Every morning I arrive early and slightly nervous. I run through my mind ways to prepare for the students arriving in a few minutes. I prepare the space and materials of the classroom environment, but I prepare my heart for the spontaneous, original, and humorous actions of its learners.
My students vary in age, personality and ability.
They share in common only uniqueness in the way they show love, respect and humor. My students enjoy developing social and motor skills on their school playground located near a federal wetland reserve in urban Oklahoma. The student body of the elementary school is 92.2% eligible for free and reduced price lunch. Half of the students in my class have difficulty holding a pencil, accessing a computer with a mouse or keyboard, threading beads and coordinating fingers for school utensils such as scissors. 8 of 9 students in my classroom are working toward goals in communication. 88% of students in my classroom do not speak, have speech or language impairments, need reminder to self-express with words, exhibit echolalia or gibberish.
My Project
Children in my classroom learn best across content areas with the aid of interactive visuals. Interactive indicates the student may initiate and respond to visuals with fine motor skills. One of the children at the kindergarten level speaks an invented word for iPad. He requests independent time accessing an internet application targeting alphabet awareness and number sense skills as an incentive for completing less desirable tasks like changing his diaper. Teachers in a ratio of four to 9 students monitor the children's access to internet applications. Permission from teachers and direct supervision is required for students to access the device and internet. Students learn from teacher models of how to navigate applications for reading and mathematics interventions.
I envision the children in my class reaching their dreams and beyond, succeeding academically, communicating, reading, writing, traveling, working and making friends.
The iPad integrated into instruction will support my students in strengthening communication, comprehension, fine motor, reading and mathematics skills. The high-tech device allows students with autism to interact with visuals motivating learning.
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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. Feltman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
