Chinese proverb: "Tell me, I'll forget. Show me, I'll remember. Involve me, I'll understand." The latest brain research backs this philosophy. I want my students to be actively engaged in hands on learning while I am working with small groups and enjoy themselves while learning!
I teach 6- and 7-year-olds in first grade.
They are quite energetic. They have short attention spans if they are not actively engaged. I love each one of my students as if they were my own and it is important to me that they succeed in every aspect but unfortunately that sometimes means money is needed. Funding is hard to come by with cuts all over. I have approached the PTO for funding with Ergo seating for my kids but they turned me down. Brain research shows that Ergo seating improves attention span and strengthens the students' core. I thought it was important enough for my students to have so I spent $1,100 out of my own pocket to provide this for my students this year. I would really like some technology and hands on math manipulatives to help them be even more successful!
My Project
The rekenreks will provide my students with a concrete option to learn very difficult abstract concepts in math. They will help them with number sense, ten frames, and addition strategies in a concrete way first so then they can move to the abstract.
The IPods have so many uses. There are many educational apps (both math and reading) that can be used to keep my students actively engaged while I am teaching my intervention groups. The students are expected to read 68 words per minute by the end of the year. They can record themselves reading and self-evaluate the things they need to improve upon. It is also very useful to me because it drives my instruction for them. It's a very effective behavioral intervention tool: the students are recorded doing activities the correct way so it can be referred back to when they need assistance in doing an activity the correct way. More and more students come to us with these behavioral issues and I have found this to be an effective strategy.
Your donation to this project will make my students more successful and engaged throughout the day.
Moving from the concrete to the abstract when learning is nothing new, but sometimes the materials we have don't provide what is needed for our kids. The IPods will help the students with their 21st century skills, literacy skills, behavioral issues, and mathematical skills. I can view the recordings later to provide better instruction for my students. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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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. P. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.