Help me give my students a smoother and more interactive virtual learning experience with an upgraded teacher laptop.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Johnson's classroom raised $805
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
I am a teacher of gifted and talented students in the city of Richmond, Virginia. The gifted and talented program is called SPACE which means Special Programs for Academic and Creative Excellence and it is designed to challenge students who are working above their current grade level.
Although many of my students come from challenging backgrounds, they have shown that they can overcome obstacles that make life difficult and demonstrate that they are intelligent, inquisitive and industrious.
They often challenge me with questions about the world around them and I enjoy leading them to the answers in such a way that makes them responsible for their own learning. We are a community of learners and problem solvers. Students love to collaborate on ideas that lead to gaining new information and ultimately the creation of a finished product. The production of something tangible is always the goal. This may come in the form of a report, a photo display, a video or the creation of a brand new invention. My students are an inspiration to me because they are the future and they are forward thinking people.
My Project
I am currently teaching virtually with a laptop that is insufficient. It lacks the memory that is needed for me to properly engage my students in the videos and games that make the lessons more interactive and enjoyable.
Because I teach multiple grade levels, it is important that I have a laptop that can handle multiple apps and activities simultaneously.
My students and I often experience a lag in the videos or the sound is very choppy or everything completely freezes when I have multiple windows open. In order to fix this problem I must close windows, turn off my camera and sometime leave the meeting temporarily so that things will continue as planned. Can you imagine a teacher who tries to teach with her camera off? It can be very frustrating.
Our district is completely virtual, therefore we are dependent on apps and sites such as GoogleMeet, Screencastify, and Youtube to present lessons to students. I am also using additional apps such as Jamboard and Nearpod so that I can see the students' responses. With new technology that has more memory, my students will be able to see high quality science videos with audio that is clear. I will be able to navigate between apps and tabs without the computer freezing. I will also be able to connect and use a document camera for demonstrating science and STEM activities that students can replicate at home in real time and allow for discussion. This will provide a much better learning experience for my students which is important to keeping them engaged. New technology will allow me to be more flexible in my teaching and use multiple apps and hardware in order to keep my students participating.
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
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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. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
