My students need a variety of reading books to kindle their interests and Chromebooks to assess their understanding of the books and collaborate about the books.
"One rainy Sunday when I was in the third grade, I picked up a book to look at the pictures and discovered that even though I did not want to, I was reading. I have been a reader ever since."
Beverly Cleary
How many of you can remember when you became a reader? When you felt a book calling you?
When you walk into my classroom you feel the energy and the spirit of 27 4th graders.
These kids come to school with backpacks and a smile on their faces. Many of them quickly assess the scene by noting any changes to the formation of the classroom and discussing what the plan is on the daily agenda. They seek the times in the day when they get to select how they will process their learning; for example they look for when Daily 5 is happening and discuss when they will read from their book box or write on the collaborative writing project on Google Drive.
My school is a Title 1 School which means that 50% of my class does not have access to tools that could enhance their learning like access to a wide variety of high interest books or technology tools to use our online teaching tools. I feel like my school is the perfect slice of my community and my kids are so fortunate to get to work with each others' strengths and gifts. Our families want all of our kids to succeed and thrive.
My Project
Presently my classroom is set up with tables for collaborative projects, nooks for personal space, bean bags for comfy reading, and cubbies for storing supplies.
The selection of books identified would be used for the Student Library and for small group guided reading instruction. The books are supportive of the Essential Questions that are used to guide integrated and thematic units of instruction. These units support the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and science/social studies. These texts would be in the hands of kids everyday.
The Chromebooks would be used by individual students and by student partners to work on online programs to assess the texts read by students, practice reading skills using online curriculum, respond to writing prompts using Google Classroom, and writing alone or collaboratively using using Google Drive. The Chromebooks will be used daily by students to support student learning and the content they are applying and synthesizing.
My class is full of animated, enthusiastic 9 and 10 year olds who are seeking the trail to become Readers For Life.
As 4th graders, students are moved from Learning To Read and Reading To Learn to seeing reading as something they will do forever. They need the book that will serve as their compass on the map. Providing my students with a wide variety of high interest books and Chromebooks for assessing understanding will solidify the transition for my students to be Readers For Life!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Lunde and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.