This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Are my students special? Of course, they are!
My students are not special because of their special educational needs; my students are special because of the kindness in their hearts, their ability to move forward in the face of adversity, and their strong work ethic as they face academic challenges.
My students come from high-poverty areas. They all experience many different life challenges, so making their time in the classroom as peaceful and productive as possible is my primary goal.
My Project
Last year when my students couldn't go out to play, and had to stay in their classroom all day, they discovered the joy of the calculator. During indoor recess the kids challenged each other to find the answers to math problems and checked the answers with my calculator. They created problems, found the answer, and checked their problems. They cheered with delight when they "beat the calculator". One of my students became known as "The Human Calculator!" I saw students who previously thought of themselves as poor math students, as 5th graders who believed they COULDN'T do it, experience a shift. They experienced the joy of math exploration.
They liked math, loved it even, and all because of a small, handheld blue calculator.
I want to build on that newfound confidence this year but I can't do that with just one calculator. I want to introduce the calculator into out stations activities. Students can work independently, or in pairs, on given problems. They can explore math. They will also receive instruction on how to properly use a calculator to prepare for later grades.
I have also requested headphones. These will also be used during station activities in both ELA and math. My students are special education students. They learn best by using multiple modalities, The headphones will allow them to listen to grade level or higher level texts. They will also be listen to math songs on Number Rock, or supplementary videos about math concepts. In other words these high tech devices can help open up the world of learn for these deserving children
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Loughran and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
