This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Students need to train for adult life the same way that professional athletes train for championship games: Hard work, dedication, and a growth mindset. By the same token, though, they should take joy and pride in that training, and it is my job to give them that opportunity.
The first thing my students hear each day is, "Welcome, come on in and get logged in.
We've got a lot of work to do!" Their work is to learn, and they just need the tools. They always do the rest. Most come from families experiencing poverty, and about half of them are first-generation immigrants. Many have come from refugee camps and seen violence in their homelands. Almost two-thirds of them are or were English language learners. At home, they are hearing Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, Ethiopian, Arabic, and other languages, in addition to English. This may sound like a recipe for chaos and disharmony, but they mix and mingle freely, finding friendship across boundaries of language, skin color, and religion. What strikes me most about these students is how many of them are so eager to learn and reach for a better life for themselves and their families. With few a exceptions, they are upbeat, kind, thoughtful, and are ready to face challenges with a smile.
My Project
We will be using the kindles for students in my "English as a Second Language" class, so they can have access to many different books without having to waste time walking back and forth to our school library several times a week. These students read lots of shorter books, and they don't always have access to as many books as they need. I'll be able to set up a kindle unlimited account to get them access to thousands of children's books.
My Advanced English students will be able to check out the kindles for an hour to use for small group book talks or to read books along with the rest of the class like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," "Romeo & Juliet," or "Diary of a Young Girl." The interactive dictionary built into the kindles will help them immediately look up unfamiliar vocabulary without having to switch over to a dictionary program or a paper dictionary (which we don't even have any more!)
By having a few kindles in the classroom, we can have a variety of books available to students without them even having to leave the room.
The interactive dictionary will increase their understanding of what they read, and I can more easily keep track of what they are reading and guide them towards the right books for their reading levels.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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 Mr. Landry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
