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
We are a classroom of 14 students with significant cognitive or physical disabilities who are learning the functional skills needed to be included with their peers in the general education curriculum. Our students are from a low-income community in Saint Louis, Missouri. Despite the fact that our district cannot afford a bus service, our students still have over a 90% attendance rate. Our students' accomplishments have made our district the only accredited district in our region - they are working incredibly hard to close the achievement gap.
Despite their disabilities, our students are excellent self-advocates, and are exuberant in their efforts to learn new skills, and to attain the goals they have helped to create for themselves.
They are excited to learn everyday, and their energy is contagious. Through structured activities as well as play, my students and I teach one another everyday. Our classroom is a place for overcoming challenges, learning, and love.
My Project
Having child-friendly tablets would make a HUGE difference in my classroom for so many reasons. First, we only have one iPad in our classroom for student use. Having the iPad has been so amazing - it has increased student engagement and has allowed my students who are unable to write using a traditional pencil due to fine motor deficits to communicate using writing in ways they couldn't before. Some students struggle with the pincer grasp required to hold a pencil or pick up math manipulatives - when they use the iPad, they have the chance to show what they know, not what their bodies will allow them to do. The addition of more tablets would allow me to streamline this communicative instruction in a more meaningful way.
If our class receives the tablets, we will be able to use assistive technology software that will allow my kiddos to produce written work that is reflective of their personalities, despite their disabilities.
Having this technology will allow my students to access the curriculum despite motor and visual impairments. Not to mention, the effect educational technology has on student engagement!
The addition of these tablets will aid in giving my students a fair shot at accessing the curriculum with their nondisabled peers.
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 Ms. Taylor and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
