My Students

Have you ever wanted to read something but didn't know where to start? Imagine having a learning disability while trying to improve your literacy skills. Reading pens increase critical reading skills and are crucial for success in Special Education classrooms.

My students are motivated learners that attend an urban city school in New York, of which many live at or below poverty level.

In particular, I teach special education students (10 which are considered self-contained) who struggle more than the average student at reading comprehension. My students include those with cognitive disabilities, English language learners, and brain injuries. Although filled with the desire, they lack the proper resources that can truly optimize their learning that assistive technology can provide them.

My Project

In US History, students have to apply reading and critical thinking skills to master the content of the course. We engage in various projects and activities to allow students of all modalities the opportunity to succeed. Using the Reading Pens will allow my students to access the curriculum without the stigma of not having strong foundational skills in reading. The Reading Pens will increase students' reading fluency and comprehension skills, while allowing them the opportunity to navigate through assignments and assessments more independently, without relying on their peers or myself to walk them through every step. These devices can read scanned text aloud and provide definitions of unknown words. Through the use of the reading pens my students will increase their skill level and mastery of content.

Many of my students have expressed to me that they want to increase their grades in class and the Reading Pens would not only assist these scholars in reaching this goal, but will allow them to take pride and ownership in the process of attaining it.

Unfortunately, our school does not have the needed resources to supply my students with the advanced technology that would greatly benefit them and encourage them to be more engaged in their learning experience.