have access to technology in the classroom and have the same advantages no matter where they live or what school they attend I am glad that you support these students and these projects. Without individuals such as yourself, these students would not have those opportunities. It is because of the support of others that make my job worthwhile. I would like to share one story with you. I have a student in my personal finance class that is notorious for cutting classes. I have only seen him in my classroom once. He is simply not interested in classes. The day I received the LCD projector in the mail, I ran into this student in the hallway. I asked him if he could help me set up the projector and see how it works. He shrugged his shoulders, but came along with me anyway. Upon working with this student to set up the projector to the classroom computer, I learned that he is quite savvy with computers. In fact, he was able to not only set up the projector, but also wrote a PowerPoint projector to teach the other students how to use the projector as well. Since that time, this young man has come to class every single day. Not only has his attendance improved, but he has taken a leadership role with the projector and taken it upon himself to write the "Rules to Using the Projector." Because of your donation, we have been able to reach this one particular student. I was able to find what grabs his attention and was able to use that to get and keep him in the classroom. This young man's future is much brighter because of you. It is my hope that we will continue to reach even more students through this technology. My students and I thank you so much for believing in them.
With gratitude, Mrs. M.
Mrs. M. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Oct 26, 2009
Dear St. Louis Funders, Tony & Anne, Rita and Scott, Julie, George, Erica, Barbara and A.J. Dwyer-Heidkamp, Ernie, Lucy, Darcy & Mike, Mark, Lauren, Steve and Anonymous Donor,
Thank you so much for your support for my classroom and my students. Having this projector for my classroom will greatly increase the impact that I can have on my students and ultimately their future. It always amazing me the generosity of individuals to help students they do not even know directly. These students have such bright futures thanks to individuals such as yourself. YOU are making a difference in these students' lives and WE thank you! Thank you for your trust in me and my students.
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Cathe D. (volunteer)
on Oct 14, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested technology and posted this project.
Shira N. (associate)
on Oct 15, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Missouri."
Darcy & Mike
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 19, 2009
"I gave to this project because every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. "
Lucy
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 19, 2009
"Thank you to those that have already donated on day 1 of our project listing! Your support is much appreciated and my students will benefit so much from this wonderful gift!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 19, 2009
"I gave to this project because Laura wouldn't stop with the emails."
Steve
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 20, 2009
"Thank you Steve! I'll take you off the list now!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 20, 2009
"I gave to this project because I am stuck in Southwest Oklahoma and like Missouri better."
Mark
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 20, 2009
"Thanks Mark! Come back to Missouri soon!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 21, 2009
"I gave to this project because education is the key, and anyone lucky enough to have one should spend her life opening doors for others."
Julie
from Illinois
gave
on Oct 21, 2009
"Thank you Julie! And let's make sure it is a GOOD education for these kids!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 22, 2009
"I gave to this project because China is rising."
Ernie
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 23, 2009
"Thank you Ernie. You are absolutely right. We need to invest in students here in the United States!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 23, 2009
"We gave to this project because if Miss Laura believes you can do great things, we believe you can do great things. Have a great year. "
Rita and Scott
from Alaska
gave
on Oct 23, 2009
"I gave to this project because students learn more when their teacher has the right equipment and supplies"
Tony & Anne
from Arizona
gave
on Oct 24, 2009
"We gave to this project because Laura is a wonderful new member of our family and we are inspired by the great work that she does. Enjoy the new projector!"
Barbara and A.J. Dwyer-Heidkamp
from Massachusetts
gave
on Oct 24, 2009
"I helped because these kids deserve every chance to succeed. That any classroom these days has only one computer is terrible. Getting an LCD projector seems to be a creative and extremely reasonable way to extend the benefits of technology to these kids. The payback will be a thousand fold when these kids are able to live independently and sustain themselves."
Ann
from Wisconsin
gave
on Oct 24, 2009
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are all so generous! This will make such a difference in the education of my students!"
The teacher Mrs. M.
on Oct 26, 2009
"I gave to this project to honor the work done by my Spring 2009 NYU Marketing Communications class. In their honor, this donation is made because they wanted to make a difference."
A donor
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
"I gave to this project because Mrs. Millkamp is an extraordinary teacher. Each day she goes above and beyond to ensure each child in her classroom has access to an excellent education. "
Erica
from Iowa
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
"I gave to this project because I believe that having a projector can make a huge impact for Mrs. M's students. Thanks for inspiring me AND your students!"
Lauren
from Arlington, VA
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
"I gave to this project because it's such a worthy cause."
George
from Westwood, NJ
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
"A group of generous donors in St. Louis
have partnered to help fund projects posted by St. Louis teachers!"
St. Louis Funders
from Missouri
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
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Cathe D. (volunteer)
on Oct 14, 2009
Lauren
from Arlington, VA
gave
on Oct 26, 2009
