My students need individual carpet squares for comfortable independent silent reading and a large classroom carpet for whole group discussions and small group cooperative activities.
Six months ago, Hurricane Harvey ravished our community wiping out 80% of homes and several campuses in our school district. More than half of my students' homes were flooded with several families from my class displaced even after months of rebuilding. My campus was one of the schools flooded, and unfortunately, we lost our classroom before we had a chance to start the first day of school. Thankfully, a local church stepped up and made arrangements with our school district to house our students.
My first graders have had plenty to complain about not only losing their homes but their school as well.
But being the resilient and positive little people they are, they have adapted to having school in a church, having daily sack breakfasts on the gym floor, tiny classrooms, lack of books and resources, and several schedule and transportation adjustments throughout the year. Not only have they adapted, they have done so with a smile on their face and a willingness to go along happily with the unorthodox school setting.
Really, they have taught me more than I could ever teach them about resiliency, staying positive, and making the best out of a bad situation.
My Project
Sustained silent reading is an important skill in early literacy and fluency development. My students have many opportunities throughout the school day to take a book, find a comfortable spot in the classroom and read independently. Small carpet squares are ideal for this as it provides a clean and comfortable place for students to develop a love for reading, especially my English Language Learners. Our large carpet is a great place for whole group discussions and allow young students the chance to get out of their chairs and stretch and move allowing for better focus and participation.
After Hurricane Harvey, all of our carpets were soaked and ruined.
There was no chance to salvage them. My students make the best with what we have, and we are thankful for having a place to hold school. Having our carpet squares and large carpet replaced would add a measure of normalcy to a school year where sacrifices have had to be made.
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