My students need math tiles, educational games (ATM Action, Math Star Word Problem, etc.) and an iPad to promote critical thinking in fun, engaging, and innovative way.
I teach math and science core, incorporating hands-on, project-based learning in my classroom. I also teach a speech elective, helping students develop 21st-century presentation skills. I have self-made vocabulary games my students use to study, which they love. In math, my classroom is flipped.
What is a flipped classroom?
By sixth grade, I often receive statements from parents regarding their inability to help their students with middle school math. Even though parents desperately want to help their own children, they lack the ability to help. Therefore, every year of my teaching I have volunteered my time tutoring my students after school, since so many struggle with the rigorous challenges of complex mathematical concepts. Last year, I additionally created online tutorials for both students and parents could access to help with practices. Then, I started researching flipped classrooms and observed their effectiveness. Instead of assigning homework containing traditional mathematical problems that many of my students receive limited to no support for at home, I created video tutorials supporting their learning, resulting in students taking notes before class and arriving to class with questions and clarifying concepts. The mathematical problem solving happens in class.
My Project
I have many second language learners in my classroom who further their learning by having high-quality visuals and manipulatives to work with their hands, learning kinesthetically and collaboratively. The game items such as ATM Game, and I Have, Who Has?, will give students opportunities for collaborative hands-on learning as well as help them understand concepts while still engaging them during practice. My self-made games work well, but the professionally made games will be very engaging and make learning fun. The iPads promote deeper understanding of many projects, including virtual manipulatives, research, and presentation tools. I have spent the summer attending trainings and professional developments on incorporating a more project-based approach to my flipped classroom, including activities that help students develop deeper understanding of challenging mathematical and scientific concepts.
Why can't learning be fun as well?
It much more important to understand why problems work, how to represent them in multiple ways, go through the entire problem solving process, than to memorize a textbook. Students will go beyond their textbook, developing 21st-century skills, bringing their textbooks to life. With the games, they will have to analyze many ways to solve problems. The iPads are absolutely essential in promoting creativity across the curriculum and making learning enjoyable.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mrs. Taylor-Salvador and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
