Thumbs-up for Expressing Creativity in the Technology Lab

My Students

Can you remember a time when a teacher let you express your learning through a creative project, and how exciting that opportunity was? I know I can. While I teach computers I would like my students to have a creative outlet to synthesize, apply, and share their learning.

My technology/21st Century Skills lab serves approximately 600 kindergarten through 5th grade students every week.

The student population deals with high poverty levels, a high percentage of English language learners, and a lack of computers and Internet access at home. A lack of parental involvement in their children's education is often a symptom of the problems faced by the families my school serves. I set the highest standards for every one of my students, and I would like them to be able to share what they have learned in the technology lab with others through creative hands on projects integrated into the units they complete in the lab. Student centered projects allow the children to apply and synthesize knowledge while using creativity and critical thinking skills. My students adore these opportunities when I am able to make them a reality at the end of a unit.

My Project

I would like to have a cabinet full of arts and crafts supplies to inspire my students to be creative in unit end culminating projects. Technology lab supply budgets do not allow for these types of supplies, so they come out of my pocket. While I am happy to do this, with about 600 students a week my ability to allow creative projects is very limited. This project will allow for a larger variety of supplies that will enhance creative projects, and help students remain engaged and motivated to learn new things. Despite low supply budgets, students should have the opportunity to get their hands on clay, pipe cleaners, beads, cardboard, markers, etc. at every opportunity! Children are our future and we need them to grow into creative and innovative thinkers who can do more than click buttons and write reports. Please help to make the world brighter for these students.

Your support of this project will help my students to soar!

Any amount you can give will get us closer to helping an average of 600 students a year become 21st Century thinkers who have the opportunities that many of us remember having when we were children. I remember making a map of the beach at Normandy, and a paper mache peach that James explored the world in. Help my students have these same memories of learning when they grow up!