Super S.T.A.R.S. - Special Students Tape & Record Solos!
My students need an iPad mini, GoPro camera, battery pack, memory card & tripod to film them in hydro therapy & in their wheelchairs to produce their special music videos.
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. Lazerson's classroom raised $1,040
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students literally roll into my class each day, in their wheelchairs. Most are non-verbal. I love Frost's quote: "I'm not a teacher, but an awakener." Each day, I try to reach them in ways to bring them out of their shell and help them connect in meaningful ways. Hands-on music works magic for them!
My students have all been diagnosed with profound special needs, such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, medically fragile conditions, and other physical & mental challenges.
Many require wheelchairs for mobility and most are non-verbal. Our school is a special needs center. Students come to us throughout Florida's Broward county. Their needs were simply not met at other schools.
The Quest Center is an awesome school, that provides all sorts of individualized instruction and therapies, such as water therapy, adaptive phys-ed, and my experiential music & drama program. Their age range is from about 7 years to 22 years old. Our school also provides individualized speech & language therapy. We have several full time occupational and physical therapist. My challenge as a full time special ed teacher is quite involved, since they come to me with a variety of challenges and skills. I've found that by involving them in ways to make music, they've become happier and more alive.
My Project
This project will take my music program to the next level as my students will not only play their adaptive instruments, but they will be the main star in their very own teacher-made music videos. Using the iPad they will utilize various Apps to make their personal choice selections as to what genre of music they want, and what if any specific song they choose for their music video. Many of my students will use their adaptive switches to make these choices, such as a head, knee, or puffer switch. Some of the Apps are even activated by the student simply staring at the object of choice.
Once my students are trained in using the iPad to make choices, we will begin the next phase of the STARS project - they become rock stars in their very own personal music videos. Using the GoPro camera, a waterproof case, battery pack, memory card & tripod we will film them in all sorts of activities throughout the school day, from the gym, to academic instruction, to working with their therapist.
These donations will make this STARS project a reality for my students.
I think they will go from their usual roles of being somewhat passive observers to much more active participants. The iPad will help motivate them and should assist them with their communication skills. The second phase will involve filming them as they take center stage in their own music videos. I'm very excited about this project as I think my students will really respond to seeing themselves as big time music video stars.
Nearly all 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
Apple iPad mini MD532LL/A (32GB, Wi-Fi, White)
• Amazon
$349.99
1
$349.99
GoPro HERO3+: Silver Edition
• Amazon
$299.99
1
$299.99
SquareTrade 2-Year Tablet Protection Plan ($300-$350)
• Amazon
$49.13
1
$49.13
SanDisk Ultra 64 GB microSDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card 30MB/s with Adapter SDSDQU-064G-AFFP-A
• Amazon
$44.26
1
$44.26
Professional 72-inch TRIPOD FOR All Canon Sony, Nikon, Samsung, Panasonic, Olympus, Kodak, Fuji, Cameras And Camcorders + BP MicroFiber Cleaning Cloth
• Amazon
$32.95
1
$32.95
Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and New Charger for GoPro HD HERO3+, HERO3 and GoPro AHDBT-201, AHDBT-301, AHDBT-302
• Amazon
$23.99
1
$23.99
Materials cost
$800.31
Vendor shipping charges
$41.69
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$12.00
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$884.00
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$156.00
Total project goal
$1,040.00
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$1,040.00
96 Donors
-$862.41
Donations toward project cost
-$793.05
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$69.36
match offer
-$107.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$90.95
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Dr. Lazerson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
