My students are excited every time they get to use technology in class. Last year, my 5th graders used Chromebooks across all disciplines, but we had to share a tech cart with multiple classrooms. I want to expand my students' ability to do this kind of work this year but we need more Chromebooks.
Our school is a microcosm of our community; our diversity spans culture, heritage, and socioeconomic status.
Half of my students qualify for free and reduced lunch, which means their families are living below the poverty line. Our district continues to invest in technology opportunities and now all students have Google accounts and we use Google docs to share our work. We have recently upgraded our broadband, and teachers an take technology-focused professional development. However, we still do not have enough computers in the classroom. Currently, shared Chromebook carts are stored in the library and have to be checked out by teachers and moved from class to class. This is not only a waste of time, it is also disruptive to the teachers and students. We want to improve the technology experience for our students in the most efficient way possible, and having enough Chromebooks is a simple, cost-effective solution.
My Project
My students will use these Chromebooks for learning across many disciplines. Last year, using the shared Chromebook carts from the library, we did research, wrote poetry, created Google slide show book reports, and used Khan Academy and Arcademics to provide individualized math instruction. With more Chromebooks, we can reach more individual students and increase the amount of learning happening in our classroom.
This DonorsChoose grant is part of our school's overall strategy to utilize a variety of funding sources to achieve our goal of a Chromebook on every student’s desk.
We will use the Chromebooks to do research, create reports and projects, and work on individualized math activities. My students will also learn basic skills such as typing and navigating the internet, especially since several of my students do not have access to this at home.
This project will make a difference in the following ways:
Individualized Instruction: my students will have the opportunity to receive individual math problems to solve, e-books to read, and websites/topics to research using technology.
Publishing for a Real-World Audience: my students need to see themselves as authors and creators who have valuable things to say to real audiences.
Building Tech Expertise: my students will have an expanded expertise and comfort with technology.
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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. Cislowski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.