My students are all high school students and English Language Learners. They arrived in the United States within the last three years and enrolled in high school for an opportunity at a better life. Many of our students come to America alone and must work full time as well to support themselves.
My students have spent two years studying English and are at a turning point in their language acquisition as they enter year three.
I want to capitalize on their transition from conversational language to academic language by ramping up their access to written and academic language. I have spent the past two years focusing my instruction on building reading skills for ELLs and want to add a layer of independent reading to the curriculum. My hope is that consistent exposure to language and independent practice will help solidify their critical thinking a when taking in written information in English.
My Project
I spent three days this summer doing an intensive workshop for struggling readers. Since my students are English Language Learners many of these strategies support their development. The most significant take-away I gained from this professional development was that students can't improve their reading skills if they don't practice.
Having spent the past two years focusing my instruction on building reading skills for ELLs, I realize that I must create ways for them to apply these reading skills on their own.
Therefore I would like to start an independent reading program in my classroom. My hope is that consistent exposure to language and independent practice will help solidify their critical thinking a when taking in written information in English.
This project is designed to help me kickstart my library by being able to set up a visually appealing library with engaging books so that my students can buy into the instructional practice from September and continue it throughout the year.
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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. Stahl and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
