Do you remember going to elementary school? My students are unable to attend their school because Hurricane Sandy left it in ruins. Due to the damage at our school, the elementary school has been relocated to the middle school in town and we don't know when we will be able to go back.
My students live in a small community on the south shore of Long Island, New York.
The entire town was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Every home and business had floodwater and/or sewage enter their homes. Due to the damage, many of my students have been displaced and are homeless living in hotels or relatives' homes until their own homes are repaired. My 2nd graders tell stories of watching the garbage men throw out their toys, books, and other personal belongings. In addition to the elementary school being closed, our local library is also unable to be used. Many of my students come from hard working families who work numerous jobs to get ahead. It is difficult for them to replace many of the lost items they have worked their whole lives for. My students are great kids and I have a wide range of learning abilities in my classroom. Some of my students are English Language Learners who require extra support during their lessons, while others are reading on a 5th grade level.
My Project
Having an iPad in my classroom will help me help my students. I am a strong believer of differentiated instruction so I can meet the learning needs of all my students. Some of my students need reinforcement, while others need to be enriched. I would be able to use the iPad and some of the amazing apps available to accomplish this with my students. During a guided reading lesson, I could take one of my struggling readers and use the iPad to reinforce short vowels or digraphs. The iPad could also help my brighter students enrich their vocabulary and critical thinking skills. The iPad would be very helpful during math lessons to reinforce basic number facts and allow my students to work on multiplication and division, too. Some of my students don't own a computer or tablet, or it was destroyed in the storm, and their only opportunity to use some of today's technology is in school. I want my students to keep up with the technological age that changes quickly each and every day.
My students have dealt with a lot since October 29, 2012.
They are displaced from their homes and their elementary school. If my project gets funded, it will make a huge difference in their lives. I want my students to realize that there are people who care about them. My students are the future of this country. I want to make sure they have a solid education with all the basic skills of reading and writing mastered so they can be whatever they want to be.
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. Benedetto and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.