My students need 10 MP3 players to listen to digital stories in a listening center.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Ray's classroom raised $692
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students are learning without me. They have tools at home that are unavailable in the classroom. I need help bringing my classroom into the 21st century to improve students' learning opportunities. Digital stories are less expensive than books these days, and we have many, but no way to listen.
Our small public school is located in Alaska, which is surrounded by incredible mountains and Resurrection Bay.
My students get lots of exercise outdoors, as that is typical for our community. Even our school field trips revolve around the outdoors, like when we go to Exit Glacier to learn about bears, moose, glaciers, and so on. But inside the classroom, we struggle to bring the 21st century to student learning due to budget restraints. These kiddos know about the technology, and some even have access to tablets and similar technology at home. I wish I had better equipment for their learning opportunities in the classroom. I'd like to begin with mp3 players to support a digital listening center. This summer, I recorded many children's stories myself - complete with sound effects. I also have purchased several audio books. I just need a way for the students to listen to these during their reading group centers.
My Project
I began my teaching career two years ago as a mid-life career change. I bring to the classroom my background in technology, which is a skill our district seeks out in its new hires. I am able to combine leading edge teaching pedagogy with technology to create a 21st century learning environment -- as much as possible. Trouble is, we're short on equipment. I believe the classroom should mimic the work world, at least on a technology level, as it is the work world we're preparing our kiddos for. Additionally, students should use technologies in school that they're using at home. We can't keep classrooms in the industrial age any longer. Something as simple as mp3 players for the listening center helps bring the classroom up to speed, and it allows students to easily choose stories to listen to without fumbling with compact disks. Too many times, those have gotten scratched up only to make the story skip. A listening center is an integral part in a comprehensive literacy program, too.
Research shows that literacy is best learned when multiple approaches are used in the classroom.
I follow The Daily 5 process, which is an award-winning program that emphasizes 5 daily steps for students during reading group: word work, listening, read to self, work on writing, read to someone. Listening to reading is valuable for developing fluency and vocabulary. In my centers-based classroom, students need a dependable, modern way to listen to stories independently. Please help us out! Thanks
More than a third 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
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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. Ray and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
