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
Our students respond best in a structured classroom where they know what to expect. Half of the students are nonverbal or have limited verbal output. The moods throughout the day tend to fluctuate, and it is usually due to an inability to fully communicate wants, needs and feelings.
My students are funny, inquisitive, silly, and demanding.
They are like any other children, they just happen to have autism. They learn, but it may take a little longer. All of my students have developmental delays and poor communication skills. We work on academic skills as well as functional communication and life skills. Our program services children from the age of six to twenty-two. Our overall objective is to help the children learn independence and a way to successfully function in society once they leave our school.
My Project
Have you ever had the name of a song or a person's name at the tip of you tongue but you just can't think of it? I imagine that must be what it's like for my students when they want to communicate and the words are just not there. They may remember an hour or so later, but the context is lost and we have no idea why the child is frustrated or how to help.
The iPad mini will offer the students an additional way to enhance their understanding and use of expressive and receptive language. The apps provide repetition and that's important to maintain retention of the new material. The apps available allow the iPad mini to be used as an AAC device to communicate wants and share opinions. The apps can also be used to teach language concepts, basic concepts, and social skills.
By funding this project they have an additional way to overcome the challenges of limited communication.
We want to reach all of our students and give them every opportunity to express their wants, frustrations, and opinions. The iPad will help facilitate new skills, help in classroom participation and overall reduce some of the frustration of not being able to communicate.
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 Mrs. Murray and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.