My students are children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are having their first school experience through our preschool program. Some of them are nonverbal, and others have limited speech. They learn through play, center based activities, small group, and individual instruction. I use the resources we have to make these learning experiences as meaningful as possible for my students.
I am hopeful to give our youngest learners the best chance at success as they continue throughout their lives.
I am constantly collaborating with other teachers in our school to help them reach their full potential. Most of our students come with less so we must give them more. They come with less background knowledge, less experiences, a smaller vocabulary, and less exposure to educated adults than those students in affluent areas. They are coming with experiences some adults could never even imagine. Let's work together to give these students the best chance at being successful.
My Project
An important part of my students' education is learning how to work independently. To do this, they complete their independent work through a system system known as the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related Handicapped Children) system. TEACCH methods are based on the premise that people with Autism are predominantly visual learners, so this intervention strategy focuses on visual structure, work systems, and task organization. In order to learn the skill of following a structured work system, my students need access to tables that are small enough for them and are in a quiet spot in the classroom, used only for their independent work.
By donating to our project, you will assist my students in learning how to complete familiar tasks without adult assistance, which is a skill they need to learn to be successful in school and in life.
We currently have two of these double-sided writing desks that were graciously funded by donors through a previous project! After using these desks for the majority of this school year, I have seen immense growth in my students' abilities to work independently! By having one more of these desks, each of my students would have their own space and would not have to share with one of their classmates. This is essential as throughout the school year, my students grow at varying rates and need to have different tasks set up at their independent work desks. I have seen how the students in my class excel with these structured work systems, and cannot wait to see how excited they will be to have their own special spaces to continue to grow in this skill!
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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. Boey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
