Students in my school come from high poverty and low access to information. Many do not have books at home, let alone computers. They are eager to learn, and deserve the same access to information as students in less impoverished areas.
My school is in East Portland, where poverty and violence are ongoing and rampant.
Many students come to school for the free meals and comfort of a community that supports them socially, emotionally and academically. We have done a great job of caring for them in all areas, but we are lacking in technology. Most students do not have any computers at home, and they rely on the computers at school. We have a computer lab and a laptop cart, but sharing them among 20 classrooms means the learning is often not authentic. Our students deserve ongoing access to information and technology to prepare them for their futures both in and out of school.
My Project
Having even just two Chromebooks in our classroom at all times will allow students to access information for research projects as well as practice math, literacy and typing skills.
Many mandated assessments require that 3rd graders type responses into the computer, and without regular access, the students spend their time and energy simply finding the letters on the keyboard, and not on the thoughtfulness of their responses.
I want my students to become technology literate so that the technology itself helps them rather than hinders them in progressing and maximizing their learning potential.
My students will build confidence in themselves as they become more and more comfortable with technology.
They will be able to answer their own inquisitive questions by finding information, evaluating the information, and forming their own answers based on their needs. After all, teachers are not the keepers of knowledge anymore. Our job is to unlock the potential in each student, and empower them to discover and give them the tools to evaluate their own learning. We foster lifelong learners.
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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. Mellor and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.