This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Imagine being in a foreign country where you don't speak or understand the language - where facial expressions, physical gestures, and social cues make absolutely no sense to you. What would you do? How frustrated would you become? That is the reality for my students with Autism every day - 24/7!
I work with six amazing students in a self-contained classroom for students with Autism.
All of my students have severe language impairments and most are non-verbal and are working to communicate through a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and/or sign language. These students are so unique and different from one another, but still demonstrate a lot of the same basic needs: language and communication development, social skills development, visual strategies and cues for academic and behavior support, a visual, predictable, and routine based schedule, and the need for motivating and reinforcing activities that entice them to come and participate in the world around them. For most of my students the motivation factor is HUGE! Many of them seem to almost prefer being in their own little world. It is difficult to find activities that are enticing enough to get them to venture out and take part in what is happening around them.
My Project
I recently had the opportunity to borrow an iPad from the Florida Department of Education for a few weeks. I always knew that an iPad would be a great tool to have in the classroom, but I was completely surprised and blown away by how effective and motivating it actually was! I saw huge improvements in task engagement whenever we used it, whether it was individually by a student or as a group. In addition to all the amazing apps that cover just about any skill we want to work on, we will use the camera to take photos of the students and familiar staff to practice 'who' and 'where' questions, as well as, to practice identifying facial expressions and feelings. We will download songs for Circle Time (Good Morning Song, Calendar songs, etc). We will begin to explore some of the many apps that are specifically designed as augmentative communication devices to facilitate the language and communication development that these students so desperately need. The possibilities are endless!
Technology is here to stay!
Please help me provide my students with every strategy possible to help them become successful and independent. For all of my students, the iPad will be a fun and motivating tool to help them learn skills they will use for a lifetime. For several of my students, it may become their primary mode of communication. Please give them a chance to start unlocking all the potential that I see inside of them. They deserve every opportunity we can provide them!
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. Tolbert and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.