My students need an iPad Air with case to access technology for learning in the classroom. I teach kindergarten to second grade special education students.
My day starts with our morning circle and communication time. In my classroom I have 9 students. 6 are unable to speak and need alternative communication. I had temporary use of two iPads last year. Students had a voice in the classroom! Unfortunately I will loose this valuable tool this year.
My students are wonderful.
I have 8 boys and 1 girl. Each one is has severe disabilities, one has spinal bifida and autism, he uses a wheel chair and does not speak. With the use of an i pad for communication and educational access, we have been able to teach him to communicate. He is able to read and solve math problems. He is learning to type. Another student is severely autistic with serious behavior challenges. He has learned to communicate with the I pad. His incidents of aggression have been reduced significantly. Four of my intellectually disabled students share an i pad during their group reading lesson. One of them has Down Syndrome and is deaf, another has severe seizures and cystic fibrosis. With the iPad they are answering simple questions and are more engaged in the lesson. They are able to show they understand what I am asking and enjoy having a voice in class discussions.
My Project
I had two iPads in my class last year. I was able to get them through low incidence funding because two students had orthopedic impairments. Unfortunately these students will move on and take the i pads with them. This leaves four remaining students and and 3 new students who are also non verbal without access to this remarkable technology. We used the iPads throughout the school day. Students use them to during snack and lunch communicate food, drink, preferences. I can quickly take a picture of lunch choices with Touch Chat and they can go through the lunch line and say they want spaghetti and carrots. During recess they can tell me they want to swing. During circle when I ask if it is hot or cold out, they can answer, during math and reading they can practice skills with Bitsboard Pro and Number Pieces, when someone has a melt down, they are able to choose self soothing items and get under control quickly. Students use touch chat on the i pad to interact with each other.
With this technology I prepare meaningful learning opportunities in 30 minutes vs spending 10 hours laminating, Velcroing and gluing.
I had to share a board maker program to make icons with my school site and it would sometimes take a week to get it. To explain how the I pad has changed my students lives, I will leave you with this thought; A boy joined my class a year ago. His goal was to make eye contact with and object for 15 seconds. With the help of an iPad he is leaving my class reading.
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