As a first year teacher, I could not imagine a better introduction to my career in education than with the most incredible seven and eight year olds I've ever known. I spend my days learning and laughing with 22 bundles of energy that keep me on my toes and remind me why this profession is so important.
My students have hearts of gold, inquisitive minds, a thirst for knowledge, and the most beautiful zest for life.
Like many other kids their age, my students love to explore. They are always wanting to try out new things as they discover the world around them and where their place is in it. Getting their hands on interactive technology is one way I can help prepare them for the world beyond my classroom. My goal is to give them tools and experiences for their futures, opening up the world to them, at least a little bit.
My Project
I have the great privilege to teach a classroom of 21st century learners, 22 amazing 2nd grade students who are fluent in their technology use and love to use it as a means for learning. My 22 students also thrive on hands-on instruction and seem to retain much more information when they can kinesthetically make connections to content.
Osmo allows us to connect BOTH means for a one-of-a-kind learning experience.
This project would fund several Osmo bases for iPads, allowing many different students to play at once, and the variety of games included would give my students opportunities to learn across the subject areas. Games in this project cover math concepts, language concepts, geography, culture, coding, and more.
The Osmo system uses an iPad - existing technology - and revolutionizes it, transforming it into an interactive experience using manipulatives and supplementing our daily activities. Using the Osmo reflector, the iPad camera recognizes the tiles or other pieces used on the playing surface below and connects both the physical and virtual worlds. This highly-engaging hands-on experience is a great practice tool to challenge my students' thinking.
I can use these tools for all levels of learners - both those who need remediation activities and those who need extensions. Osmo puts my students on the same playing field, allowing for collaboration, development of problem solving skills, and ultimately an interactive learning experience that makes learning enjoyable.
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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. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.