My elementary-age special education students inspire me on a daily basis to think and learn differently and to create a learning environment to help them thrive. They are each individually unique in their strengths and needs, and together make up a classroom of thoughtful, creative, and able students. In our classroom, we focus on creating meaningful goals and identify the steps we need to take in order to reach them.
My students are eager to read, to think, and to grow as life-long learners alongside their classroom peers.
They desire to be involved and included in all aspects of their learning and take challenges head-on as they work to achieve their goals in and out of the classroom.
My students love to keep up with the popular books being buzzed about at school; however, some of these same students currently lack the reading abilities to read books at such high levels. As a result, they become discouraged, and long to access books with age-appropriate content at their current reading levels. When my students can read books that meet their needs and of which they can be proud, nothing compares to the way their eyes light up and attitudes change!
My Project
My ultimate desire for my students is that they would realize their fullest potentials, as both my current special education students and as life-long learners and readers. In 3rd and 4th grade, these children are under pressure in all curriculum areas to meet certain grade-level standards and to perform as well as (or better than) their peers. My students are asked on a daily basis to read higher-level thinking books independently, to select "chapter books" in and out of their classrooms, and to apply the reading practices they are learning across content areas. This can be daunting, and even embarrassing, to a student who reads below his or her grade level, as some of my students in special education do. They want to read at the same level as their peers, and to access books with age-appropriate content, so they too can enjoy what they read.
Too often, low readers are left with basic books, which address their current needs in reading/literacy, but which lack appropriate content for their age-levels and interests.
By providing students with books at their readability, that have stories and content they can get excited about, students needs are met across the board. The books selected for this project, which are from the Red Rhino Series by High Noon Books, cover a range of topics and interests with students who struggle with reading in mind. These books will be used for educational and reading leisure purposes in the special education classroom, to provide access to ALL readers, regardless of current levels or abilities.
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. Tiede and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
