"My students are the most brilliant 8th graders on the planet! Most of them are bilingual, and they work every day to improve their English fluency. This is a high-need community, but we don't let that keep us from reaching our goals!
A recent homework challenge showed me that most of my students ...
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"My students are the most brilliant 8th graders on the planet! Most of them are bilingual, and they work every day to improve their English fluency. This is a high-need community, but we don't let that keep us from reaching our goals!
A recent homework challenge showed me that most of my students don't have English dictionaries at home, and I only have 2 college dictionaries in my classroom to share among 96 students. My students need dictionaries!
We need 96 dictionaries that students can use at home or school to learn new words, discover word histories, and check spelling. I'll present one dictionary to each student and allow them to keep it for use in high school and college. I've requested paperback dictionaries that are light enough for the students to carry, but we will cover them for durability.
These students are curious and insightful. I have to work hard to fulfill their appetite for learning! Many of these kids are on the right track to be the first in their families to graduate high school, and most are planning to go beyond that to college. Your donation will make an enormous difference!
My students need 96 good dictionaries to learn new words, check spelling, and find word histories and definitions.
See Mrs. W.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Mar 5, 2010
Dear JPMorgan Chase, Josh and Ali and Xavier,
Thank you for your generous donation! My students use their dictionaries frequently, and their vocabulary has seen significant growth this year.
As you can see from the photographs, we are reading To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel is a challenge because of its advanced vocabulary, but the dictionaries have provided a safety net that helps students feel confident in their ability to tackle unknown words.
Your gift has also sparked my students' curiosity for new words. I often see students looking up words that they know in order to find other words that share the same roots. We will occasionally have informal competitions to see who can find the most interesting word, or who can find the most words the teachers cannot define. Before, there was gentle teasing when a student read the dictionary "just for fun;" now, it's a course of habit for most of my kids!
Again, thank you for your generosity!
With gratitude, Mrs. W.
Mrs. W. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Sep 30, 2009
Dear JPMorgan Chase, Josh and Ali and Xavier,
After a full day of vocabulary and language-learning activities, you can't imagine my excitement at discovering that you have chosen to help my students. Each dictionary will be a well-used tool as the student who receives it prepares for high school, college, and beyond!
In middle school, the 8th grade students are often called upon to mentor and assist younger students. By providing tools to improve our oldest students' language skills, your generous gift will impact the entire school.
Thank you to the friends, family members, and corporations who have reached out to our community!
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Catherine T. (volunteer)
on Sep 20, 2009
