I teach math, science, and English to students with special needs, and English Language Learners. Most are struggling readers who lack the fluency and comprehension skills of their classmates, and need additional support to access the curriculum.
I teach at a Chicago Public School in a high-poverty neighborhood.
Our student body is very diverse, with over 55 nationalities and many languages represented. The school serves a community with many immigrants and refugees who have had interrupted schooling, and lack of access to foundational education. When disabilities and exceptional learning needs are added to the everyday challenges of school, many students give up on education and drop out, leaving them vulnerable to violence, substance abuse, and lifelong poverty.
Engaging struggling students in authentic learning requires access to supportive technology such as read-aloud software, online reference tools, and other instructional aids. Having Kindles available to them would enrich their engagement and comprehension, while helping them learn much-needed literacy and technology skills.
My Project
In my classroom, students would use Kindle readers in a wide variety of ways to support their learning. The read-aloud technology would enable them to hear words pronounced that they don't know, and provide definitions. They could also listen to and read text simultaneously at their own pace. In science classes, students could use the tablets to access simulations like PhET Lab, giving them a more robust understanding of content. Students could also annotate text and receive real-time feedback, and communicate with teachers and group members easily and efficiently.
Your support of this project would enable students to develop critical literacy skills in a way that is easily differentiated to meet their individual needs.
Kindles would allow students greater freedom to interact independently with the text, and encourage them to use online resources to support their comprehension. Please help my students gain the confidence and skill they need to become lifelong readers by helping make this project a reality!
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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. Wieselman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.