Do you remember your 1st grade teacher? I hope my students will! I teach fantastic 1st grade students who are desperately excited and anxious to learn to read! Every year I add new materials to my literacy lessons through the use of out-of-pocket expenses. And every year I continue to teach my best with the materials I have (or don't have) in our Utah public school. My current 1st grade class consists of 20+ students from mid to low socioeconomic households, along with several students who have special educational, emotional, physical, or behavioral needs.
How did you learn to read? Learning to read can be an exciting and rewarding time, but for some students it can be a time filled with frustration. It is my goal, and role as an effective teacher, to ensure that my students develop a love for reading through a non-threatening, safe, inviting, and engaging atmosphere. I continue to do my best to supply the resources needed in order to facilitate this type of environment. However, we are still in need of many additional supplies. One of the most beneficial ways to help students understand the concept of fluency when reading is to listen to a variety of people demonstrating fluent reading. I would like to offer this opportunity to my 1st grade students through the use of a listening center. We need a listening center to help make this necessity a reality!
My school district is dedicated to using guided reading and centers during part of our literacy instruction time to promote both direct instruction of reading skills, as well as, an exploration time to practice and review literacy skills already taught. Fluency is listed as one of the federal five literacy areas in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that is in need of constant instruction and practice. Listening to fluent readers aids in learning, understanding, and reviewing what it means to read fluently. For 1st graders this is a must! Unfortunately, many children are not read to on a consistent basis outside of school. Through the use of a listening center during literacy center time, my students will be able to enjoy listening to a variety of fluent readers. This will help result in a greater understanding of what it means to read a text fluently (monitoring accuracy, rate/speed, and expression) and the important role this plays in comprehension, as well as, the overall reading experience.
How would your world be different if you had never learned to read? I believe that with your help, my students will never have to know what it means to live an illiterate life. With your donation, you will help foster a love of reading in my students! You will truly make a difference in learning to read for my 20+ six and seven year olds this year, along with the hundreds of others in the years to come.
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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 Mrs. Borup and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.