Many children cannot read grade level books, but need to do so to practice grade level reading conversational skills. Wouldn't it be great if they could still practice those conversational skills because they had the opportunity to hear a book on CD?
My students are a wonderful group of 5th graders with special needs who persevere every day through multiple disabilities.
They work very hard to master academic skills that many of us take for granted. They attend a public school in New York in an area where there is a high rate of poverty and low rate of academic advancement. This is a cycle that continues from generation to generation and I am doing everything I can to instill in them that they can make a difference if they continue with their education.
My Project
My students all have different learning styles. However, the one learning style that they all benefit from and all enjoy is listening to books on tape or CD. As fifth graders, they are expected to develop conversational skills around a book. They are expected to participate in reciprocal teaching and book clubs using literature at their grade level. However, their reading levels fall below their grade level. I envision them taking home their portable CD players to listen to a book on CD and returning to school the next day with a glow as they discuss the book and their opinions with other children in their group. The best part is that they will be listening to a book on their grade level so they will be able to "fit-in" with a general education population.
One thing my students struggle with is support at home when it comes to homework.
Having a portable CD player will allow them to complete a homework assignment with independence and confidence. It will give them the opportunity to experience grade level material with understanding. It will help them learn more grade level vocabulary and expand decoding skills. It will make them feel as if they have someone to read with. Overall, it will make them confident as learners.
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