Technology for Hands-On Learning in Elementary Classroom
My students need 2 laptop computers to improve literacy and mathematical thinking and problem-solving. Our school is a start-up public charter school with no computers.
Think. Thank. Thunk. Everyday I issue this challenge to my 4th graders, and they love it! We use our critical thinking skills every day to solve math problems and to analyze nonfiction and fiction literature. With technology, students can become so much better prepared for 21st century challenges!
We have a diverse set of students in our class of 21.
They come from varying ethnic backgrounds, including African American, Latino, and White/Caucasian. They are so curious! They are so supportive of their peers and are eager to learn from each other. These students and their parents chose to attend our start-up public charter school because the larger local public alternatives fall short of educating the whole child: socially, emotionally, and academically. 100% of our students have access to technology at home, but in our school there is no funding for technology of any kind to support their in-class learning. Most of them are already "techno-savvy," and will begin benefiting immediately from having access to the Internet in the classroom.
My Project
Each day as we learn during Reader's Workshop and Math Workshop, students enjoy a mini-lesson from the teacher, followed by collaborative, small-group learning. They may choose (or sometimes are assigned) to work at 1 of 4 different learning stations. With your generous support, I would like to establish a permanent technology station in my classroom: one where students can go to practice literacy skills during Reader's Workshop, or math skills during Math Workshop. Additionally students will benefit from being able to use word processing to publish final products of their creations during Writer's Workshop. This technology will not only increase student output by increasing student efficiency; it will deepen student understanding by giving them access to Internet-based tools that challenge their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Having access to technology at school will deepen student understanding by giving them access to Internet-based tools that challenge their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Your donations will have a direct impact on the future competitiveness of the U.S. as we develop the skills needed by students to perform in the 21st century. Since the students presently have access to technology at home, replicating this capability at school will link students to their teacher and to each other.
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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. Curley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.