Imagine you are an excellent student in your native country but then you move to another country where you don't know the language! You enroll in school and need to keep pace in math, Language Arts, and science all while trying to become proficient in another language.
Our goal is to get our students proficient in English so they can succeed in their core classes and beyond.
While learning the English language they need to stay current in the world around them. This also helps them relate to their peers. In their core classes, they learn English along with the core content, so learning how to read, comprehend, and use nonfiction materials is very important.
Many of our students come from different cultures with more than 26 different native languages spoken at home. A third of our population is on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.
My Project
Middle school can be difficult enough with all the physical changes a student's body goes through, but compound that with having to learn a new culture and a new language makes school very challenging for my students. While I am teaching the key vocabulary for our language, my students struggle to keep pace academically with their peers. Having resources such as an Arabic-English dictionary will help them independently learn the meanings of printed words.
The Junior Scholastic magazine will enable my students to learn current topics as they learn English. As a class we will preview key vocabulary and use strategies to reinforce the meaning of the articles. My students will be able to integrate this information in their math, science, and history classes. All of my students will gain confidence using these materials in my classroom so they are ready to share in their other classes. The use of these materials will result in ELL students participating in their core classes.
Reading is the most important skill I can teach my English Language Learners.
Providing them with a translation dictionary and current events magazines will give them the opportunity to contribute to class discussions on relevant science and technology topics. Many of my students were good students in their homelands. With the right tools in their hands they can become strong students in our country as well. Please help my students get their hands on these educational tools.
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 Ms. Harmon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.