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Completed: Sounding Out Success with Jolly Phonics

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"I teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) to 1st and 2nd graders at a public school in Virginia. I work with all levels of English language learners, from absolute beginners to children who have been in the US their whole lives.

I plan to focus strongly on phonics with my newcomer st... " MORE

"I teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) to 1st and 2nd graders at a public school in Virginia. I work with all levels of English language learners, from absolute beginners to children who have been in the US their whole lives.

I plan to focus strongly on phonics with my newcomer students because they don't yet have the oral language and pre-literacy skills in English to learn to read in an English-speaking classroom. Some of my newcomers come from countries that don't use the Roman alphabet. Others come from countries whose alphabets contain extra letters that we don't have and are missing some letters and sounds that we do. My newcomer English language learners have a lot to catch up on before they can read and write at the level of their mainstream classmates.

Because my newcomer students are just beginning to learn English, they need instruction that involves movement, patterns, illustrations, and a healthy mix of repetition of concepts and variety of activities. Jolly Phonics is an instructional program that combines all of these elements. Students learn letter sounds by making connections to stories about each sound, to hand and body movements, and to print. What's more, the Jolly Phonics starter kit includes materials for the classroom to enhance student learning, in the forms of wall decoration, sight word flashcards, and big books.

In funding this project, you will provide my students with a rich phonics curriculum that is appropriate for both their age and level of English. The materials your donation will give us comprehensively cover both what I need in order to teach and what the students need in order to learn. And your donation will result in a group of excited English language learners who can confidently approach reading and writing in a new language, allowing them to catch up and keep up with their classmates.

My students need the Jolly Phonics Starter Kit, which contains student and teacher materials to implement the Jolly Phonics program in the classroom. The cost of this proposal is $338, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment ?."

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See Mrs. S.'s class participating in this project! (Enlarge photos)

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Mrs. S. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Dec 10, 2008
Dear Mike, Carole, Amee and Anonymous Donors, 
Thank you so much for your generous donation. Since the beginning of the school year, when I posted this proposal, my group of newcomer English language learner students has grown from 6 to 11 students! Two of my third grade students arrived within the last month and speak no English at all. In order to be able to pronounce, read, and write English, they must learn the letters and sounds from the beginning, and Jolly Phonics facilitates this by creating connections between written letters, spoken sounds, and physical movement. I know that this program will help my students learn the letter sounds faster and remember them better. I look forward to implementing the program in my classroom, and I appreciate what you have given to make this possible! Thank you!

Lauren
Live Updates
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Patty L. (volunteer) on Sep 12, 2008
Verified the cost of the requested books and posted this project.
John C. (associate) on Sep 15, 2008
A donor gave on Sep 29, 2008
Carole gave on Oct 9, 2008
Mike from Alexandria, VA gave on Nov 10, 2008
Amee gave on Nov 16, 2008
A donor gave on Dec 10, 2008
Project fully funded!
Happy news on Dec 10, 2008
The teacher Mrs. S. on Dec 16, 2008
Purchased the books for Mrs. S.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member) on Jan 5, 2009
Purchased the books for Mrs. S.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member) on Jan 5, 2009
Packaged the thank-you letters written by Mrs. S.'s students and sent them on to the eligible donor(s).
Elizabeth C. (staff member) on Mar 20, 2009
PhotosPhotos posted!
The teacher Mrs. S. on Mar 26, 2009
Please notify our staff of any messages or photos of concern.
Funded!
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From Mrs. S.'s Classroom:
$258 Needed

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