Working collaboratively during circle time is when my students with autism get a chance to work on language and social skills. The rest of the day is spent working diligently on individualized goals - but it is our time together that gets them excited to be at school.
My students are in grades kindergarten-second and are all diagnosed with autism.
They love dancing, singing, learning new words, solving math problems, and playing games with each other at recess. Our classroom is at an under-resourced school that has a longstanding commitment to serving special education students.
My Project
I am taking over a classroom that has served young students with autism in the past. My former students were privileged enough to have access to an interactive whiteboard for whole group lessons, reinforcing games, and reading, math, and language instruction. Everyone who visited our classroom said that they never thought 12 young learners with autism could work together in such a way, and commented that the whiteboard engaged the students unlike traditional teaching practices for young children. I want to make sure my new students next year have the same opportunity for success and I know they can achieve just as highly when given access to the same resources.
An interactive whiteboard will change my students' lives by giving them a tool that other students - from different backgrounds, with and without disabilities - have used to achieve academic success.
I want to make sure that young students with autism get to have fun, interactive interventions to shape them for full inclusion in the school community.
More than half 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. Healey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
