Expanding Access, Meeting Needs: Technology in a Personalized Learning Classroom
My students need 10 Dell Laptops so that they can have a one-to-one classroom to improve writing and typing skills, create multi-media digital portfolios, and expand they variety of texts and media they have access to.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. H.'s classroom raised $2,293
This project is fully funded
My Students
Walking through the crowded halls of my middle school is always an exciting experience. Greeting familiar faces and snagging as many high fives as possible are a must to get from Point A to Point B!
The largest middle school in our district, we have over 400 8th graders, and with 76% free/reduced lunch, 25 different spoken languages, and 50% ethnic diversity, my students all have unique needs at they pursue their goals and work to get to high school.
My Project
In a world of smart phones, Snapchat, and social media, our students are becoming increasingly tech-savvy. However, many of our kids still have a long way to grow when it comes to navigating the ins and outs of the world - online, and in person.
But how can we expect our children to become citizens of the world if we don't give them the tools they need?
In a school of over 1100, the needs of my students have far outstripped their access to technology. In my Language Arts and English I Honors classes, I have the joy of working with around 150 8th graders who come to me with unique needs and tons of personality. I've worked the past two years to develop a Personalized Learning classroom, where each of my students can succeed and grow regardless of their learning style, reading level, interests, or background. Last year, I was fortunate enough to have around 12 student laptops. Students were able to type essays, create presentations, experiment with digital media like YouTube and Canva, and more. It enabled me to ensure that my non-English speaking students could work on improving their language skills, and that my low-level readers could get the support they needed with audio resources and scaled texts. But many of my students don't have regular internet access at home, and the computers we had weren't enough.
With 10 more laptops, I would be able to guarantee that each of my students can get the personalized learning they need to succeed. I plan on teaching them how to assess the reliability of online sources, create multimedia digital portfolios, and communicate their ideas clearly in text and speech. They will gain the necessary skills to control their own learning and grow in an ever-changing, technology-driven world.
Nearly all 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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
