How Many Speech Students Can Fit in a Telephone Booth?
My students need an easy adjustable leg table and 2 chairs that would fit their growing bodies in my tiny speech therapy room.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Huang's classroom raised $469
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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
As a school-based Speech and Language Pathologist, we consider ourselves lucky to have an office space to service our students. I enter my dark, windowless second floor "room/closet" each morning eager to work with my Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. There may not be much space but we persevere.
With hands flying and bodies bumping into each other, more than a few of my children remark in American Sign Language, "You need a bigger room!" "We all can't fit in here!" "Ouch my knee hit the table." Little preschoolers' sign language are hidden behind a high table.
I respond with "Will you build me a bigger room?" for which giggles and heads shaking ensue. As one can imagine, Deaf students utilize their visual and kinetics skills in order to communicate. Speech/Language therapy under my tutelage encompasses much role playing, acting, and art work to enable the students to work on their sign language as well as their spoken language skills to enhance overall communication.
I have the privilege to work with all the Deaf students in a multicultural and diverse inner city elementary school. I have students who range from age 3 to 11 years of age who are not only Deaf but come from families where English is not their primary language.
My Project
Imagine two or three, 5 feet tall fifth-graders sitting with their speech therapist at a table that is 40 inches by 20 inches and 19 inches in height attempting to color in, cut and glue a Valentines Day card for their peer while using American Sign Language and their speech to "read aloud" their sentiment.
You will hear and see "He touch me, you kicked me under the table, there's no space! What he say?"
Imagine two sets of small feet dangling with chins on the tables trying to learn speech and sign language skills. You will hear and see a lot of laying on the table, feet and knees on the chair and knocking of toys or tools onto the floor.
Now imagine Deaf students whose legs can fit under the table, with viewing clarity of their hands and faces to read each others sign language, facial expressions and lip reading. Prekindergarten children need toys and games during play therapy used on a table as the physical space of the room does not allow play on the floor.
With an adjustable height table that could be changed for the various sizes of my students, speech therapy can continue to utilize visual arts (holiday activities, toy playing, painting) and role playing (whole body movement, social language skills) without invading partners space.
Deaf students have special artistic skills and I have always used the visual arts to give voice to those who do not despite their growing size!
Nearly all 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. Huang and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
