My students live in the heart of Silicon Valley, but many do not have daily access to the technology most of us take for granted. In order for them to be competitive with their peers in higher-earning neighborhoods, they need equal access to technology.
My Fantastic First Graders are reading and writing machines.
They LOVE books, especially those with silly characters that capture their imaginations. They write up a storm, using paper reams at a time and pencils until they are tiny stubs. While they come from very diverse families, some with limited English and/or low household incomes, they are little kids with big dreams. They are learning to be goal-setters and goal-achievers; they have set financial goals for their Spell-a-thon, reading and writing goals for their learning, and even goals for their friendships. With this deep work in their early years, they are learning the key characteristics of success: self-control, perseverance, grit and zest!
My Project
This year, we committed ourselves to do what many thought impossible: teach 6- and 7-year-olds how to use the Google for Education apps that their older siblings and peers were using. By borrowing a set of computers every other week for 45 minutes from our 6th grade buddies, my smarties learned how to log themselves in using email addresses and passwords; how to navigate Google apps and Google Classroom; how to complete and submit assignments and participate in discussions in their virtual classroom; how to add images to their documents; how to share documents with their teacher; and how to navigate familiar websites, including e-books and coding. They got frustrated at times - boy, is that red spell-check line annoying! - but they never gave up. My hope is to continue this year with these chrome books, and in future school years, with integrating technology into their daily learning, something that has been near-impossible while sharing with other classes.
My students come in each day with smiles on their faces, ready to see what new adventures are in store for them in our classroom.
With your generous gift, they will not only be able to create and express themselves in new ways, but you will be giving them a leg up on their peers in neighboring districts where technology flows freely through homes and schools. My students are at the bottom of a system that is not working to give them the edge they will need. Won't you help?
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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. Wecks and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.