The math classroom is not just a place where students learn how to be problem solvers. A math classroom is a place where students learn to think critically and creatively. In a world where information can be easily accessed anywhere, the ability to think critically prepares students for the world.
Our middle school is an urban school made up of a diverse student body.
This means that we have a tremendous diversity of skills. Each student that walks through our doors adds to the unique experience of our school.
SMS has seen tremendous growth in its population, adding over 200 new students in the last three years and gaining more with a nearby school closing down this year. Approximately 75% of our students come from low-income homes.
We are a green school, which means that our school 'meets expectations' and illustrates how hard our students work. We strive to provide as many enriching experiences for our students as possible, while building an incredibly strong culture.
My Project
My students work hard everyday to prepare themselves for college and careers in the 21st century. They need increased access to technology to better prepare them for the future.
Every day, I have students benefit from access to technology. Our students are entering a competitive world that begs for intense collaboration. Chromebooks, in particular, make collaboration easy; and in this project I am requesting 12 chromebooks for my students' use.
These devices integrate nicely with the students' Google accounts. Students immediately log into their Chromebook to receive immediate feedback on assignments with GoogleClassroom. Students can comment on each others work, explain how to solve a particular problem with Educreations (an online whiteboard kids love!), access YouTube, and use iXL. Students show mastery of skills learned for the day at Exittix in a fun, culture-building way.
Luckily, I have two years experience guiding students learning with Chromebooks, so students learn quickly that the devices are a privilege and merely a tool for learning.
Chromebooks are the key to many of my students success in middle school, which helps build momentum for success in high school.
Often, I e-mail my 7th graders assignments with helpful websites linked. Students get the chance to not only work with the 30+ other students in the room, but also with an entire world community of learners on the internet. Students present their work in a professional manner also. This year, we were able to build 3D designs with a 3D printer and TinkerCad. My students are engaged.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mr. E. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.