Thanks to this grant, our classroom was able to purchase Sphero Indi robots that turn reading lessons into hands-on, interactive experiences.

By combining literacy with robotics, students are practicing essential reading skills such as understanding sentence structure, sequencing events, and building vocabulary, while also learning how to problem-solve and think logically. For example, after completing a small group reading activity, students can program Indi to travel along a path that checks their answers. This immediate, visual feedback helps students see whether their thinking is correct and encourages them to revise their work if needed.

The robots have also had a powerful impact on student motivation. Many students who previously struggled to stay focused are now eager to complete their reading work because they know they will get to “show” their understanding by coding a robot. As a result, students are more engaged, work more collaboratively, and complete assignments more confidently and on time.

In the accompanying video, you will see students learning about compound sentences. Each group received notecards with words and worked together to unscramble them into a complete sentence. Once the sentence was correct, the students coded Indi to move across each word in order, reinforcing both reading comprehension and teamwork. Activities like this help students connect abstract language concepts to concrete actions, making learning meaningful and memorable.

This grant has allowed my third graders to experience reading in a new way, building both academic skills and excitement for learning. The resources purchased through the LPS Foundation are helping students grow as readers, thinkers, and collaborators, and we are deeply grateful for the impact this support has made in our classroom.