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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Hottenstein from Brooklyn, NY is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Hottenstein is requesting
Fully Funded

Ms. Hottenstein's classroom raised $411

Can You Hear me Now?

My students need 7 handheld voice recorders with earphones so that they can partner up and hear themselves practice, progress and become more confident speaking in Spanish.

Classroom photo
Ms. Hottenstein PS 66
Brooklyn, NY Grades 6-8

My Students

It's tempting as a teacher to do all the talking. That's not what learning Spanish should be about. Students need to speak up! Learning a foreign language can be intimidating to say the least, especially when forced to talk in front of an entire class. Why not make it a bit more personalized?

Even though my 350 students live in NY and thus among a diversity of cultures and languages, they often stick with what they know best from their own backgrounds - English.

Our school is K-8 and in a high-needs area, with large class sizes and limited resources. Learning Spanish is not a top priority, while getting a decent meal each day and passing the state tests are. Beginning Spanish in 6th grade, my students tend to find a foreign language intriguing, but some of them only have the class once a week. Therefore, they have very little exposure and practice time to work with the vocabulary and grammar. Over the course of the week, learned information vanishes away and the Spanish drifts into the backs of their busy, adolescent minds.

My Project

The incorporation of these voice recorders will be truly advantageous for my students as they grapple with Spanish. For the first time, they will be able to work together, privately or in groups, to achieve mastery in pronunciation and speaking skills. Rather than having me, the teacher, correct their every word and hover without pause, students will have the chance to take their time with the language and collaborate with peers. My students will be able to create skits, practice dialogs, radio-shows, radio-ads or even rap songs, which can then be recorded simultaneously while I assist each group. Rather than face the entire class to perform and worry over stage fright, they can instead concentrate more on building their ability to speak with fluency, then practice, rehearse and rerecord if need be. Additionally, the earphones will allow them to hear themselves and their accuracy without disturbing the other groups or peers around them.

It is one thing to speak.

It is another entirely to hear yourself say those same words, recorded, and listen for tiny details that may have gone unnoticed. My students don't have much opportunity to reflect on their own behaviors and actions; they work towards a goal without much thought for the process involved. Using tape recorders gives them a chance to stop, consider their achievements and mistakes, and work to make themselves better. They will hear the difference...with your help.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

350 students impacted 6 donors
Ms. Hottenstein PS 66 Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Brooklyn, NY View local requests

More than three‑quarters of 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

350 students impacted 6donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
LENMAR ULTRA COMPACT RETRACTABLE EARBUD HEADPHONES -- iPod Accessories; Lenmar Ultra Compact Retractable Headphones • Quill $8.81 7 $61.67
SONY M570V MICROCASSETTE VOICE RECORDER -- Sony M570V Microcassette Recorder • Quill $34.99 7 $244.93

Materials cost

$306.60

Vendor shipping charges

 $3.07

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.60

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$349.27

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$61.64

Total project goal

$410.91

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $410.91

4 Donors

-$205.45

Donations toward project cost

-$174.63

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$30.82

match offer

-$205.46

Match offer toward project cost

-$174.64

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$30.82

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

Project Activity
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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. Hottenstein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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