April 16, 2012

Whisperphones Wanted - My 1st Donors Choose Project

I'm so excited y'all! I have just been approved to start my very first Donors Choose project. 
 For those that don't know, Donors Choose is a non-profit organization that helps connect public school teachers with people all over the country that would like to help children and schools.  

My project is called Building Independence and Confidence in Readers and Writers. My students need 12 whisper phones that allow them to hear themselves clearly while speaking softly to develop their reading fluency and writing skills. Whisperphones are the coolest tool and I know teachers have been using versions of them for ages, but check out the new Whisperphones...

 

They are super cool headsets! This is definitely a step up from the PVC pipe.  My 4th graders will be begging to use these! The best part is (for those kids that can turn anything into a toy) this sits on their head and is hands free. Brilliant! They will look so professional.  Students will be able to hear themselves read clearly and build fluency without distracting others in class.  I'm so excited! 

I plan on having my kids use the Whisperphone to develop their reading fluency and reread their writing.  It seems like an uphill battle to get students to reread their writing and I mean REALLY reread. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard, "I'm done!" during Writers Workshop.  I always respond, "You're not done, you've only just begun!" but that only goes so far. Hopefully, I will soon be able to say this and hand them a Whisperphone to listen to their own writing, revise for clarity, and edit grammar mistakes.

If you are interested in reading about more projects and possibly donating please visit DonorsChoose.org. There are so many great projects to support and together we can all make a difference. To link to my project, click here!

Thank you all for your support. 

4 comments:

  1. I've been funded! I can't believe it. My project posted last night and I have been funded by the George and Fay Young Foundation and my big brother. Hehe! Don't you just love family! A huge thank you goes out to the George and Fay Young Foundation for matching dollars. Your support means so much to my students and I.

    I'm so excited that everything came together so quickly. I can't wait to get these phone in my students hands. They are simply going to love it!

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  2. WOW! That just goes to show how much people want to help others! That is so awesome! :) Happy for you and your class-Donors Choose is great!

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  3. I have used them several times and have been lucky to be funded quickly as well! I currently have a project posted @ http://www.donorschoose.org/project/paddling-our-own-canoes-with-ipads/783278/

    Enjoy your new resources!

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