"A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away." Eudora Welty
My classroom typically contains 20-24 very active, enthusiastic, and imaginative 4 year olds.
At this young age, they are still eager to learn and explore. My little friends have thousands of questions and are very inquisitive. Our school is for military children and is located on a military instillation. My little friends come and go all over the United States and often endure more obstacles than most. I am always surprised and encouraged by their resilience.
My Project
The first time students enter our classroom they see posters, signs, and banners. But to the majority of them, they mean nothing. Students enter the room not knowing letters, numbers, graphs, or how to read. I use pictures everywhere to help students understand. Anyplace I have their name, I also have their picture, our daily schedule is done with pictures, organization is done with a picture system. At 4 years old pictures are vital for communication. Having a camera I can safely hand my little friends will be a huge game changer. It gives me the chance to see what they see through their eyes. I can have them become "detectives" and use clues and details to find and capture objects, shapes, colors, letters, numbers, seasons, life cycles, and weather in our daily lives . Students can take pictures of a lesson or project they are engaged in. A picture always sparks memories. My little friends can record videos of experiments or meaningful moments in their learning process.
Capturing moments will impact my students life dramatically.
They all come from military families where their lives are far from consistent. The joy and excitement students will receive being able to quickly send their photo's or videos electronically to their loved ones who may not be with them due to deployments, trainings, or moves will help keep them feeling connected. Photo's and videos will be compiled into a end of year video that will give students and their families a lifetime memory.
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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. Gayheart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.