Low-Income Kids: Access to Devices Could Be the Equalizer
My students need 4 Kindle Fires, 4 cases, and 1 pack of styluses to access the Internet, e-books and educational apps to reach the high level of rigor required to master Common Core math/literacy standards.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Many of my students do not have access to any technology other than what they see in school and in the public library. I would love to give them the opportunity to explore modern technology and the benefits that it has to offer. Access to modern technology can become an equalizer for my students.
I am the educator of lower income, inner city students.
My school is composed of a 100% African American population with 100% free and reduced lunch. However, these students, like all children, have a thirst for learning and are capable of doing big things.
Unfortunately, they come to me ill prepared and underexposed. This is due to a DIGITAL DIVIDE and disparity in the experiences and exposure that these students are afforded. The children want to be better, but they sometimes start out behind and their possibilities of catching up seem almost impossible at times; but where there is a will there is a way.
My goal is to open the gates to success by providing exposure to technology to as many students as possible! I want to give them the opportunity to explore modern technology through the use of Kindle Fire Tablets and all the benefits that they can offer them. Hopefully, this will allow their dissent into society to be on a more leveled playing field!
My Project
I am requesting 4 Kindle Fires, 4 cases, and 1 pack of styluses to access the Internet, e-books and educational apps to reach the high level of rigor required to master Common Core math/literacy standards. Kindle Fires can become revolutionary when used to empower the student to personalize their own learning. Imagine students that are no longer dependent on the teacher to provide the book that is just at a certain level. Instead, students have access to countless apps & resources, all while being able to manage their own progress all while becoming content producers and collaborators as well.
This can be achieved not just via the 2 or 3 PCs at the back of the room, or even on laptops that take up more space & take time to start up. Devices like the Kindle Fire means that students can be in control of their learning just when needed, and improve the speed at which they can respond to the flow of complex learning that every 21st century classroom should be aiming for. Their use means that teachers can stop playing the gatekeeper in sole control of learning resources and instead coach students in how to best enhance their own learning paths!
My colleagues and I have been remarkably creative with limited computer access, but if technology is to be integrated into instruction, more computers must be made available for students to use, whether that is through stand-alone computers or portable Kindle Fires.
Access to the Internet connects kids to all kinds of information and for low-income students especially, that access has the power to change their social structure by allowing them to become empowered and engaged.
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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. Ferguson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.