"I am a kindergarten teacher at an elementary school in Chicago that serves a diverse group of children, the majority of whom – 85% - come from financially disadvantaged households. Additionally, close to 75% are Hispanic and hear and/or speak Spanish at home, so reading and speaking English present...
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"I am a kindergarten teacher at an elementary school in Chicago that serves a diverse group of children, the majority of whom – 85% - come from financially disadvantaged households. Additionally, close to 75% are Hispanic and hear and/or speak Spanish at home, so reading and speaking English presents an extra challenge for a number of students.
We know intuitively that reading is a key to educational success. There’s plenty of research to back this up, showing definitively that children who read well in the early grades are much more successful in later years; by the same token, those who fall behind often stay behind.
I have been using an admittedly basic form of listening center in my classroom for years now; it has helped immensely in my students’ reading comprehension and pronunciation. Studies support what I’ve observed - the use of listening centers in the classroom is a proven method to unlock the power of reading as a gateway to other knowledge. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that listening to stories read aloud promotes brain development and emerging literacy. One of the most efficient ways to support independent reading and reading aloud in the classroom or library is through the use of listening centers.
I need your help with our literacy program! We need a new listening center. Our rudimentary center broke last year and has been devouring tapes ever since. It is now all but useless. I am hoping to acquire a CD listening center that allows several children to listen to the same CD or cassette at the same time, quietly and without disturbing other students. The center features headsets with padded headbands for comfort. Having this in our busy classroom will keep the kids happily occupied and our tapes and Cd's intact!
My students need a new CD/cassette listening center so that they can listen to stories and follow along to learn how to read.
The cost of this proposal is $256, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment ."
Ms. K. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Dec 19, 2008
Dear Ken, Kirk and Pineda Family,
Thank you so much for your generous donation. We are so excited to have a new listening center. It will be so much easier for us to use and will help us learn to read! Our current listening center isn't working and we really needed a new one. It was so thoughtful of you to contribute to our classroom. Thank you so much again.
On Feb 10, 2009, Ms. K. followed this note with student letters sent via mail to the donor who completed this project, and to donors who gave $100 or more.
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Meghan D. (volunteer)
on Sep 27, 2008
