I have the pleasure of servicing a caseload of up to 20 students, who are placed in a 9th-grade Life-Skills Support classroom (LSS).
The students who participate in this setting have a primary diagnosis of Intellectually Disability (ID) often with secondary diagnosis' of Speech and Language Impaired (SLI), Other Health Impairment (OHI), Emotional Support (ES), and/or Hearing Impairment (HI). The students work on a life-skills curriculum that provides instruction and data on the following domains: Interpersonal communication, personal maintenance, functional academics, recreation & leisure, domestic maintenance, and vocation.
Using the skills needed for all domains an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is created for each student. The IEP addresses the needs of each student with the ultimate goal of preparing to be as independent as possible upon graduation. Knowing that all students learn differently and benefit from a multi-sensory approach to learning, specifically designed instructions (SDI) are assigned to each goal, indicating what type of instruction and/or aides that are necessary for that student to be successful. Students with behaviors that negatively affect the learning of themselves or their peers benefit from a functional behavior plan (FBA) utilized within the classroom to decrease negative behaviors and increase positive behaviors.
My Project
George Couros stated, " Technology will not replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational!" As our world advances, the use of technology will be imperative to all who reside within it. With the ability to use tablets to aide in my life -skill curriculum class, I can take teaching to the next level by meeting the multi-sensory needs of all my students. Vocational skills can be improved by having the students search for jobs and fill out job applications. Interpersonal and recreational skills can improve with the exposure of social skill videos and so much more! The opportunity to give a direct lesson then follow the lesson up with audio clips and visual examples will ensure a differentiated lesson for all levels within the class.
Tablets would not only aide with IEP academic, vocational, and recreational skills but with behavioral and interpersonal communication goals as well.
The tablets would serve the dual purpose of adding on to academic instruction and being an option for positive reinforcement to improve behaviors. It's one thing to tell a student about an experience but its another level when they experience it visually and audibly for themselves. By donating to our project you will not only help to improve and increase student attention and focus, but you will also ultimately help to increase their academic achievement, opening up the world to them without them having to step a foot out of the classroom.
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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. Pollard and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
