My students need 15 Elementary Dictionaries and 5 Desk Dictionaries.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Wong's classroom raised $510
This project is fully funded
Do you remember asking someone what a word means or how to spell it, only to get the response: Look it up?! This is a popular "teacher phrase," but I am unable to utilize it in my classroom! The dictionaries in my classroom are few, old, and outdated. My students do not have access to dictionaries when they are writing, and this is an essential part of learning.
I teach multiple subjects in 4th grade at a low economic status school in California. Each day, not only do my students face hardships at home, they do not have access to some basic materials at school. As we continue to face budget cuts, teachers are expected to purchase more and more of our own supplies. We will have less and less to work with as we try to prepare our students for the future.
Some may think that using a dictionary is a useless skill since we have computers now, however, dictionary skills teach organization, curiosity, independence, as well as features of the English language such as alphabetical order and parts of speech. My students are all language learners. They speak other languages at home so exposure to English through dictionary usage would benefit them greatly. Having dictionaries in an elementary classroom should be an essential part of learning. Often, I am required to teach dictionary skills without an actual dictionary for my students to use, see, and feel.
Having new updated dictionaries would help my students and I a lot. I would be able to direct students to look up the meaning of new vocabulary on their own. They would be able to look up the spelling of words and study the parts of speech. They would have multiple opportunities to be exposed to the language conventions of English. It would save me time and increase the amount of time I spend with each student. Finally, I can tell my students to "Look it up!" instead of giving them the answer. Giving them confidence that they can be problem solvers, especially while tackling something as daunting as learning a new language in elementary school.
With your help, we can teach my students these important skills they will need for the future. You will make it possible for my students to write stories, learn new words, and appreciate the English language.
More than half of 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
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