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Completed: A Second-Chance: Reading Instruction For Teen Mothers

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"This year, I am teaching a newly-developed reading intervention class for high school students in special education. At our high-need school, literacy rates are low, especially for students in special education. Rates of teenage pregnancy and parenthood, however, seem to grow each year.

Low liter... " MORE

"This year, I am teaching a newly-developed reading intervention class for high school students in special education. At our high-need school, literacy rates are low, especially for students in special education. Rates of teenage pregnancy and parenthood, however, seem to grow each year.

Low literacy rates leave most of my students without the basic skills they need to function in adult life. As high school students, they don't have much time to acquire these skills before they will be required to use them. Many of our female students have already been pushed toward adulthood as teenage mothers, and a lifetime of low literacy and decreased exposure to reading threatens to continue on with their children. At a school where we try to encourage students to attend college, it's important that we make reading a natural part of their home culture as well.

By creating a classroom children's library, my project has a two-fold effect. First, it helps to create a safe environment for young parents who are not strong readers themselves. Under the guise of being assigned to read to their children, they will be less likely to feel that these reduced-level materials are too "young" for them. Second, exposure to text and reading from an early age is a critical component of emerging literacy - by increasing their own literacy skills, teen parents can begin to expose their children to classic and modern books that will foster a lifetime love of reading. Students will complete assignments by reading to their own children, helping both teens, infants, and toddlers to become more functional readers and create meaningful family memories around books.

You can help teen mothers and their children learn to love reading together and increase their literacy skills for a lifetime. This project will strengthen our students' classrooms, families, and community in more ways than we can measure. What could be more rewarding than the potentials of lifelong family literacy?

My students need a class set of 31 classic and modern children's books to increase literacy for teen mothers and their children.

HIDE

Ms. G. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Oct 21, 2009
Dear Causecast, Mr. S, Aaron, Jessica, Melissa, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Anonymous Donor, 

I can't fully express my gratitude for your generosity. By donating, you have afforded teen parents and their children the opportunity to read and learn together, and for that, I am so very thankful.

The books that you have provided for my classroom will allow us to begin a lifetime of literacy for children and cultivate skills that our struggling adolescents are also practicing in a meaningful and profound way. I know that several of my students are already eager to begin this project, and they too are grateful for your donation.

Thank you so much for helping my students and their children - they will be forever changed because of the impact you have made in their lives.

With gratitude,
Ms. G.

Photos coming soon!

Live Updates
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Patty L. (volunteer) on Sep 26, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested books and posted this project.
John C. (associate) on Sep 28, 2009
"I gave to this project because Ms. Gathers is an amazingly dedicated teacher and this is a brilliant idea! "
Melissa from Washington, DC gave on Sep 28, 2009
"Thanks, Melissa! As always, your support is appreciated!"
The teacher Ms. G. on Sep 29, 2009
"I gave to this project because this is a brilliant idea developed by Ms. Gathers! I try to push my students with small children/toddlers to read to them every night, so I CANNOT wait for them to have the resources to do just that!"
Mr. S from Washington, DC gave on Sep 29, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Washington D.C.."
Jessica from Maryland gave on Oct 5, 2009
Aaron from District of Columbia gave in support of Livia Stone's Giving Page on Oct 20, 2009
"I donated because I want to support kids in Washington D.C.."
A donor gave on Oct 20, 2009
"I helped because I'm a strong believer in Special Needs education."
Causecast from California gave in support of Livia Stone's Giving Page on Oct 20, 2009
"We provided DonorsChoose.org with matching funds for projects that improve college readiness. We believe that when all people in the United States have the opportunity to develop their talents, our society thrives."

gave on Oct 20, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news on Oct 20, 2009
Teacher MailThank You Letter posted!
The teacher Ms. G. on Oct 21, 2009
Purchased the books for Ms. G.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member) on Oct 21, 2009
Please notify our staff of any messages or photos of concern.
Funded!
Meet the Donors (below)

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