All students throughout Tahoe Truckee Unified School District are 1:1 with Chromebooks. Many classes require students to watch videos, listen to podcasts, or participate in online programs. In addition to these assignments, many of our students have the "text to speech" accommodation or audiobooks on their Individualized Education Plans that allow them equal opportunity to access the curriculum. While most students bring their own headphones to school, many of our students don’t have their own and would benefit from being able to utilize a classroom set. The noise cancelling function would be extremely helpful for our students with attention deficit issues to block out the noises around them to aid in focusing on achieving their academic goals
The resource program at North Tahoe High School has incredible students who are honest and have shared that even the smallest noises, such as teachers typing on their computers during class, distract them from being able to complete their work to the best of their ability. This grant would help over 35 students in special education be able to focus more often and consistently. It would help our students stay engaged on the task at hand without being distracted by people and things going on around them and allow them to reach their true academic potential. Having these headphones during state testing might also increase test scores.
The success of the program will be seen in how students are able to utilize equal access tools such as text to speech in any of their classes. The noise cancelling feature will allow more distractible students to better access the general education curriculum and support inclusivity. Julia Worster, Alder Creek Middle School teacher and recipient of noise cancelling headphones from an Excellence in Education Grant in the 2018 cycle reported that the headphones are great for the students and are used frequently when students want to focus. The headphones will be held in the learning center where students in that class will be able to use them but they will also be available to checked out for students to bring into their core classes.
The headphones can be used on a daily basis in their learning center class to block out any distractions of other students or noises around them and in their general education classes when listening to a podcast, video, or doing individual work.
Yes, I am willing to share with any teacher who is in need of headphones for their class.
The Soundcore headphones are available through other vendors but at the same price point of $59.99 each but Amazon has free shipping so it was more cost effective. The Lysol disinfecting wipes are currently sold out in many places due to COVID-19.