Think about going out to eat or shopping with your family. Think about the other families that you see around you. Do you see small children engaged with their families in language building? Or are they simply told to shush and handed a phone or tablet?
Many of our young children are sped through their formative years, spending more time with technology than with actual personal interaction.
This description is accurate for many of my kindergarten students who need support building both academic and social language. We are kindergarten English Language Learners in a Title I school where everyone qualifies for free lunch. My students come from many different countries speaking many different languages. We need every opportunity to build language skills, social skills, and self-regulation skills so that we can fully integrate into today's global society.
My Project
When students are given the chance to work with hands on materials, they are able to address a wide variety of skills such as: cooperation, team work, planning, problem solving, and creativity. Allowing children free choice allows for greater ownership and accountability in their learning.
Having these stem materials available to kids invites children to take a bigger role in their learning and allows students to find their own path through interests and shared goals.
Providing students with stem materials engages every part of a child’s brain and fosters the social connections that are crucial to early childhood learning environments.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Buttles and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
