Suncoast Credit Union

My goal is to engage my students with special needs in the community. This opportunity will allow my students to practice many skills they will need for a successful life, learn social skills, improve on math, reading and writing skills and better understand the community they live in. They will make real life connections between what is learned in the classroom and why those skills are needed in life.

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Welcome to L.I.F.E. Learning is functional and engaging

School:
Sea Gate Elementary 
Subject:
Special Needs Students 
Teacher:
Kristyn Stetson 
Students Impacted:
14 
Grade:
K-5 
Date:
August 30, 2020

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Cynthia Zane - $200.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 521

Students in my classroom were able to engage virtually in community- based learning and learn about the importance of helping others in our community. My students brainstormed different activities/ equipment they like to play with on the playground and create a list of these items. Then they used the internet to find the prices of each item. Students learned how to compare prices from two different websites (Amazon and Wal-Mart) to decide what store gave them the better deal. Each student in my classroom picked out one of the items to purchase for students at Village Oaks Elementary. Additionally, students learned how to figure out how much money they had spent and how much more money they had left to spend. I have a hybrid class this year, with some students learning in my classroom, while most are on-line. All my students were able to participate together to use the store websites to order the recess equipment. After Village Oaks Elementary received the equipment, my class was able to WebEx with a kindergarten class there and ask them questions about the items we purchased for them. The students at Village Oaks sent pictures and videos using the different equipment and made cards for my students. Communication skills is a huge part of my students education. Being able to formulate questions ask those questions and respond appropriately to the answers, is an essential skill they were able to work on through this grant. Many of my students have individual goals that deal with word problems or money. This grant was a great way for my students to have real life experience with both of these important math skills. I have found my students learn best and remember the new knowledge through hands on and real- life experiences and this is exactly what this grant allowed my students to do.

Students at Village Oaks Elementary benefited from this grant by receiving new equipment for their playground. They learned new games, like Chinese jump rope and were able to interact with peers at their school and engage in many different physical activities. 


Total students impacted: 10 from my class; 511 from Villages Oaks Elementary.

 

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Finding prices of items online

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Comparing prices for items

 

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Adding up the amounts, to see how much we spent

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Looking at our playground to brainstorm ideas for

 

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Meeting students from Village Oaks Elementary

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to engage my students with special needs in the community. This opportunity will allow my students to practice many skills they will need for a successful life, learn social skills, improve on math, reading and writing skills and better understand the community they live in. They will make real life connections between what is learned in the classroom and why those skills are needed in life. 

 

What will be done with my students

This year I will be teaching students completely virtually, so this entire lesson will take place virtually through live lessons and posted assignments. Students in my class will have the opportunity to shop for recess items for Village Oaks Elementary School. My students will learn first hand about giving back to other children who may not have as many resources. Through this shopping experience students in my class will have increased engagement and learning of math, reading and writing skills. My students will first partner with classes at Villages Oaks through virtual WebEx calls to find out what sorts of recess items are desired. My students will then read about and create a brief description of the playground items and then use their math skills pick out the items they want to purchase within their set budget. They will have to write about which items they want to purchase and why. Finally, they will get to go shopping online to purchase the items on their list.
 

 

Benefits to my students

All of my students have intellectual disabilities and struggle with academic, social and communication skills. Life skills education and community-based learning are natural ways to encourage these abilities in my students. Students in my classroom will improve communication as they interview students at VOE to find out recess items that are wanted. Real life applications of reading, writing and money skills will be seen throughout this project allowing students to understand the importance of increasing their knowledge in these areas. Students will gain a greater understanding about helping others and the reasons we need to learn how to read, write and do math. These opportunities will allow my students to learn skills that will set a strong foundation for them as they advance through school and eventually go through our transition programs and into the community as adults. Another big part of this learning is to help educate the community on acceptance of people with special needs and to help show our students in a positive light, so they feel that they belong wherever they go.
 

 

Budget Narrative

This grant would provide each of my students the opportunity to purchase multiple recess items for students at Village Oaks Elementary School.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Recess items (chalk, hula hoops, balls, yard games etc) $200.00
  Total: $200.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union