Help me give my students materials such as magnetic letters, letter practice books, dry erase boards, and more that will both strengthen the muscles in their hands and support their emerging academic skills.
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
I am currently blessed to have 6 inquisitive little people whose academic foundation has been placed in my hands. We have been teaching and learning remotely since the beginning of the school year. My students have proven to be flexible as I have tried to find ways to keep them engaged in our online activities.
This is a first-time school experience for my students.
I am sad that they are not able to participate in the hands-on activities that have been the foundation of the traditional early childhood experience. It is during these first five years that we see so much growth in young children, especially in the areas of academics and their fine motor abilities (the ability to use their hands and fingers for printing, drawing, etc.). Although my students have been supplied with iPads so that they can connect with me online, I worry that by not having these hands-on experiences my students' fine motor skills will be adversely affected. Young students need materials to manipulate with their hands. They need a chance to grip writing utensils and practice hand control, which is the foundation of being able to print.
My Project
Sending these materials home will allow my students to participate in fine motor, hand strengthening activities while they are learning at home. I have included materials like squish and squeeze sensory beads, whiteboards, dry erase markers, magnetic letters and alphabet tracing books which will strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers, thus improving their fine motor control and writing ability.
I will be able to replicate some classroom experiences my students haven't been able to have since they have been attending school remotely.
There are some things they just aren't able to do on an iPad. With these materials, they will able to touch, manipulate, and build letters as they learn about them. They will have tools to use to practice writing letters, holding actual writing tools rather than just sliding a finger on a screen.
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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. Brown and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
