Have you ever tried to focus on an assignment in class only to be disturbed by your neighbor's tapping pencil, drumming fingers, or humming? Have the noises inside your own head kept you from focusing on school work?
Students and families at my public school are economically disadvantaged on many levels.
A small, tourist town located in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas is home to 2,500+ residents who live on fixed incomes and disability payments. Available work is seasonal, and is greatly influenced by our nation's economy.
Many of our students (70%+) receive free school lunch, weekend backpacks of food, and participate in the free 21st Century Afterschool Program where students receive homework help, snacks, and undivided adult attention.
For many of these students, focusing on school work is far from the forefront of their minds. With a little assistance from an iPod uploaded with classical music, my dream is that my students struggling with focus can gain some relief from the distracting noises inside and outside their own heads, and focus on the tasks at hand.
My Project
I can see it now. . . my ADHD students are working on the science fair project, and they're not bothering other students! They are focused on the task at hand, and they are wearing headphones plugged into iPods sitting unnoticed inside their desks.
Other students are working in small groups, and are no longer bothered by these overly active students bouncing from desk to desk and chair to chair. My ADD students are actually working rather than attempting to keep themselves awake through annoying behaviors. Everyone is on task, and everyone is focused - everyone is learning.
I believe the use of iPods uploaded with classical music (research-based) will help those students who struggle with focus, whatever the reason might be.
With today's technology, I should utilize any and all resources available to assist my students with their academic endeavors and dreams for the future.
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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. Huddleston and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.