Leaping into Learning with Laptops

School:: Freeport Elementary
Subject:: Low Performing Students
Teacher:: Kristi Gantenbein
Students Impacted:: 21
Grade:: K
Date:: October 8, 2020

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

St. Joe Community Foundation - $538.04

Goal

The goal is to give more students the opportunity to experience a variety of learning platforms and to reach more students in my hybrid class. My goal is to also have enough laptops that my para-professional teacher can also teach reading groups to online students. My goal is to have enough laptops that each student can have their needs met at their level.

What will be done with my students

I plan to use the laptops in many ways including individualized, differentiated leaning centers. Students will be able to access programs like Headsprout which is individualized to their academic level. The laptops will be utilized during the ELA, Math and Tier 2 blocks. Students can access different learning programs including Compass Learning, Headsprout, Imagine Learning, Pierson, ReadGen and Zearn to help improve academic knowledge. This can help our students with engagement through innovative learning. With more laptops we will be able to reinforce content during our Tier 2 time with students that need extra practice and that may not receive extra support at home.
I will also use one of the laptops to reach more of my online students in reading groups. If my para and I can both have laptops with students streaming in to reading groups I will be able to reach those students more on their level of needs.

Benefits to my students

It will allow me to have more students actively engaged learning and working on reading skills and comprehension and allow me to return to small group instruction. Students will be able to learn through engaging differentiated learning programs. Students will be able to work independently while I am engaged with small groups. The addition of laptops will also be beneficial by providing exposure to technology which will prepare them for future online testing.