Bringing History and Science Alive for Struggling Readers
Help me give my students books with straightforward language and illustrations that invite kids to explore history and science by learning about key people and places that have shaped our world.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Solberg's classroom raised $501
This project is fully funded
My Students
My 10-13-year-old students have various educational disabilities that make learning challenging. They are motivated and eager to learn content, but their disabilities often hold them back from grasping concepts that come easily to their grade level peers.
Students with reading disabilities struggle to absorb information in science and social studies textbooks.
They spend hours each week working with Special Educators to develop reading skills. We use a variety of teaching strategies to make sure that each child is given the opportunity to maximize their potential. However, my concern is what happens when a child with a reading disability is handed a science or social studies textbook.
Their peers have not faced the challenge of dealing with a reading disability that makes grasping concepts in social studies and science very difficult and frustrating. My students love history, science, math, and the arts but who struggle to read.
My Project
The most difficult part about my job is watching students struggle when they are outside of the Special Education classroom and are with their peers doing science and social students. When I discovered the Who Was and What Was series I realized that I could teach reading and social studies at the same time. I could give my students books that sparked enthusiasm in my students and gave them a window seat to what their peers are learning.
Finally!
A way for students who struggle with reading to actively participate in historical and scientific discussions because they have learned material that compliments what their peers are learning. Finally! Students with disabilities can experience success in social studies and science because they are connecting reading skill acquisition with content learning!
Maybe one day one of my students will be featured as a "Who Was" in the series because they have been inspired by what we are doing today!
More than a third 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. Solberg and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
