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Ms. Waldman from Albany, NY is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Using Your Ears to Read

My students need 12 popular fiction titles in a playaway format in the library.

  • $887 goal

This project expired on April 18, 2009.

This project expired on April 18, 2009.

Classroom photo
Ms. Waldman Stephen & Harriet Myers Middle School
Albany, NY Grades 6-8

Sometimes, students learn to read with both their eyes AND their ears! At our middle school, that’s just fine…and we want to make this process as fun and interesting as possible. Opened in 2005, our school serves approximately 600 students, grades 6 to 8. It is located in a small urban center, and 83% of our students live below the poverty level. District-wide budgetary constraints and a state per-child book budget of $6.25 have greatly influenced the size, quality, and parameters of our library collection. As the Library Media Specialist, I struggle to provide all of my students with books they will read, enjoy and learn from, hoping to foster a lifelong love of reading.

Unfortunately, our collection does not adequately meet the needs of our reluctant and below-level readers. Many of these students live very difficult lives, and face a long list of obstacles daily. Some are homeless, moving from shelter to shelter. Many come from single parent homes or are being raised by grandparents. If not for school and social services, many of these children would be without shelter, clothing, food and medical care. Owning books is not a priority in those homes where survival is paramount, and literacy receives very limited parental and community support.

Through numerous studies, a technique has been found that can change the lives of kids who have difficulty reading. The simultaneous use of text and audio has proven extremely beneficial for these students. Playaways, which are books in audio format, are the perfect way in which to increase student comprehension, reading fluency and motivation. This technique also helps to develop writing skills such as content and grammar. Housed within a box even smaller than a cassette tape with a hole into which ear buds are inserted, the playaway is much like an iPod. In fact, student familiarity with iPods make using them easy. Students listen to the playaway while reading the same text concurrently. The student listens as the playaway reader models techniques such as voice modulation, expression, pronunciation and punctuation. As the student’s reading skills progress, playaways are no longer needed, and students are able to read text alone. This leads to the development of a sense of self-confidence and, hopefully, the ability to succeed academically. Once books are no longer "the enemy," reading for pleasure also becomes possible.

Our students deserve the chance to succeed, both academically and in every area of their lives. The ability to read, both for information and for pleasure, will provide them with the foundation upon which to build their future success. With lives so filled with struggle, your support will help remove one very big obstacle that stands in their way.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

75 students impacted
Ms. Waldman Stephen & Harriet Myers Middle School Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Albany, NY View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

75 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Slam! - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Stuck in Neutral - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Tears of a Tiger - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Bronx Masquerade - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Autobiography of My Dead Brother - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Dicey's Song - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $56.75 1 $56.75
Battle of Jerhico - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $56.75 1 $56.75
Crash - Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Absolutly Normal Chaos Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Al Capone Does My Shirts- Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75
Absolute True Diary of a Part -Time Indian Playaway • Recorded Books, LLC $51.75 1 $51.75

Materials cost

$631.00

Vendor shipping charges

 $63.10

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$15.78

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$727.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$159.59

Total project goal

$886.59

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Waldman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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