Albert Einstein once said, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
My students with intellectual disabilities embody this quote every day. Others may not always see it, but they are brilliant stars!
My students are seven children in third through fifth grade.
They all have intellectual disabilities, which means they have IQs below 70. They are a happy group of kids who have sweet personalities and aim to please. They have difficulties with academic skills as well as adaptive behaviors such as social and practical skills. My students attend a public school in rural Virginia where around 50% of our school population receives free or reduced cost lunches. Our school has also experienced significant budget cuts.
My students receive their reading, writing, math, and adaptive skills instruction in my self contained classroom, while they attend specials, science, and social studies classes included with their grade level peers. My amazing group of students want to learn and I want to be able to offer them every advantage I can.
My Project
My students need three Nook tablets to use educational apps that encourage discovery, necessary repetition, and progress toward their IEP goals. While our school is a truly remarkable place full of life, fun, and learning, we are significantly limited in the area of technology. I am seeking three tablets for classroom use with my students. There are tablet apps centered around reading, math, fine motor skills, handwriting, and any other academic area one could think of. Many of these apps are created with students with disabilities in mind. Repetition is very important to students with disabilities. Educational apps will allow my students to complete activities as many times as they need.
Use of these tablets will allow my students to learn through exploration and fun as part of their work stations in my classroom. Technology is the future, and these tablets will allow my students to create a connection with the tools that may be the key to unlocking the adult world for them after school. Incorporating these tablets into my students' comprehensive special education experience has a potential to truly change their lives.
My students desperately want to learn, but are functioning in a world that just doesn't always work the way they do.
The technology associated with tablets can help to unlock this world for them. And new apps are being created every day! Please help to put tablets into the hands of my remarkable students!
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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. Nicole and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.