My students need more books to continue growing their brains and expanding their repertoire of books and series to read. These books are both ones requested by my students and selections of mine for them.
My students live and attend school in a low-income/high poverty district. A significant percentage of students qualify and receive free and/or reduced breakfast and lunch. My students face so many challenges; many I will never be able to understand. It can be difficult and heartbreaking to try and "convince" fourth grade students to leave their home and community struggles at the school door and to feel they have the same chances for success as others. One of the many joys I feel as a teacher is watching these same students learn and experience new things. Many of the things I teach my students in the classroom, they would never have access to outside of school. For many students, this even includes books to read.
My mission is to support my students in closing their gaps in learning and achievement while building self-esteem and fostering life-long learners.
I make it a point for my students to know that I am there to teach them about all aspects of their lives, not just "reading, writing and 'rithmetic."
However, while teaching in an urban public school, I often find it difficult to locate the funds to fully support their growth and achievement.
My Project
My first project asking for books for the students was such a success that my students are repeatedly asking for more! They have loved discovering the titles we received and expanding their knowledge of characters and authors through those texts. I have not only noticed an increase in their motivation to read, but a great improvement in their reading levels as they continue to devour the books in my classroom.
It's time for my students to discover some new series that they haven't yet tried!
Not only have my students requested more of the series that we have in the classroom, but they are more willing to accept my suggestions for new books. My hope is that by getting new books that aren't in the series they know but are by authors they know, they will branch out and attempt to read new and more complex texts. I know that my students will be over the moon to see new books in the classroom, yet again, and they will be motivated to continue learning and growing as we work through the second half of the year!
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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. Koelsch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
