Extreme Makeover: Special Education Classroom Edition

My Students

"Computers themselves, and software yet to be developed, will revolutionize the way we learn." ~Steve Jobs.

Have you ever been told, "You can try that when you are a little bit older?" Or "You don't have the skills to do that?" Should there be a starting age for creativity and innovation?

They have to start somewhere, and the iPads, Osmos and laptops excite them. My Special Education, Emotional Needs students struggle with learning daily. They are beginning to give up because the challenge is too much for them. I teach in a Title I, diverse K-8 high poverty, school in a high crime area of Philadelphia. 100% of the students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. The children come to school eager to learn from various living situations such as single parents, foster homes, homeless shelters, or extended family living. They have various abilities and I strive to build their confidence in what they can do, not emphasize what they can't do. In addition to having challenging home and neighborhood issues, my students require frequent and varied activity in the classroom.

My Project

These iPads, Osmos and laptops will be used to help my students learn and be engaged in their education. They will use reading, math and writing apps, Khan Academy and create video presentations. Some reluctant readers will be motivated to record their reading. We need a projector and speakers to visually connect to what we're learning. I am requesting the art supplies to help build their fine motor skills while they replicate what they learn or research on the technology. Children express themselves in different ways and I dream of a creative-rich classroom. We need cases, bins, and carts to charge and keep the equipment safe and organized. Some current cases and chargers need to be replaced. The children would thrive from having alternate seating choices with the ball chairs. And we constantly hear, "We love Minecraft, when can we have free time?" So, I'm requesting books, activity books, magnets and Legos to help make their earned free time creative.

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like.

Design is how it works.” ~Steve Jobs I have a class full of eager learners with various Special Education needs that want to learn. Your donation can have rippling effects in the world to make it a better place.