Panther Valley teacher seeks eWriters for classroom

A teacher at Panther Valley Elementary is raising money to buy digital writing tablets for her classroom.

First-grade teacher Kara Krajnak wants to buy a Boogie Board eWriter for each of her 20 students. EWriters are similar to a high-tech Etch A Sketch — where students take notes with a stylus on a digital screen, which can be erased with the press of a button.

She recently set up a fundraiser on DonorsChoose.org. Panther Valley Elementary teachers are among thousands nationwide who have used the site to raise money to buy classroom supplies and technology.

Krajnak wrote a proposal to explain to potential donors why the tablets are needed for her classroom.

“My students come from a disadvantaged area. Each student receives free breakfast and lunch daily. My students are so energetic about learning. They try their very best all the time, and that makes me so proud of them,” the proposal reads.

The eWriters would be used for phonics skills, sounding out words and doodling. Right now, students use white boards for those tasks, which can be messy in the hands of first graders.

“It’s a good way for me to spot check it to see who needs help with the letter sounds,” Krajnak said.

At $29.99, the eWriters also require students to be responsible for a piece of technology, but not something that could cost hundreds if broken.

“They each have to take care of their own eWriter, make sure it’s where it’s supposed to be, and that they’re not breaking it,” she said.

Some schools have computers in every classroom, but that is not the case at Panther Valley Elementary. Krajnak only has one iPad to share among her class, and a cart of Chromebook laptops which is shared with four other first-grade classes.

“We do have some really good technology, but there could be more,” she said.

The goal for the fundraiser is $752. That will enable Krajnak to purchase 20 eWriters, enough to serve the whole class. If she falls short of her goal, she will still be able to put the money raised toward buying a smaller number of the eWriters.

As of Thursday, Krajnak still needed $323 to complete her fundraiser.

To learn more or make a donation, visit https://www.donorschoose.org/project/excited-for-ewriters/3524516.