My students need file folders, laminating pouches, and Velcro to create learning materials tailored to each student's unique learning needs and made to last repeated use.
Imagine a classroom where everything is created for each individual student with unique learning strengths and challenges. Each learning experience is made by hand by the Special Education team to fit a specific learning goal. Lessons are conducted one on one to help every student achieve success.
My classroom is filled by ten students in the Kindergarten through Second grade range.
Each student is a unique and exceptional learner with needs that span academics, social, communication, and adaptive learning. Students may have developmental delays, autism, intellectual disabilities, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other conditions that present learning needs that differ greatly from instruction in a typical classroom.
My students are so much more than their labels! These are children who love to come to school, are excited to learn new things, and bring so much joy and laughter to our lives. In a room where learning happens at a slower pace, we celebrate each small milestone of success as a major victory!
We are all working hard together each day to help ensure that these incredible children grow up to be as independent as possible. We want them to have the skills they need to enjoy an adult life with fulfilling jobs, hobbies, and social connections in our community.
My Project
Every learning experience is custom made, by hand, by myself and my amazing team of educational assistants outside of our regular working hours. We create file folder games and learning reinforcements for hands on learning opportunities. By laminating materials, we can use dry erase markers or Velcro tabs to reuse materials over and over again. Worksheets are difficult and, let's face it, they are boring! By presenting material in a colorful, game-like format, and by breaking down concepts into short tasks, we increase student engagement during work time.
This allows for better comprehension and mastery of skill. It also allows for me to specifically target each student's learning goals so when they are doing work, not a moment is wasted on tasks that are either to easy or too challenging for them. This leads to greater overall student success and a higher level of confidence and willingness to complete learning tasks.
We are already creating many of the resources students need, and it is working well!
We just need to create so much more! As a new teacher, I have struggled greatly to fund this project on my own, and have found the cost to be too great to afford on my own. Your help will allow me to work hard this summer to have materials completed and ready for our next school year. Most of my current students will be with me again next year, so I know just what they need to succeed, and can't wait to start!
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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. Holbein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
