Help Us Get an iPad for Communication and Learning!
My students need a protected iPad for accessible technology to promote education, communication, and reinforcement of positive behaviors within the classroom setting.
Each morning, my students enter my room and put their backpacks away. I say, “Good morning” but I do not hear it from more than 3 of my 8 students in return. Many of them are unable to use speech to effectively communicate their wants and needs. You can only imagine how frustrating this is for them.
I teach students with low incidence disabilities.
It is my passion! My students are a group of very diverse learners. They require routine, structure, and order in all things. My students work hard to sit for a period lasting longer than 5 minutes without adult prompting and for tasks which require independence. It sounds so simple to you and me, but this is quite an accomplishment, when achieved! Visual supports help my students understand verbal commands and expectations. My students are very active and love dancing and all things technology. They earn on a "first/then" model, so first work, then dance break. We also have a trampoline and a swing that they enjoy working for. We have so much fun when we earn our breaks! My students thrive on social interaction with peers and attention from adults. My school serves students in pre-k through fourth grade. We have a large population of students considered English Learners. Breakfast and lunch are served free to all students at my school.
My Project
An iPad can be an integral part of instruction and reinforcement, as well as communication, in a classroom designed for students like mine. Students with complex communication needs can often use an iPad to effectively communicate the most basic of wants or needs, like bathroom, water, and snack. Picture supports are wonderful, but iPads offer portability and flexibility to a child with a disability that pictures cannot. An iPad is something they can learn to use as a communication tool, and then have that fostered as they get older. The goal for my students is to always promote independence. What better way than to enable a child to communicate with others in a socially acceptable manner? As a tool of instruction and reinforcement, the iPad offers a touch screen feature which makes it accessible for children with dexterity issues. Students attend to the visual stimulation provided by an iPad and require less prompting to remain on task and engaged. They will also work to access it.
By donating, you will allow me to provide my students with instructional technology they can access and are engaged in.
They actually want to use the iPad! They will work for this iPad, as well. It is so wonderful to use reinforcers that students are not even aware are educational. That is something to really be excited about! Most importantly, you will enable me to provide my students with an opportunity to communicate in an exciting way! Independence is the goal. Help me to help them!
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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. Hummer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.