My students need three mini iPads to continuously develop and broaden their knowledge and understanding of writing, word work, math, science, and fine arts concepts.
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
I remember being a first grader and being given worksheets in a very cookie cutter classroom. I remember feeling limited. I was to be "seen and not heard". I learned things in one way only and it was usually pencil and paper. Now that I teach 1st grade, I want more for my scholars. They deserve it!
The students in my class are truly innovators.
We are a constructivist school and we believe in arts integration and the project approach. They are co-constructors of their learning in various ways. Pencil and paper exists but is usually coupled with tangible items and real world activities. I never dreamed in a million years that first graders would be able to do what my scholars have done! The first semester, we did a project over car shops. The scholars literally built a four-seater car that they can sit in out of materials that the school had! They also learned how to take apart and reassemble a steering column and built a model steering column for the class car! They wrote their own books about car shops and we wrote one collectively as a class. They even wrote a song about car shops using rhyming words and an instrumental from a song they liked from the radio. They are so engaged in real world activities and they have so much to offer. The sky is the limit for these children!
My Project
The mini iPads will be a very well used resource in our classroom for various reasons. The real world today is all about utilizing different forms of technology and I want them to be exposed to how useful technology is to progression in the real world. First grade is a very "word work" intensive grade as they are learning beginning and ending sounds, diagraphs, blends, vowel combinations, word endings, sight words, etc. The mini iPads would be great for word work, spelling, and phonics activities such as "Word Wizard", "Sight Word Bingo", "Sentence Maker", "Magnetic ABC", and many more. We can do writing activities on the iPads using the apps "My Story", "Book Creator", "Scribble Press", and "Sock Puppets" to name a few. There are apps for the fine arts, for photography and videography, and great apps for show and tell! There are apps available for math, science, and social studies also. The mini iPads would be used in such a powerful way and much can be produced.
The donations to help fund our class's desire for mini iPads will open several different doors for them.
They can accommodate all learning types as well. Children can build upon knowledge and understanding in a more hands on and engaging way. As stated earlier, technology has become a huge part of our society and I want my scholars to be prepared to utilize it in the best way possible. They have interests that they haven't tapped into yet that can be uncovered through the use of the iPads.
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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 Mrs. Clark and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.