"If they can't learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn." ~O. Ivar Lovaas....the students in my classroom are not DISabled--that implies they are NOT able to do what "normal" students do. I contend that they are ABLE and it is my job to find the key to unlocking each of their minds.
My students are middle schoolers who attend a local public school and are self-contained in an ESE classroom for most of the day.
They have Autism-Spectrum Disorder and are language-impaired and/or non-verbal. We work on academics such as Reading and Math, but also work on social-personal skills as well as other skills that will prepare them for a life beyond school.
My Project
The technology of iPads has innovated the education of special education students, especially students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is a myriad of apps available to them to teach basic academic skills, if-then relationships, modeling for interpersonal relationships and interactions, language skills, and provides a communicative device for non-verbal students. The motivation the technology provides for ASD students is also notable. Many times, the hardest-to-reach students will work for "more iPad time". These iPads will provide the means to meet their individual learning styles and needs as well as provide the hard-to-find motivation needed to encourage middle-school-age students.
As there are not a lot of resources available in our small, rural area, teachers must get creative in order to provide the latest technology to students.
Donations to this request will positively impact the learning of my students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in that lessons can be tailored specifically for individual student needs and learning styles. Language skills, personal-social skills, and communication will be greatly enhanced through the daily use of this technology.
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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 Mrs. Siver and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.