As a special needs educator I am always looking at ways to help my students be successful not only in the classroom but in thier everyday lives. Most of my students have communication needs that can only be addressed through expensive, bulky communicative devices or, icons (printed pictures/words on cards), or for some basic sign. My goal as thier teacher is to allow them the same opportunites as thier general education peers, and prepare them for middle and high school programs. We have a wonderful peer tutor program here on campus and I have tutors who come into my classroom daily to work with my kids. They play, socialize and help them with lessons. My kids are included in everyday activites and the peers love working with them. Id love for my kids to be able to communicate better with thier friends, families and in everyday social connections. Recently I was given an iPad to use in the classroom. I have been seeing some dramatic increases in skills, and excitiment in my students lessons. I would love to have iPads for each student in the classroom. The ipads are "cool" and more socially acceptable, so my special kids dont have to stand out ....they will be able to comminicate quicker, and with the speaking iPad it encourages more vocalization from my students. I appreciate your time in reading my request, and thank you.

We are a first grade classroom in a rural school in the California foothills east of Sacramento. Due to economic challenges in our area, our school population is increasingly impacted by issues of poverty and need. Its critically important that our students learn literacy skills that will help them achieve academically for the rest of their school careers, so they will have a brighter future. We work constantly to learn to read and write well, and we need LOTS of books to do that. I want to be able to provide each student in my class with a library of books that they can take home to encourage their reading. In addition, Id like to have a listening station for the students to listen to books on CDs, so they can listen to fluent reading.