It sounds like a cliche to say my students love learning, but when we recently brainstormed a list of possible whole-class rewards, the list read, "extra math, reading, writing, science, social studies, computers." They can't get enough, so I'm trying to fit more in.
Among my students there are 8 different languages spoken.
We have people in our classroom from 5 different continents. My students are interested in everything from natural disasters to U.S. presidents to Minecraft. They read anywhere from a kindergarten level to almost 5th grade. Some students can answer complex number stories while others struggle with single-digit addition. Diverse is an understatement.
My Project
It can be hard to find resources to fit the interests, learning styles, and needs of such a diverse group. This is what sent me in search of more technology that would allow us to access a wider variety of information and tools for consuming and sharing that information. I want each small group to be able to search for articles and pictures to help answer their inquiry questions. I want a math strategy group to be able to practice a skill they are struggling with. I want students to be able to publish their writing, book reviews, and research in new and interesting ways that make their classmates and community excited to read it. All of this is made significantly easier with access to tablet computers. My students need 6 Kindle tablets.
Our school has 30 iPads and 30 laptops my students can use--we share them with nearly 700 other students.
Imagine what my students could do if small groups could access information and publishing and sharing platforms every day instead of once a month. They would get that extra reading and writing and math and social studies and science, and they would definitely get that extra computers. And it wouldn't even have to be a special celebration day for us to get it.
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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. Pollins and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
