Teaching at my school for the past eight years has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Our students come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, with over 40 different countries represented in our school! My classroom serves nine students, ages 2-5, who receive special education services for autism and related disabilities.
These young children are creative, silly, and playful, just like preschoolers everywhere.
Social-communication skills may be challenging, but that doesn't stop their curiosity! They love to investigate the world around them, stacking blocks, playing with magnets, splashing in water puddles, and so much more.
My Project
My students are brilliant and capable, but they often have difficulty showcasing their skills and talents. Question and answer can be confusing and distressing. Open-ended materials may lay on a shelf for months, as my students avoid unclear expectations and guidelines. Their true knowledge may be underestimated, which is a loss to both the student and the world that benefits for their presence.
When we add visual structure and clear expectations, preschoolers are engaged, motivated, and even mesmerized by all the new things they are learning!
They can often demonstrate their learning in ways that may not be possible if we relied on questioning or worksheets.
Magnetic math activity tins do exactly this! Picture directions at the top are clear to even little learners, while the manipulatives entice them to explore numbers, shapes, measurement, and more. These tins even outline exactly where the answers should go, clarifying both the start and finish. Plus, preschoolers LOVE to repeat the same activities, which is made possible through the use of magnets and self-contained tins!
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 Ms. Vanderland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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