I have the honor of teaching 28 spunky, vivacious, and inquiring first graders from a variety of different backgrounds who are eager to learn about the world around them.
I want you to take a moment and imagine being six years old again.
Do you remember what it was like walking into your first-grade classroom?
Picture this you walk up to your classroom and see a superhero-themed door that says "Super Inquirers in Training". You then walk through that door and see a library area with your favorite book characters on the walls and lots of books.
You see tables with different colored bins on them that are holding treasures for you to use to learn. You see different areas to sit, a carpet that has a spot with your name on it and you think “Wow! This is first grade!! I am going to learn to read this year, add and subtract, and learn about the world around me”
If you can picture that in your head, welcome to our first-grade classroom in Oregon.
My Project
My students and I are looking to give an iPad a loving home in our first-grade classroom. One of our favorite apps that we LOVE in 1st grade is Teach Your Monster To Read. Whenever they have free time or technology centers, they all want to play this game. The best part is it is reinforcing what we have been learning during our ELA block about sounds, blends, and how to read. It makes learning how to read an actual adventure. The problem is that we only have two iPads which means it takes a few days for all kids to get a turn.
This iPad would be a wonderful addition to our two already well-loved iPads.
Not only do we love Teach Your Monster to Read but we love an app called Seesaw which is a digital portfolio. My students love getting to post their work on their portfolio online. Each time they post something parents are notified and able to see what their student has done in class. This app has enabled parents to see what is going on in the classroom throughout the day and have something to talk with their students about when they come home.
By having three classroom iPads all my students would be allowed a turn with the iPad throughout the day. No more waiting every few days to have a turn with the iPad. It also would allow our table groups to have access to an iPad at all times. It is my dream to provide all my students with continuous access to technology throughout the day. Having another classroom iPad would put us one step closer to fully meeting this dream.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Tuepker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
