My students need four iPad mini tablets, with protective cases and screens, as part of their literacy and math centers, so that they can connect with one another and build early math and literacy skills.
Technology surrounds our daily lives, and students of today have grown up using or observing many forms of technology in many facets of life. The students of my classroom, however, only have the opportunity to use technology 2-3 times a week. They could benefit from more technology and collaboration!
Our classroom has 20 WONDERFUL, energetic, funny, and curious young learners.
We are in a first-grade classroom in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and come from VERY diverse, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Over 50% of our classroom qualifies for our ELL program, whereas more speak a language other than English at home. Many of our students do not have access to any form of technology at home, which makes using technology in the classroom even more important.
We learn in a K-6 building that has a large population of students of poverty. Our students are always ready to learn and are eager for any challenge. The school is a strong community, where teachers, staff, and students all work together with the resources that they have. All of the teachers are very innovative and try to help support their students as best they can. The students love to work collaboratively and build that learning community, and the use of tablets, such as the iPad minis, will help support the students.
My Project
Utilizing iPad minis in the classroom will help engage the students and utilize their 21st-century skills in the classroom. The students will use these tablets as part of their literacy and math center time, allowing for more students in the classroom to utilize technology. They will explore educational apps and websites and learn basic, age-appropriate technology skills.
This coming school year, the students will be incorporating their speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills into daily activities by adding stories, pictures, and videos to our student blog of our class website. The iPad was chosen for my students over other tablets because it will allow students to 1) use the video and picture feature for the class blog, 2) engage in a greater variety of math apps, phonics apps, and literacy apps, and 3) explore the various learning websites that have been pre-selected for their use.
The iPads will allow students to work collaboratively on projects, while meeting all needs.
Using tablets will help meet the needs of all student learning styles, individualize their learning experiences, and create more authentic learning activities.
The iPad minis will help reinforce skills, aide in support when needed, or offer higher learning and thinking activities. With the use of this technology, it will offer visual and audio support for my students with IEPs or who are learning English as a second language. These students will be one of the only classrooms with such technology.
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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. Riplinger and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.