Give me your squirmers, your can't-sit-stillers,
Send me your word-weary reluctant writers!
Let them be keyboard-clacking wordsmiths, technology-savvy collaborators, and argument-building communicators!
Do you know a child who just can't sit still?
Who is always moving, always fidgeting? Who has difficulty writing because it's a long, arduous process? Who is struggling because English is their second or third language?
For English Language Learners (ELLs), writing is typically one of the last language domains mastered and providing students with laptops gives them many tools at their fingertips to perfect that skill.
Additionally my ELL students who are high-energy or special needs have even greater challenges when it comes to writing. Be it a matter of focusing their attention, writing legibly or simply sitting still, writing becomes an immense task.
These are my students. They bring the greatest variety of languages to our city in the entire state. They come from low-income, high-needs homes and are faced with high stakes - the odds appear against them.
My Project
The Chromebook laptops and specially designed Hokki chairs will expand a high-tech writing corner. Together with the two laptops from a previous DonorsChoose project, I intend to create a space for my writers that provides greater accessibility to the curriculum, not just for my ELL students, but for my special needs students as well.
Mastering the writing process from draft to final copy is typically long and arduous. Editing your work on computers is infinitely simpler for all the tools that are embedded in writing programs, what's more it becomes fun and students take pride to show off their printed work. The laptops provide them with the online software to take their work to the next level by creating presentations or even comics.
Eliminating the need for handwriting by making laptops available, and providing twisting, turning and rocking Hokki seats for my perpetual movers will provide great support for my high needs students.
Incorporating the laptops into the students' writing routine has proven invaluable time and again.
I've witnessed the students' joy of writing, productivity and willingness to go from outline to final draft skyrocket. Now I want to make writing even more accessible by addressing the physical needs of my special needs and high-energy kids. Providing them with special seating that can help keep them on task is the next step in forging wordsmiths for the future.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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 Ms. Miller and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
