This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Many of my students haven't been exposed to computers, let alone an Ipad! As their first teacher, I believe that it is important to introduce them to as many learning resources as possible. I want my students to be well-rounded individuals by First grade!
Currently, I teach in a low income Elementary School and I have been blessed to have 21 students in my classroom.
One of which, is a moderate functioning autistic student that is soon to be 8 and has never been to school. As I struggle to keep him interested and learning daily, I want my other students to experience new learning resources as well. Many of my other students (all below poverty) struggle with "normal" teaching methods and require hands on learning. Though I do the best that I can, I must be real and understand that this is the 21st century and that teaching and learning is very different than when I attended school. My students see teachers with all forms of technology and I want to do my part to introduce them to the "new" technology as well.
My Project
While students are engaged in small group time, they are using activities that I have hand crafted myself, or items that came with our curriculum resource. They rarely get to use the technology that I have available (my person iPad mini), because my autistic students needs the majority of the apps that I have downloaded. He has issues with sitting in groups for instruction (we are working on it) and I want him to learn just as much as the other students, but in a way that works for them. The students understand why he gets the majority of the time spent on the Ipad, however, I would love to present my students with a set of Ipad's as an academic reward. My students have never been exposed to anyone with autism and they have accepted him and help him daily on his journey to academic success. As their teacher, I want to show them that I appreciate their hard work and open mindedness to this situation and give them a new technology learning resource.
Funding for this project will not only help my students understand technology and give them the resources they've never been exposed to, but it will also show them that there are people that truly care about their education and their academic progress.
Coming from low income families, my students don't get to enjoy the "finer" things in life and I want nothing more than to bridge that gap for them. To give my students new learning resources may be the best and only gift given to them this year.
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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. Williams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.