My students each need a personal white-board (36) and markers, and a word-building kit, to keep them engaged in the learning process. This different way of writing their responses keeps them more focused.
Do you remember how great you felt when you learned something new? My students have a very hard time focusing on a task long enough to to accomplish real learning. They are movers and doers, not sitters. I need a tool that increases movement and enables them to give quick responses during a lesson.
I teach in a year round school.
The track I teach is the least popular B track, which typically gets students who struggle in school and have less support from home. Consequently, it often takes extra teacher tricks to keep students listening and working. These are very wonderful kids who want and are excited to learn, but give up to easily or don't follow through to the end. At least half the class is reading below grade level as of this date. Three quarters of the class have behaviors or habits that keep them from staying on task.
I have been in school eight weeks with my students and I am still looking for ways to keep them interested. I have had a few students who are settling in, because they have responded to different teaching methods I have tried so far. In our day of video games and other incredible media, I am having to depend on differentiated instructional activities to keep students' attention. This means the traditional pen and paper method is just not good enough all the time.
My Project
One of my challenges is to get them to complete any assignment that involves writing their response down. I am requesting white boards and markers, because I believe that if each student had their own, this would add a level of excitement to their writing that would encourage them to write. I want my students to have a quick way to respond to my questions or share their thinking. The goal would be to help students to develop good habits in the area of thinking and responding.
Habits are formed by doing something over and over again. Not only would the boards provide this opportunity, they will allow the students to focus on their task and diminish the amount of distraction they currently allow. It also allows me to see who needs quick feedback. The word study blocks will be used in many hands on activities with the white boards to improve student phonics and reading skills. The Differentiated Teaching resource will add more tricks to my trade to help their "learning by doing" style.
I see the frustration in them everyday.
I feel frustrated. They have sat through grades k-2 and still are falling behind. I want them to feel successful. Small little successes and lots of them, will help my students gain the confidence they need to get hungry for learning. For these students to be able to give quick responses on a white board rather than a worksheet, will boost their desire to be involved in the learning process, and enable them to transition into lifelong productive students.
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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 Mrs. Wylie and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.