I am the librarian of a Title I elementary school in a large metropolitan area. I teach K-6th graders 21st century media skills and to love to read. Our 580 students come from diverse cultural backgrounds, including several Native American tribes. Many are immigrants from all over the world. Eighteen different languages are spoken in their homes. 86% of our students are in the free or reduced lunch program and so are in financially challenged situations.
Students who develop a strong reading habit succeed.
In a reading impact study, Nagy, Anderson, and Herman proved that students who read 20 minutes a day can score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. Wanting this and much more for our students I instituted a school wide weekly reading challenge. To complete a challenge students must read 30 minutes a day for 7 days. They are given prizes and public acknowledgement to encourage them to continue throughout the year.
I also run a program called Lunch Bunch. During lunch recess students come into the library to do makerspace projects or crafts, play games, or to just read. This is to help them feel the library is a safe, very special place.
My Project
Please help us get interesting, engaging, and 21st century books in our student's hands! Reading impacts and changes children's lives. With at least eighteen different languages spoken in the homes of our over 550 financially disadvantaged students, it is even more imperative for them to discover the power and magic of a book.
S.T.E.A.M.
books (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) are especially important as they can spark a child's interest in the world and open doors to future careers. Ours in our library average over nineteen years old. They desperately need updating.
The books we are asking for this time are Cute and Unusual Pets series: Sugar Gliders, Hedgehogs and Amazing Animal Colonies series: Corals, Ants, Termites, and Bees and Wasps, and Velociraptor Vs. Bull Shark
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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. Hallstrom and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
