Searching for the perfect book for your reading level is hard. It's even harder when you want one that will keep you interested. This is the struggle facing our first graders.
My students come from a variety of backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common when they walk through my classroom door on the first day of school is that they wonder what it will be like now that they are in school all day long.
They have been to kindergarten where they have learned how to be a good student, and some reading and addition. By the end of the year, they will be reading, adding, subtracting, and so much more! They are eager to learn and eager to share what they learn with their families and each other. There are some students on free or reduced price lunch and breakfast. Some students have families in the military and some students are speaking English as a second language. There are also students who have learning disabilities that make it harder to learn and remember. Yet, they all work together and are learning about friendships and collaboration. While they are only 6 years old, they are learning the things they will need for the rest of their lives.
My Project
I am requesting 70 student licenses for the online program of Big Universe. This program will allow each of our students to choose and read books on their own reading and interest levels. What I really like about the program is that Big Universe is not just a website with a lot of e-books, it's a safe book club where our students can recommend books to their classmates and where they can create their own books to share. The ability to create their own books will make writing more interactive and fun. Even the students who struggle to write can bring in pictures to create a picture book. Since it's online, students will be able to access their account at home and the parents will be able to see what books have been assigned. They will also be able to see how their child is doing with their reading comprehension through the quizzes Big Universe provides. The students in all three of our 1st grade classes will have access to hundreds of fiction and non-fiction books.
We learn to love reading when they find something they love to read.
As adults, we have many options as to what we can read, but children who are still learning to read don't have as many options. Big Universe will bring more books to all of our students. They will be able to search for things that interest them and they'll be able to find a book quickly. Big Universe will definitely bring a universe of books to our first graders.
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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. Francis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
