My students need a computer to learn: interview skills, resume writing, finding jobs and Adult Service Agencies, travel research, filling out forms and computer skills.
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 work at a Head Start Day Care. They learn skills to integrate into the community. They learn: resume writing, filling out forms, travel planning, interviewing, appropriate behavior in the workplace, how to handle conflict and social skills. Not having a student computer hinders their learning.
My students are all special needs with severe academic and cognitive delays.
They are all exempt from state testing. Our school stands out because we have seven work sites where the students are completely integrated into the community. The teacher assigned to the class does what is called Person Centered Planning. We plan for our students life beyond graduation. Some of the linkages could be: an Adult Day Program, a Community Based Work Program with intense job coaching, Supported Employment with job coaching, counseling with an agency, respite services, community habilitation to name a few.
My students are low income, minority, severely cognitively and emotionally delayed. They do not have a student computer. Computers motivate them & are a vessel to learn job skills, write resumes & travel planning. Volunteering at a Head Start Program helps them develop skills necessary to be a part of the world of work.
My Project
My students are highly motivated by technology. The families rarely have the money to buy a computer and this hinders learning.
There are a plethora of programs that my students can use to help achieve their IEP (Individual Education Plan) goals.
The students would use the computer to learn how to travel to their potential program upon graduation using the MTA website. They will use the computer to research Adult Service Agencies, read about nutrition, practice filling out online forms, learn banking and budgeting skills, learn basic computer skills and evaluate their skills.
They will create email addresses and correspond with their case worker, myself, and any agency linkages. They will learn how to navigate the Medicaid site, Social Security Administration website, practice for getting a drivers license, register for the selective service and register to vote. These are essential work and life skills that I haven't been able to explore due to lack of having a student computer
Any form of technology excites my students.They are truly grateful when someone does something special for them.
It increases their self esteem. Not only will they develop the skills mentioned, they will also be prepared for the world of work. Learning how to use a computer appropriately will increase their skills and motivate them to become more assimilated into the adult community. Using a computer will likely place them in a less restrictive, more community oriented environment upon graduation.
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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. Lifland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
