This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
I am a mere three weeks into the school year and my connection to my students is stronger and more meaningful than I ever imagined. I am incredibly fortunate to teach 5th grade at an elementary school situated in the middle of the community I grew up in. I relate to my students on countless levels, ranging from favorite restaurants to the best parks in our community.
The connections fostered between my students and myself equip me with the ability to positively impact their lives.
I believe I can best prepare and inspire my students through reading. My students are well aware that reading is my greatest passion in life. They sense my enthusiasm and are eager to share in the same wonderment I experience every time I open book covers. However, as a first year teacher, I do not have the classroom library my students deserve. Moreover, many of my students come from underprivileged households. They do not have books at home! My 5th graders are so smart, so curious, so eager and so deserving to get their hands on books!
My Project
One of my greatest teaching goals is to nurture curious, strong readers. This will require high classroom morale and unwavering reading enthusiasm. The most effective way to ensure that children are developing as readers is by providing them with high interest materials. Because every child in my classroom is so unique, the reading interests in my classroom vary greatly.
I believe it is important for teachers to present students with a wide range of reading options.
If students see their interests represented in texts, they are more likely to enthusiastically pick up a book and practice reading! A classroom library with varying texts will emphasize to students that their interests are represented in texts! Reading is more than a subject that students are tested on in school. Reading is an avenue into new, interesting worlds! Reading provides students with facts about favorite sports or inspiring figures in history.
Most importantly, a classroom library will allow me to create a check-out system. This will enable students who do not have reading materials at home to borrow books, and practice reading on their own.
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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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 Ms. Mirich and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
