My students need materials, such as instant writing centers, sentence building games, vocabulary games, and capitalization and punctuation activities, to help them transition to English and to become proficient writers for the STAAR test.
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Imagine you are in Composition 101, and by the end of the semester you are expected to have written your first novel. Did I fail to mention it's to be written in a language in which you are not proficient? That is what my transitional 4th graders feel like facing the state standardized writing test.
My students this year are transitioning from a bilingual classroom in third grade to an all English classroom in 4th grade.
Unfortunately, for most of them, they are not very proficient in English. They live in an urban neighborhood where English is rarely spoken. The majority of the exposure to English will come from school. By the end of February, they have to be able to write 2 concise, clearly written compositions for the state of Texas standardized test.
I believe that my students will try their best, but I'm not quite as confident in their abilities in English. It certainly will be challenging, but most of them have faced greater adversity than this in their home life everyday. I want to be able to show them what they can achieve with hard work and give them aspirations to attend college. They should not let their surroundings limit them in what they can accomplish.
My Project
I am requesting materials which will enable my students to practice writing, reading, and speaking in English. The materials include instant writing centers, sentence building games, vocabulary games, and capitalization and punctuation activities. If I can obtain these materials, my students will get a chance to practice all aspects of writing and speaking in English in a fun way. I believe that if learning is fun, it's easier for students to internalize what they are learning.
My students live in a world where it is necessary for them to be fluent in English to succeed. These materials will help them practice and become confident in English. By removing the language barrier now, they will then realize that their potential is limitless. I want this year to be a brand new beginning for my students where they see themselves being just as competent as other English speakers. With confidence in their abilities, nothing can stop them. They can set their sights high and achieve their goals.
So much is asked of today's students in order to be college ready that English should not be a limiting factor.
It's better to start in the lower grades, but for some it may be fourth or fifth grade. They still need our help to become proficient in English. It will only be harder on them the longer it takes to master English. Let's do it now, because this may be the pivotal year that determines how far they go with their education. Let's not let English keep them from achieving their dreams.
Nearly all 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 Mrs. McDaniel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
