My students need help accessing their textbooks. Many are struggling readers, so these mp3 players will allow them to listen to the textbooks as they work in the classroom.
Do you remember following along with your parents as they read a book to you after dinner? Many of my students did not grow up in homes where they were read to as children, and still struggle to read on their own as a result. If only I could sit down and read through the textbook with each student!
We are a proud, diverse high school located in a severely low-income region of northern Virginia.
Many of my students strive to be successful in order to provide for themselves a better life than their parents were able to do. A huge barrier they face, though, has consistently been reading and comprehension, especially from their textbooks. Many of them are English Language Learners or have Special Education plans in place. They want to do well, but have trouble understanding what the textbook is saying unless it is being read to them. However, with classes of 25 or more students where over half are in need of accommodations, it can be difficult to reach every child.
My Project
With access to just a few digital mp3 players, I will be able to load them with audio versions of their textbooks. In class or after school, as students use the textbook to access information, they will be able to select the chapter and section of the book so they can listen and follow along with the reading. By using a small, digital player and ear buds to listen to the material, the students will remain inconspicuous among their peers and feel less like they are standing out. Additionally, two students may even share ear buds and read along in a textbook together, thereby adding even more support to their learning.
Not only will this make it easier for students to understand what they are reading, but it will also improve their own reading and comprehension skills in the long term.
They will get to hear good readers on a consistent basis and eventually be able to read aloud with similar fluency and pronunciation.
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