Can you imagine how frustrating it would be if you couldn't communicate? What if you were thirsty? Or you had to use the bathroom? Having a variety of pictures at the tips of our fingertips would make communicating so much easier for our non-verbal preschoolers!
My students are preschoolers with special needs, ages 2-5.
There is a range of disabilities including language and motor delays, severe autism, emotional disabilities, or a combination of delays and disabilities. Many of our students receive related services like speech and occupational therapy to support what we do in the classroom. Our classroom is language based and we use pictures and signs to help communicate with those that are nonverbal or have limited communication skills. Engaging materials and lessons are essential when it comes to nurturing their development. Learning through play and technology is a big focus in our classroom. We want our students to have a balance of traditional skills and technological skills preparing them for the 21st century.
My Project
Imagine you're a preschooler in a special needs class and you have no expressive language skills. It's snacktime and your mom packed a peanut butter sandwich, pretzels and a juice box. You want the juice but your teacher keeps giving you the pretzels. You'd get pretty frustrated, huh? Not to mention thirsty. With your generous funding, our students will have access to hundreds of pictures and innovative applications making communication between nonverbal students and their teachers and peers effortless. Is communication possible with traditional picture exchange systems? Yes, of course it is. But it takes a lot of paper, laminating, velcro, time, and patience on the part of the student while he waits for you to find the appropriate pictures. While an iPad is an investment, the amount of money spent on the materials it takes to make individual picture exchange binders for each student add up quickly. An iPad would be an engaging, easy-to-use way to add picture exchange to our class.
By funding this project you will make communication a possibility for those who would have otherwise been limited by time or materials.
By having an iPad available to our students, they will be able to access not only communication applications and pictures to enable them to express their needs and wants, but we can also use the iPad for a variety of other uses including behavior motivation, educational games, and fine motor practice. With your funding, the possibilities are limitless!
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. Bartusiak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
