$125 for Nearpod license

School:: Immokalee High
Subject:: Mathematics
Teacher:: James Dixon
Students Impacted:: 80
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: July 9, 2018

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Naples Luxury Builders, Inc. - $125.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 85

Background and Use of Grant

Background: I teach Geometry exclusively to English Language Learner students in a Title I high school located in Immokalee, Florida. Most of my students are immigrants to the United States and are below class level in their math skills; they are hungry to improve their learning but are shy to answer questions given their limited English language skills, thus making it more difficult to recognize each student’s level of understanding.
Need: I needed a way to immediately see each student’s answer to questions posed during class. Nearpod has helped me get this immediate feedback. With the $125 grant for the on-line Nearpod program I have been able to send out polls and quizzes and, as soon as students submit their responses, have had an instant snapshot of each student’s understanding of a particular topic. This has facilitated timely decisions on how to proceed on the lesson, either reteach the whole class or differentiate by reteaching part of the class while providing a new challenge for the students that have already demonstrated understanding.

Realized Benefits to my Students

Students need to pass the Algebra I final exam or its equivalent to graduate. One measurable and highly visible benefit is that on the recent PERT test (a recognized equivalent test of Algebra skills) 49% of my students who failed to pass the Algebra I final exam last year have passed the equivalent test requirement for graduation. This is an unheard-of accomplishment for this demographic group. My students are proud of their accomplishment and are highly motivated to work hard to continue to learn.

Although measured benefits are the result of first, the dedicated hard work of my students and additionally, from all of the actions of the teacher, I firmly believe that Nearpod has been a contributor to the improvement.

Muchas Gracias and Merci Beaucoup (as my students would say)

It is encouraging to see my students become enthusiastic and self-confident learners. Your support through the $125 grant to support purchase of the Nearpod license has helped facilitate this. My students and I are highly appreciative of your support.

Note: I was able to get a discount on the license ($120 instead of $125). Let me know how to refund the $5 not spent.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Background: I teach Geometry exclusively to English Language Learner students in a Title I high school located in Immokalee, Florida, a poor farming community with a 44.8% poverty rate. Most of my students are recent immigrants to the United States and are below class level in their math skills, some as many as four grades below class level; my students are hungry to improve their learning but are shy to answer questions given their limited English language skills.
Need: I need a way to immediately see each student’s answer to questions posed during class. Using the on-line program Nearpod allows a teacher to immediately see each student’s answer to questions, a powerful tool to guide teacher decisions on the need for reteaching the whole class or differentiating by reteaching part of the class while providing a new challenge for the students that have already demonstrated understanding.

What will be done with my students

A teacher can check for understanding with Nearpod by sending out polls, quizzes, Collaborate! boards, and open-ended discussion questions. As soon as students submit their responses, a teacher will have an instant snapshot of their students’ understanding of a particular topic.
Curriculum Connection: This would allow students, who are just beginning to develop their English language skills, to demonstrate their understanding, and ultimately to keep up with the Geometry curriculum.

Benefits to my students

“Nearpod is a great tool to use in the classroom to get direct-specific feedback from the kids in real-time using the latest technologies... The platform is amazing for student engagement … and teacher guided lessons…!”
Sara Ray,
Palm Beach County’s 2018 Teacher of the Year

The benefit would be measured in the results students achieve on the assessments through the school year and ultimately on the Florida End of Course exam.

Budget Narrative

The proposed grant would buy a one year license for my classroom to the on-line program Nearpod.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	One year license for Nearpod	$125.00
	Total:	$125.00

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