Help me give my students organizational supports such as expandable file folders, laminating pouches, a paper storage system for class assignments and projects, and an iPad charging station to help manage difficulties with executive functioning.
My students include 7th grade special education students in a low-income, public school in a suburb of Chicago. All of them are either on the autism spectrum or have other diagnosed learning and/or emotional disabilities. Most of my students are in the general education classroom for the majority of the school day in a co-taught inclusion setting. For short periods throughout the day, some of them also come to my room in small groups for more intensive instruction in reading and writing. While in my room, they are able to work on the skills they are lacking to help them gain academic, behavioral, and social success and close the gap between them and their typically developing peers.
My Project
Being organized is being in control. However, for most of my students, organization and executive functioning skills do not come naturally. This creates added stress throughout their day. Because of their disabilities, my students regularly forget to bring required supplies to class and struggle to keep papers and assignments organized. In addition, they regularly forget to charge their iPads at night or forget to bring them at all, which sets them up for failure in an evolving education system that relies on technology.
By supporting this project, you will be providing my students with organizational systems that will reduce levels of stress.
The expandable file folders will help students neatly organize their work for all classes in one place. That one folder will be the only thing they need to grab every time they head to a class, reducing the amount of anxiety felt from feeling unprepared.
The paper storage system will be used as an in-class organizational system for students to store notes, assignments, and projects. In addition, special education students have individualized resources that are created according to their IEPs. The laminating pouches will keep these resources durable and will be stored in each student’s slot in the paper storage system.
The iPad charging station will help students be successful with the shift to technology. Students who lack executive functioning often forget to charge their iPads or bring them altogether. Without the iPad, they fall further behind in instruction because they can’t access course material. Students who need organizational support as an accommodation can leave their iPads at school knowing they will always have a charged device.
Lynda Peterson said, “With organization comes empowerment.” These resources will help teach students how to put organizational systems in place so that they feel empowered throughout the day!
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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. Kool and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.