My students need a classroom iPad to use in our literacy workshops. The iPad will be used for authentic student publications on our website (podcast, movies, writing).
Education has changed. Students don't learn from endless worksheets. Students learn from meaningful, authentic learning experiences that demand they apply their mastery of concepts that demonstrate excellence. Allow them to share their excellence with an audience outside their classroom walls
My 11 4th graders and 11 5th graders are proud to be enthusiastic learners.
Our school, The Juneau Community Charter School, (the only K-8 public charter school in Juneau) is an educational partnership between staff, parents and community members. Our mission is to develop students with a vision for the world, a love of learning and an ethic of responsibility and contribution to the community. Our school was founded on the concept that there should be alternatives to the traditional focus and methods of teaching children. Conceptually our schools methodology is a shift of focus from how teachers can control learning to how children can best learn. Through the use of a variety of educational approaches (including technology integration) we work to develop in each child the ability to gain knowledge and find meaning in what they learn. We feel that this results in children who find learning wonderful and natural.
My Project
I am requesting an iPad for my students to use in our literacy workshops. I have a classroom website that I manage (with my students) to share their work with a larger audience that our classroom allows. The website is used as a way to communicate with parents, share classroom events and moments and to motivate students to publish their best work. My students have enthusiastically written news stories, book reviews, and stories capturing their interests and learning experiences. My students are also motivated to share voice-clips and podcasts from the classroom and demonstrate their understandings by creating movies, such as book trailers for their favorite reads. Such authentic literacy practices demand the use of technology. Unfortunately our charter school does not have the funds to supply all the necessary technology. Having implemented my personal iPad into our literacy practices, I know that doubling my students' access to an iPad will greatly increase their productivity.
Imagine a learning community where process outweighs the importance of product: a community enhanced with authentic, meaningful literacy experiences.
iPads provide enrichment opportunities that widen writing audiences through digital publication and exploration in the various ways to publish ideas.
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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 Ms. Milligan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.