Past projects 2
Limitless Mathematics
Funded Apr 22, 2019Having a Pocketalk Translator has made quite a difference for many of my students. When communication is difficult the learning is difficult and getting the support from home is challenging. The Pocketalk Translator has allowed me to guide many students one-to-one as I have other students working independently. Attempting to communicate through online translators mostly requires a grasp of the written language, which some of my students don't have, and takes up precious class time in order to have a simple conversation. The Pocketalk allows me and my students who are non-native English speakers to communicate so they can really tap into the mathematical thinking and processing and not let the struggle of the communication be what hinders that learning.
It has also provided some aid in meaningful, more accurate, and more immediate parent communication. I've been able to communicate with some parents on the phone and in person without having to wait for our translator. This made conversation more possible instead of having to send messages through another person which can sometimes make parent responses less immediate.
The students whom I've communicated with using the Pocketalk always had a smile on their faces as they were able to use their native language and still communicate well with me. They were able to ask their questions and even use it to figure out what they needed to write since the Pocketalk also shows the written translations as well the speaks it. This also brought smiles to the faces of my colleagues who used it with their own students. Both teachers and students shared moments of joy as they were able to communicate more difficult ideas to each other at the press of a button.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allan
This classroom project was brought to life by San Diego Gas & Electric and 4 other donors.Organizing Our Math Minds
Funded Aug 17, 2018We are so blessed to have been funded for this project. My students have been using the materials bins and containers on a daily basis for organizing and storing classroom materials including markers, colored pencils, scissors, dry erase markers, pencils, erasers, and calculators, just to name a few things. Some of the larger bins have also served as excellent desktop containers for math notebooks for each student; students now have their notebooks right at their hands with nothing being left at home or extra copies needed to be made. These may seem like simple items but have been necessities as they've been learning the different mathematical concepts. Not only do they have a consistent and reliable place for materials storage, but they also have developed a better sense of responsibility and organization in the classroom and in their lives.
The largest of the bins are being used to store other items that I, as a teacher, need to find and access easily for my students and for other manipulatives that the students get access to for a deeper learning of the math concepts and for fun math practice. Items like extra student desk materials, extra teacher desk materials, wires and cords for their Chromebooks and other connections needed, sets of playing cards, stop watches, sets of algebra tiles, rulers, and sets of base-ten blocks all are things that are easily accessible and easily found now that we have the sturdy containers to store them in. This ease of access to everything for everyone makes the class run more smoothly and allows for the time to be put to the learning.
My students were lucky to have had these on the first day of school and we have continued to find ways to make our organization even better because of these. My students are so grateful for this and I am forever grateful for this.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Allan