February 18, 2009

 

Mr. Craig Whitt

1000 Buccaneer Drive

Hoover, Alabama 35244

 

Grant Proposal for One Computer Classroom for 3^rd grade

 

Dear Hoover School Board,

 

            Gwin Elementary School is pleased to present this proposal for your review. We look forward to partnering with you to provide our classrooms with their own personal computer. Our program is designed to enhance children’s learning capacity by equipping them with more advanced learning technology and programs. The objective of the program is to help all students with improve their reading, math, and science skills. Our proposal requests $15,000 in funding to obtain the software, hardware, and training necessary to equip the Gwin Elementary School classrooms with one computer, printer, and projector. We appreciate the Hoover School Board taking an interest in helping our students develop their learning skills. Please give me a call at 746-8664 if you require any further information or have any questions concerning this proposal. I have included the layout of how our classrooms will be set up with one computer, printer, and projector, as well as the reasons behind the idea to this floor plan

            This classroom has one computer with Internet access, a printer, and a data projector. In my classroom, I have very specific reasoning for the placement of the equipment. When you first walk into the room, the children’s cubbies are to the far right out of the way and the teacher’s desk is to the immediate left so there is easy access between the parent and teacher to communicate and interact. The manipulative area is also near the center of the room because that is where all the children go and play first while waiting for everyone to arrive. Next, the dramatic play area, the music area, and the block center are all on the far right and are grouped together because they are the three loudest and there is the most space. In the center of the room are all of the children’s desks and the chalkboard and projection screen is centered at the front. This is so that everyone can see the board. Moving to the left once is again is the teacher’s desk, where the only computer is as well as the data projector and the printer. I feel that this is needed because the teacher needs a computer to be able to type records, notes, and create handouts. If she wanted to on special days, she could put an educational program software in such as science lessons on habitats and matching or watching a Disney story and answering questions about it and set a timer and let each child have a turn. I would advise if she were going to do this at all to only make it on special occasions since it is the teacher’s computer and to make sure that everyone receives a turn. She is also at the back of the room so she can see everyone all of the time, and be able to work the projector to the screen. Moving left is the art area and the book center. Both of these are more quiet areas, especially the book center. There are couches and chairs to make it homey and comfortable when reading. Unfortunately with only having one computer, this makes the teaching strategies a lot more teacher-oriented than child-oriented and it is more teaching on the teacher’s part than the child discovering. I think that the computer would be used a lot for projections and teachings to the class as a whole, rather than to individual students on their own. The difference is huge in how a teacher can use one-computer verses four. I just strongly feel that a teacher needs a computer at her desk and she can use it to implement teaching to the entire class. Thank you again for your time.

 

Sincerely,

Ashley Shepherd