My students need hands-on counting, addition, and subtraction activities and independent learning center materials and puzzles to build a strong math foundation.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Merino's classroom raised $512
This project is fully funded
My Students
"It is human nature to strive." - Temple Grandin. Every day, my students know that all I ask from the moment they walk into the classroom is that they strive for their best. Sometimes, it is difficult for them to believe in themselves, making my job that much more important in getting them there.
My students are diagnosed with autism and attend my class (grades 3-5) in a special needs school located in a low socioeconomic community in Brooklyn, NY.
We are a diverse group, with students from all corners of the borough. They come from different types of households, but in our classroom, we are a single family with consistent, yet rigorous, expectations. The majority of my students are non-verbal, meaning they work double-time to acquire various forms of communication (electronic devices, ASL, picture systems). My students that are verbal work equally as hard to become independent learners, constantly pushing their academic and social limits.
Hands-on and multi-modal approaches work best for my students in their quest to build a solid mathematical foundation. Too often, my students are afraid to take intellectual risks. When material is presented in an engaging, hands-on manner, concepts are much more concrete and they end up taking those chances.
My Project
With the Hands-On Regrouping Kits for Addition and Subtraction, my students will have the opportunity to practice regrouping skills in a modality that makes the concept less abstract. Addition is not always easy, so students will be able to practice the receptive component of the skill by using their fine-motor skills to engage with the Simple Addition Pegboards. Similarly, the Hands-On Number Grid is a great tool for my students building their number sense by giving them tactile experiences. The Math Instant Learning Centers contain resources that students will be able to practice skills independently when placed in our two work stations. These resources, along with the Math Equivalency Puzzles are versatile enough to manipulate into small group games when gathered around the table where each student has their own, but different, "game board." With these hands-on activities and manipulatives, I am sure that I will see my students' foundational math skills flourish.
Addressing students' different learning styles is a privilege because we understand learning and teaching that much better.
As an educator, I must reflect and modify the way I teach to match the style in which my students learn. With various approaches to the same math concept, my students have the opportunity to select the one that works best for them. With these hands-on and engaging activities and strategies, they will surely find their favorite and show me how much math means to them.
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
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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 Ms. Merino and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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