I want my 8th graders to become confident and collaborative problem-solvers who will apply their knowledge of math inside and outside of the classroom. To know that math is not only about memorizing procedures but developing critical thinking skills to achieve success in high-school and beyond.
In my 8th grade Math classroom, less than 10% of my students were at grade-level at the start of the school year.
Some are still revisiting basic skills such as addition and subtraction of negative integers, and others are beginning to understand quadratic equations. As they develop their math skills at different speeds, I need innovative ways to engage my students and support them individually while maintaining the rigor in my classroom.
My 8th graders are hard-working and want to learn. However, in an average classroom of 30 students with varying skills, I need to differentiate instruction to better meet the needs of every student. Integrating technology into my classroom in conjunction with traditional math instruction will allow me to personalize online instruction for students and provide in-person support for others at the same time.
My Project
My students need a classroom set of 40 headphones to have a successful blended math learning environment where they can focus and engage themselves. While our school has received funding for Chromebook carts that provide our students with access to the technology, we do not have any working headphones in my classroom. Without headphones, my students are not able to stay engaged and focused during the online activities. Additionally, since most online programs such as Khan Academy and LearnZillion require sound to be truly instructive, I have been reluctant to incorporate technology as much as I would like.
With your help, my students can learn on all sides, working at their own pace and manner instead of spending instructional time waiting, or stuck in a lock-step classroom.
The headphones will allow my students to have more agency, independence, and willpower, toward building a more rigorous, more equitable classroom!
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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. Alefiyah and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
