Students I work with are English Language Learners from Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and, of course, Brooklyn, U.S.A. These kids are dedicated, feisty and determined. More than 80% of students at my school receive free lunch. Not only are my students English Language Learners, at least half of them also have a learning disability of some type, so there's no shortage of challenges.
My students are known for their perseverance, insightful questions, and sense of humor.
My job is to harness that positive mojo and incorporate it into our work as we delve into reading, writing and speaking. I'm fortunate to work with a great line-up of co-teachers who have a knack for making learning fun, irresistible, and collaborative.
My Project
An iPad will allow me to test out literacy apps that can help students hone their reading and writing skills. I plan to test drive apps like CaptiVoice, LightSail, BookShare, and Literator. These apps are designed to help students with disabilities and those who are English Language Learners access texts through listening, interaction and formative assessments.
A dedicated iPad will allow me to sample different apps and figure out which ones will be most suitable for students who need extra help.
I'll also solicit input and advice from colleagues who have used iPads for interventions in reading.
This tool will provide me with an expanded set of options for helping reluctant and below-grade readers spark an interest in words and stories. And it will also be a valuable tool for experimentation with podcasting and posting students' work in online forums like Youth Voices.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Silver and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
