My students need three Apple iPad minis to enable each table group to work on research, explore apps, make movies, and create presentations using Google Docs and Prezi.
"Life is a journey, not a race." I first saw this on a sticker attached to a filing cabinet that I inherited from another teacher over 15 years ago and it has stuck with me ever since.
In our "race" to meet CCSS, we should give children every opportunity to explore, discover, and create.
We are a class of 25 third grade students.
While the students are a diverse group, the majority of them come from homes where technology is highly valued, and forms an integral part of their lives. Many parents work in the tech industry and encourage their children to engage in technical endeavors.
My Project
We have five table groups with five students at each. The classroom currently has two mini iPads and an additional three will allow for one iPad per table group.
When used effectively, technology has the ability to provide learning that is innovative, irresistible, creative, relevant, and rigorous; all in line with our district's strategic plan. I have several projects planned for this year. First, we will explore Google Earth and Google Maps to create personal journey narratives through place-based storytelling. Next, we will taking Google Lit Trips to stimulate higher level thinking skills during read aloud by connecting a story's themes and messages to the issues of the real world in which the students live. We will also use apps such as iMovie and Tellagami to present opinion pieces, present poetry through Google Presentations and use Prezi to present informational writing and Individual Learning Projects (ILPs).
Students benefit from this self-directed and project-based learning model through increased engagement, excitement, and productivity.
They are able to think critically and turn their discoveries into creative, detailed evidence of learning, while developing skills for 21st century success.
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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 Mrs. Williams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
