Ready, Set, Create! Adapted Art Supplies for Pre-K Special Education
Help me give my students art supplies including adapted scissors, triangular crayons, paint, modeling clay, and glue to build fine motor skills and creativity!
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
My students are resilient, creative, curious, funny, and hard-working 3-5 year olds who attend a Head Start affiliated Pre-K classroom at a Washington, DC public school. Our full-time special education classroom is part of an elementary school in a neighborhood where most students are considered to be "at-risk", determined based on socioeconomic needs. Regardless of these "labels," my students consistently prove what is possible with hard work and dedication.
My students have been diagnosed with autism or other communication related disabilities and experience school for the first time while in our classroom.
My students work toward the same goals as their peers, but often need specialized materials or a slightly different approach to instruction. Throughout the day, they practice academic, social, and communication skills through one-on-one and small group instruction. My students learn best when we explore new vocabulary and concepts through play (like a craft activity, pretending to cook in our play kitchen, or building structures with blocks) as well as more formal teacher driven instruction. They need meaningful context and repeated practice to learn new skills and vocabulary. Whether communicating via sign language, picture exchange, assisted technology or words, my students are eager to find their voice!
My Project
Do you remember how proud you were to bring a new preschool or Kindergarten art project home to show your family, or the excitement of having a turn at the art easel? In my classroom I work to keep my students motivated, engaged, and communicating with each other by creating a variety of art projects, from freestyle finger-painting to cut-and-paste versions of whatever we are learning about. For example, we recently created a cooperative group art project that was a giant floor sized "map" of our neighborhood! My students enjoy exploring art but many of them do not yet have the motor planning skills and hand strength to hold and manipulate traditional scissors, markers, or crayons. Working together with my school's occupational therapist, I plan lots of projects that will help my students to meet their motor skill goals while also building academic skills like new vocabulary and social skills such as taking turns or asking for help.
I have requested a variety of tools to help ensure ALL of my students can access our favorite art activities regardless of their ability to grasp or control traditional art supplies.
Markers in a variety of shapes and sizes will allow my students to build their skills so that eventually they can make marks with a "regular" sized marker, crayon, or pencil. Materials like play-doh and modeling clay will allow my students to exercise and strengthen their finger and hand muscles through a playful, engaging activity. These basic art and craft materials are some of the most loved and used things in my classroom, but they are also consumable supplies that frequently run out or dry up! With your help, we will have what we need to enjoy plenty of new art activities.
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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. Battle and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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