My students are a diverse range of high school students, including recent immigrants, students of color, and working-class backgrounds. Many will be the first in their family to attend college and lack the resources to purchase their own graphing calculators.
I've found that using technology like graphing calculators allow students to explore, conjecture, and not be afraid of just asking themselves "I wonder what would happen if..."
As wonderful a tool as the internet is, and even though most students have smartphones and can download desmos.com, that's not an appropriate resource for assessment. In addition, I'd like my students to feel so comfortable with graphing calculators that they can use them with ease on standardized tests like the SAT like their more affluent peers do. Your support of this project will help level the playing field for my awesome students!
My Project
This class set of TI-84+ CE calculators will be used on a daily basis in my mathematics classroom and in those of my colleagues.
I've found that using technology like graphing calculators allow students to explore, conjecture, and not be afraid of just asking themselves "I wonder what would happen if..."
In addition, as a teacher of many low-income students, I've found that the cost of one is a burden for many families. Since these devices (and not online tools like desmos.com!) are allowed on the SAT, it really helps my students become familiar enough with these calculators that they can harness that power like wealthier students.
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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. Thompson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.